Inboard motors are one of the most crucial pieces of equipment on your vessel. These powerful engines are designed to endure marine life, which means they’re sturdier than most. However, regular inboard motor maintenance is still essential to keep your equipment running smoothly for as long as possible.

One aspect of the process many boat owners overlook is the flushing process. In this blog post, we’ll tackle the importance of inboard motor and inboard gen set flushing, including how to take care of it easily.

Why is Flushing Important?

We’re covering two important pieces of equipment today: your inboard motor (or engine), and your inboard generator set.

First, your inboard motor is responsible for keeping the boat moving. Much like any other engine, it requires consistent maintenance to operate at peak performance. Your inboard generator set (or gen set) is responsible for keeping the lights on. It provides electrical power across the boat, ensuring your appliances and navigation equipment have sufficient power supply.

Both pieces of equipment are mounted within your vessel, hence the name ‘inboard’. While this is good for saving space, this also means they’re prone to the corrosive effects of saltwater, sediment build-up, and other contaminants.

This is where the benefits of regular flushing come in.

The Impact of Saltwater

Saltwater is very corrosive, meaning it can compromise your equipment’s efficiency over time. In engines, this will reduce the fuel economy and even block up essential pathways for fuel with salt deposits, resulting in costly repairs. Similarly, your gen set has a lot of electrical connections that can be compromised by saltwater’s corrosive powers.

Flushing regularly with a salt remover prevents this buildup and keeps everything running smoothly.

Preventing Sediment Buildup

Aside from saltwater, the ocean carries a variety of sediments that can get into your equipment. Severe blockages can cause your generator to give up or your engine to overheat, so it’s important to regularly clear the way with a good flush.

Extending Lifespan

Much like all tender loving care, generator and inboard motor maintenance are vital to keeping your equipment functioning smoothly for as long as possible. Save on costly repairs and stress down the line with a quick and easy flushing routine.

How to Flush Your Inboard Motor or Gen Set

With the benefits out of the way, the big question remains: how do you flush your gen set or motor?

Before you begin, make sure you have the right equipment for the job. Direct injection kits like our Single/Twin Engine + Gen Set starter kit are ideal for this purpose, as they can tackle both the inboard motor and the generator set. They only require an initial set-up, and will otherwise stay attached to your engine for easy flushing after every trip out.

If you don’t want to use a direct injection kit, you can also use a standard spray starter kit to manually flush your engine and gen set. We’ve laid out the steps for manually flushing your engine and gen set below for quick and easy inboard motor maintenance.

1.      Identify the Flushing Point. Look for your inboard gen set’s flushing point. It’s usually indicated on the equipment itself, but if you can’t find it, look to your manufacturer’s guidelines.

2.      Connect the Kit. If you’re using a direction injection kit, you can attach the separate tubing to the water pickup pipes, water strainer, or sea cock. If you’re going the manual route, simply hold the sprayer up to the flushing point.

3.      Heat up the Engine. For engine flushing, it’s helpful to bring it up to temperature as this helps clear salt deposits. This is called hot flushing. Turn the engine on and let it sit for a few minutes to warm, then flush with salt remover for thirty seconds to a minute.

4.      Monitor the Process. Whether flushing a gen set or motor, keep an eye on the water flow. Watch for debris or discolouration, as this could indicate potential issues with your cooling system.

5.      Shut Down the Engine. Turn your engine off and allow it to cool, leaving the flushing liquid inside your cooling system to allow it to break down any remaining salt. If you’re doing inboard gen set flushing, you can simply finish the flush and put your kit away.

With your inboard equipment clean and clear, you’ll have no trouble sailing the day away for years to come. Flushing generally takes a short amount of time, meaning it’s one of the easiest ways you can maintain your vessel. It’s also one of the most vital!

Of course, ensure you choose the right salt remover to clear away tough salt deposits and protect your engine long-term. Salt Attack is formulated for all-surface washdowns and engine flushing, with anti-corrosive protection to keep your equipment humming away for a long life.

A flush a day keeps the salt at bay.

Your inboard motor is at the heart of your sea adventures, so it’s vital to take care of it. Make inboard gen set flushing simple with Salt Attack engine flushing solutions and keep the salt at bay.