How to Clean Out Water Ports in an Outboard Motor

Replacing an outboard motor can cost anywhere between $3,000 for a small craft to as much as $10,000 for a large boat. It is important to maintain the workings of your outboard motor to prevent high maintenance costs or replacement. Cleaning out the water ports of your outboard motor is a good way to avoid servicing them by professionals, which can cost about $100 an hour. You can do it yourself using a simple process and a few basic tools.

Things You'll Need

  • Large bucket
  • Ear muff flusher
  • Garden hose
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fill the large bucket with clean water from a hose. Position your outboard motor and submerge it all the way up to the air intake ports, which are located on the sides of the motor.

    • 2

      Place an ear muff flusher on a garden hose. An ear muff flusher -- which you can buy at any marine shop -- is simply a device with two suction cups that connects to a garden hose. Connect it between the hose and the air intake valves; it will snap right on.

    • 3

      Turn the hose on and flow the water into both of the air intakes located at the side of the motor. Turn on the motor. Let the motor run for 10 to 15 minutes. You will see the water pouring out of the water ports. The water will heat up as the motor runs. Turn off the motor once the water is warm as the water during a bath. Remove the ear muff flusher from the sides of the air intakes.