My manual talks about the water pressure gauge, but I don't see what psi it needs for safe operation. Any help would be great.
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My manual talks about the water pressure gauge, but I don't see what psi it needs for safe operation. Any help would be great.
Water is the coolant for your engine. Your outboard motor is a high performance machine which is often driven hard & fast by many owners followed by long periods of slow to intermediate use. If coolant is restricted due to a faulty water pump or blockage due to weed or sand or running the motor to high your investment could be toast very quickly when you least expect it. The pressure gauge also acts as an ongoing indicator to the health of your water pump over time. It is a good investment. Below is an indication of fluctuation water pressures at different RPM for an E-Tec.
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My 1997 200 Rude Vindicator ran well over 30 psi on 2 different gauges (first gauge froze with water in the line) at full throttle. That engine has one of the strongest water pumps I've ever seen. I would guess that for a carbed engine you would want at least 15-16 ps minimum at top speeds.
my 02...
Normally on a carbed 3.0 L big block carbed motor I'll see 5-10 PSI on the gauge at idle on a new pump install but 5 is the norm at Idle. WOT anything over 18 on a carb motor. As LQN posted. The E-tecs have a High volume low pressure H20 pump so those numbers won't work on a carbed motor.
If it isn't digging a hole in your driveway on the hose, then something is wrong. A big block looper has got some water pressure.
Mine was like a pressure washer.
The E-tecs are different LJ. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif