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After my run-ins out the Aucilla last week, the "P" hole on the motor, part of the cooling system of course, didn't drain anymore. So I tried a trick I read a while back and forced a piece of line from a weed-eater time line trimmer up in there, from the exit point and with the motor running and a pair of "rabbit ears" pushing water from a hose in at the bottom intakes. At first the line wouldn't go in the hole but I just kept poking it in and out [cool off now!] and the water began seeping out with bits of sand and grit. Finally I was able to work the line all the way to the to engine and it opened clear and now works good as new.

The reason sand and grit came out was because a dirt dobber built a nest in the tube....They can find a hole in a matter of hours to fill.....Solution, take a golf T and stick it in the hole after you flush the engine....Remove it before you crank the engine....

Chalk wrote:The reason sand and grit came out was because a dirt dobber built a nest in the tube...:

Good idea Chalk! But I am affraid the grit got in mine from running aground. It was pumped through the water cooling system from the intakes on the lower unit.

You better keep an eye on the pee stream...that sand will eat an impeller up....

What Chalk said regarding caution towards the condition of your water pump is real good advice!!. If it were mine I think I'd check it out. Yes, its a job that you don't need ..... but you probably don't need a burned up engine or a tow in cause there's no water coming out the p hole either.

The pee hole has nothing to do with the cooling of your engine. It is there to be a visual aide to see if your pump is pumping. All of the water cooling the engine is exiting through the prop(unless you dont have through hub exhaust)until the thermostats open, then water will exit at both the prop and holes below the engine cowl in the rear. This is fact not just my opinion Im not saying disreguard if the thing isnt peeing but 99% of the time its cloged and not pump failure. The thing that causes pump failure most of the time is human era. Keep in mind every time you turn the engine over with the pump dry you scorch the impeller. I ran a 90 hp for 500 hrs on the same impeller, after 250 I checked it, it still had the molding marks on the contact surfaces at 500 it just had begun to show wear

Good stuff pennfish!
When you run the motor from a garden hose, is the impeller wet when you start it? Or, does it have to be completely submerged?

just curious!

Its perfectly fine to run from a hose. when the hose is turned on the pump housing is filled with water, the water does two things lubricates and displaces heat. while running in the yard feel the water comming from the prop it will become warm, most likely you wont see water comming from the holes below the cowl until boat is on plane and alot of water is being displaced, and thats how I check mine from time to time, go back there and lookand feel, it will probably be to hot to keep your hand there for long, and this is not advisable in an unsafe setting. impellers are made of rubber wich is put into a stainless housing and the fit is very tight , when the engine is turned over with out water the heat from friction is instant, any way im sure yall get the picture

Good stuff indeed!

I remember when I first got my boat a few years ago. It was my first boat and I am a late-comer self-taught on about everything to do with it]. On an early outing out the St. Marks, near Rock Island, I ran aground sorta. This was not too long ago, and my boat I got used but it was only a year or two old and the original sale when it was new was by Mike's Marine. I was out at Rock Island by myself and I didn't know NOTHIN' 'bout what I was doin'. All I knew was the "p" hole wasn't working and I thought it was like running with no coolant in a car: BAD. So, I call Mike's on my cell phone. I didn't know if I needed to try to "fix" it or get a tow or what!

Fella told me I would be OK if I motored back to the Light House at no more than 2500 rpm. So that's what I did. I think I had it serviced after that at Mikes, new impeller, etc.

So I was glad the ol' weed eater line opened her up this time. Before, I have also gotten it to open by putting a water hose sprayer up to it and "firing."

But like they say above, this is interesting...

Good learnin'! Thanks!

Your best bet, by far, is to install a water pressure ga. and get used to the pressure your engine runs. When you're in the skinny stuff watch the Ga. and shut down when you see the pressure drop.