www.iFourWinns.com

I am about to replace the manifolds and risers on my FW 190 4.3gl VP, it has been long overdue. I am in saltwater (Chesapeake Bay) and I have been on the original exhaust system since 1999! I never did anything to flush the engine except when I hauled it out for the season. There were times when saltwater would sit in the engine for weeks at the dock.

Is there a good way to flush the engine while it is still in the water at the dock? The VP Neutrasalt system looks like a good solution, but I am not interested in installing at this time.

For now I plan to raise the drive, hook up a hose and muffs, then run the engine to circulate fresh water from the hose( tap). Does anybody think this procedure is worth it?

My objective is to make the new exhaust system last as long as possible

Forgive me, you want to do this while the boat is still in the water??

You got THIRTEEN YEARS out of your original gear! That already IS a long time.

Yeah, presumably you could flush it somewhat but then you're still faced with the system being in the water. I forgot what the process is called (osmotic pressure?) but basically when you've got fresh water near salt water the salt will migrate into the fresh.

I'd imagine the neutrasalt system does something more than just flush liquid.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Neutrasalt would be the best if you wanted to spend the money....OR, you could determine the size of your raw water inlet pipe, cut, install a fitting and connect a garden hose:

http://www.iboats.com/Flush-Pro-trade-I ... w_id.39356

There's writeups on the web that describe how to install that with the parts needed on the webs

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1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

im on the chesapeak bay also, I have a hose hook up on the side of the boat but i never use it.

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If/when you buy the parts check out Cobe Marine up in Pasadena. I got a pair of manifolds for my 348 from them. No shipping costs if you pick up. Price was about the same as online, but no shipping charges made it a big savings. Especially when I needed them overnight ($300 shipping each via Fedex!) Worth my time to drive up to 'dena.

And be sure you follow the manufacturer's recommendations on installing them. Mine came with the mating surfaces painted. I had to remove that paint first. An added hour of sweating and acetone... There are varying bits of advice regarding use of gasket sealers or not. I called Crusader and asked and they were pretty emphatic about removing that paint NOT to using any gasket sealing products.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

VP changed their minds about the riser to manifold gaskets and inow recommend the use of (specific) copper based gasket cements.

Yeah, thus the suggestion to call the vendor and ask, whenever possible. What J.Random user on a web forum might have done is sometimes quite different than what the vendor knows is best. Given the horrendous expense of getting it wrong I'd rather avoid trouble and just stick with the factory's advice, relative to the specific items involved.

But I don't want to hijack this into a gasket argument.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

VP issued a technical bulletin. I have a copy, so I guess it's genuine information. Shame the products they recommend are not available in Europe !!!