Vinegar Flush how to

**charlesml3** · 04-04-2017, 08:33 PM

I've been around Nautiques and PCM engines for going past 20 years now and I've never heard of a vinegar flush. I get the idea, it could potentially get lime buildup out of somewhere it isn't supposed to be.

The problem I'm having here is you're applying a solution without really knowing what the problem is. I read through all the threads on mbboatown and it sure sounds like you've tried pretty much everything. I understand how the fake-a-lake can act different than putting it in the water. The fake-a-lake pushes the water in with whatever pressure you have out of your spigot. On the lake, it has to draw it up.

Go back through and check EVERY part of the cooling starting with the intake on the bottom of the boat. Check every hose for obstruction. Make triple-sure you have the right impeller for that pump. Some of them look close, but won't work right.

Take the thermostat out temporarily to see if that makes a difference.

If you're still thinking something is wrong with the risers, then take them off and inspect them. It isn't that bad. You'll need new gaskets when they go back on and you'll need to know the torque specs for the bolts.

If the risers are all clogged up with lime, soak them for a few days in 100% vinegar. It's cheap. Or consider just replacing them. Seems like they run about $200 each.

-Charles

**t.franscioni** · 04-04-2017, 11:32 PM

I've vinegar soaked my exhaust manifolds.... 100% straight white vinegar (going for extra clean) they bubbled like crazy and did make a noticeable difference visually when looking at the water jackets. I wasn't satisfied though and for various other reasons ended up having the engine block and risers baked in an engine cleaning oven. Smoked all the crud out, came out looking like a brand new. That's a last resort option though. I'd try following the above posts comments first then if it is water flow restriction at least you know vinegar and or an oven may help out opening up the flow of water.

**LiquidObsession** · 04-05-2017, 08:03 AM

I forgot to mention that even my mechanic cannot figure out the issue... he's top shelf. Unfortunately he charges top shelf prices as well. $$$ He and I checked/replaced everything up to the exhaust so I know there are no issues with wrong/faulty parts.
I just need the "How To" part of the equation.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**charlesml3** · 04-05-2017, 08:12 AM

If your top-shelf mechanic can't figure this out by actually being there and working on the engine, then I'm pretty sure none of us can fix this over the Internet...

**t.franscioni** · 04-05-2017, 09:00 AM

The "how to" I'm assuming is "how to take your exhaust manifolds off?

**LiquidObsession** · 04-05-2017, 09:11 AM

Snarky... I like it.

Snarky Reply:
As helpful as that statement is, it doesn't put money in my pocket to pay my top shelf mechanic. I found out, to my surprise, Monopoly money is not in fact considered currency. I also found out that occasionally people give free advice over the Interweb. WIN!
His help was invaluable last season... right up to the point when I hit a financial rough spot and I couldn't pay him..
I can tell you want to help and I'm positive my top shelf mechanic would finish the problem solving much quicker than I could so here's how you can help:
--send money to my paypal account--
Thank you in advance.

**LiquidObsession** · 04-05-2017, 09:15 AM

Originally posted by t.franscioni View Post

The "how to" I'm assuming is "how to take your exhaust manifolds off?

No... I'm just not sure how to do the vinegar soak. Where to pour in... how long... how to do it so the vinegar actually gets to the exhaust risers etc. might be an extremely simple answer, I just need a little encouragement and knowledge.

**charlesml3** · 04-05-2017, 09:40 AM

I'm pretty sure we've already covered this. If those manifolds are so full of lime that they're choking off the water flow (BTW, I seriously doubt this) then no flush is going to get it out. It will take days of soaking in vinegar to dissolve that much lime.

Take the manifold off. Find a suitable container and soak them in 100% vinegar for several days.

There is NO WAY to do this with them on the engine.

-Charles

**t.franscioni** · 04-05-2017, 09:42 AM

If you have nailed it down to exhaust manifold and risers then the only way to effectively vinegar flush those components is to take them off and soak them in a bucket of vinegar. The only way to get vinegar through the exhaust components WITHOUT taking them off is to pump it through the engine and that means running your engine on straight vinegar for hours. Unless you have a vinegar lake near by you can launch into I wouldn't mess with trying to pump vingar through the engine, and then trap it and then recycle it back through. The exhaust components are above the block so if you fill the block with vinegar and don't pump it through none of it will even get to your exhaust risers or manifolds. Before you start taking the exhaust components off you'll need to have a new set of exhaust manifold gaskets and exhaust riser gaskets handy for reassembly.

**t.franscioni** · 04-05-2017, 09:44 AM

beat me to it....

**Tom_H** · 04-05-2017, 09:56 AM

IMO, I think it'd be easier to just pull the exhaust manifolds off as a few above have mentioned. It gives you a chance to inspect them, and can just toss them in a tub of vinegar then. It also keeps the mess out of the boat.

**Tom_H** · 04-05-2017, 09:57 AM

Ha, haven't refreshed, and you guys both beat me to it.

**homer12** · 04-05-2017, 11:06 AM

These guys are right on taking the risers off and soaking them, can't fill a riser/manifold with fluid on the engine. Also, if you have that much lime build up in your risers/manifold causing restrictions, you're going to need more than vinegar. You can sure try. However in my line of work (commercial kitchen equipment repair) we "delime" or descale equipment on a regular basis. We use a much stronger acid for this and also have to soak things to let the acid work. You'll never get anywhere flushing - has to soak. To take off, simply get your 3 or 4" exhaust hose off, then undo the bolts. They might be rusty and tricky, but unbolting these should be very simple.

**LiquidObsession** · 04-05-2017, 11:39 AM

Originally posted by homer12 View Post

These guys are right on taking the risers off and soaking them, can't fill a riser/manifold with fluid on the engine. Also, if you have that much lime build up in your risers/manifold causing restrictions, you're going to need more than vinegar. You can sure try. However in my line of work (commercial kitchen equipment repair) we "delime" or descale equipment on a regular basis. We use a much stronger acid for this and also have to soak things to let the acid work. You'll never get anywhere flushing - has to soak. To take off, simply get your 3 or 4" exhaust hose off, then undo the bolts. They might be rusty and tricky, but unbolting these should be very simple.

Thanks for the unanimous input guys. Makes perfect sense... I suspected that would be the answer. Couldn't quite figure out how the solution would get to the risers without taking the risers off completely or pushing the flow somehow which defeats the purpose.

I'm in avoidance mode when it comes to taking the manifolds off. Hearing from others that if ya don't put them on just right you can seize the engine up... but it would seem I have no choice huh.

Vinegar Flush how to

Vinegar Flush how to

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