How to mitigate/reduce engine corrosion

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Waynepj4

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30904
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I have a 2001 Bayliner 3055 w/ twin 5.7L Mercruisers, Bravo 2 outdrives.

I noticed evidence of corrosion in the engine. Rust here and there and white powdery substance on exhaust manifolds.

My question is what should I do to reduce engine corrosion and prolong the life of the engine. I love boating but I cannot afford to replace an entire engine. If an engine goes out Im done.

I've heard converting to a closed cooling system will help. ($1k per engine). Has anyone done this conversion? Have you noticed a difference? What other ways can I reduce engine corrosion?
 
first clean everything with something like simple green and wire brush if needed, dry, then spray several coats of an anti corrosion spray. don’t drown the alternator but most everything else can get wet.
closed cooling is great but with some caveats others will talk about. Adding fresh water flush is a cheap mid step. Some exterior rust wont kill your engines but drowning from riser failure will and at ten years you are in serious need of riser inspection. search the forums for more info on that.
 
copy this into the engines forum for a lot more help.
 
Yeah, you can add a FWC system to your existing engines, but more than likely, some damage has already occured.

And unless you get a "full system", your manifolds, elbows, risers, etc... will still suffer from damage and will have to be replaced (about $1,500 to $2K).

A good start is to pull the thermostat housing and see what lies beneath.

Years ago, I installed a San Juan FWC system in a Bayliner that I had. It worked flawlessly and I experienced no salt damage five years later when I sold the boat (I put it on when it was new).

Another area of concern are the oil pans and starters. The salt water splashes around your bilge and gets the pans and starters wet, which in turn, corrode.

I have used Corrosion X (Corrosion Block) for many years. It is great for exterior engine components, but will do nothing for the internal parts of the engines.

Good luck!
 
Putting your boat on a lift so it isn't sitting in the water all the time is another way to go. Then by flushing the system after each use and showering the salt water off of the gelcoat and outdrives with fresh water, your boat will be a happy camper! BTW, your outdrives will corrode badly in salt water even though you maintain your zincs diligently. IMHO, ROI will negate the cost of a lift in 4-5 years and save you hours of down time.
 
I agree with Flatterby. Most of the people with stern drives kept in the water in the SF Bay have a lift. They cost about $5K and most marinas let you use them. Stern drives don't last very long in salt water. A potential solution is to keep the boat in the Delta.
 
Plenty of corrosion in the Delta too due to brackish water, but still less damaging then the bay waters. I used an Air Dock for 7 yrs, until I sold my boat. It greatly reduced my maintenance time and expenses!
 
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