Help Please! Which hole below do you attach the fake-a-lake to?

[MexTex]

I need to flush out my 2007 Malibu VLX, but I don't know which hole to put the plunger to. I need your help. Thanks

[NorCaliBu]

The safest way to do it would be to look inside the engine compartment, find the raw water pump and follow the raw water intake hose from the pump to the thru-hull fitting.

[Baddog]

NorCaliBu is correct. The other thing I always do when hooking up the fake a lake is to quickly check the exhaust after starting the water flow and engine to insure it is actually coming out the exhaust. Very important.

[chathamsolutions]

On mine (a 2004) the INLET is a large brass cover. The cover is small on one end and widens out toward the back of the boat. There are thin slanted line like holes in the cover - keeps large debri out of the inlet. Baddog is right. Watch for the water. Hope that helps.

[99response]

If you have to ask....

[NorCaliBu]

If you have to ask....

Be nice. I'm assuming that he has additional thru-hull's for ballast intake and wants to make sure he is putting water into the engine and not just filling a tank. Do they not use the same type of thru-hull for ballast intakes? I have no idea...slalom skier...

[martinarcher]

NorCaliBu is correct. The other thing I always do when hooking up the fake a lake is to quickly check the exhaust after starting the water flow and engine to insure it is actually coming out the exhaust. Very important.

If you don't see water coming out the exhaust a minute after starting the engine with the water on - shut her down and check you have water going into the engine. Sometimes if the raw water pump is totally dry (after storing for the winter or not running for a while) it will take a bit of effort to prime.

Edited September 7, 2009 by martinarcher

[Chia]

the thru hull on your boat should look like this .

you don't have to wait to see if water is coming out the exhaust. when you start the engine, the water going to the fake lake will stop leaking onto the ground as it is sucked into the engine.

[skier92]

the thru hull on your boat should look like this .

you don't have to wait to see if water is coming out the exhaust. when you start the engine, the water going to the fake lake will stop leaking onto the ground as it is sucked into the engine.

Not necessarily true. Depending on the volume/pressure of water being fed to the pickup (ie: more water than the cooling system can move at idle engine speed) water may still flow from between the hull and water hookup. Checking for water flow from the exhaust is the best way to ensure you are moving water through the cooling system.

[martinarcher]

the thru hull on your boat should look like this .

you don't have to wait to see if water is coming out the exhaust. when you start the engine, the water going to the fake lake will stop leaking onto the ground as it is sucked into the engine.

Not necessarily true. Depending on the volume/pressure of water being fed to the pickup (ie: more water than the cooling system can move at idle engine speed) water may still flow from between the hull and water hookup. Checking for water flow from the exhaust is the best way to ensure you are moving water through the cooling system.

[99response]

the thru hull on your boat should look like this .

you don't have to wait to see if water is coming out the exhaust. when you start the engine, the water going to the fake lake will stop leaking onto the ground as it is sucked into the engine.

Not necessarily true. Depending on the volume/pressure of water being fed to the pickup (ie: more water than the cooling system can move at idle engine speed) water may still flow from between the hull and water hookup. Checking for water flow from the exhaust is the best way to ensure you are moving water through the cooling system.

You need both really, it can take awhile to fill up the block and actually have water flowing from the exhaust.

My preference is to hold the impeller housing, if you aren't pulling water you will know very very quickly.

[MexTex]

Thanks so much for your help! I have never owned an inboard boat before, so the plunger type flush kit is new to me...I'm use to the ear muff style for I/O's. Thanks, again.

[BlastRlxi]

I would also add that you should never leave the boat unattended when running on the fake-a-lake. I've heard of them falling over while the owner is in the house. After a few minutes, you would have problems.

[Baddog]

And NEVER EVER put her in gear if you are running it with a fake a lake. Go ahead, try it and you will instantly know why you shouldn't try it.

[MexTex]

What kind of engine temps should you be seeing while using fake-a-lake? I connected the fake-a-lake within 15 - 20 minutes of getting off of the water and my temps were around 160-180. I also remember reading that you had to leave the fake-a-lake on for a while to allow the temperatures to rise...is there a specific amount of time you prefer to leave the unit on?

By the way, thanks for mentioning that I should not put the boat in gear while running the fake-a-lake...on I/O's its pretty much required.

[RTS]

A range of 160 -180 is just right. You are getting enough water through the system using your fake-a -lake.

The temp is going to rise until the thermostat opens, then it should decline until it closes, and then repeat.

As far as how long to leave it on, I guess it depends on what you are trying to do. You could leave it on until you run out of gas, as long as your water temps remain in the good range.

[Ndawg12]

What kind of engine temps should you be seeing while using fake-a-lake? I connected the fake-a-lake within 15 - 20 minutes of getting off of the water and my temps were around 160-180. I also remember reading that you had to leave the fake-a-lake on for a while to allow the temperatures to rise...is there a specific amount of time you prefer to leave the unit on?

By the way, thanks for mentioning that I should not put the boat in gear while running the fake-a-lake...on I/O's its pretty much required.

I would say in 10-15 minutes you should get up to operating range, 160-180 is where you need to be.

[MexTex]

I run the boat in brackish water and I'm trying to flush the salt water out of the engine. I first flush the engine with fresh water, then I flush it through with some Salt Away.

[RTS]

30 minutes or so should do the trick for you.

[Ndawg12]

30 minutes or so should do the trick for you.

Really!!?? That seems like a long time, is that what the Salt-Away instructions say??

[MexTex]

30 minutes or so should do the trick for you.

Really!!?? That seems like a long time, is that what the Salt-Away instructions say??

The last two times I flushed the engine, I flushed with water for about 20 mins. Then I flushed with Salt Away and according to the Salt Away directions, I flushed until I saw the solution coming out of the back of the boat, then shut the boat down. Your suppose to leave the solution in the engine.

Edited September 9, 2009 by MexTex

[Bobby Light]

30 minutes or so should do the trick for you.

Really!!?? That seems like a long time, is that what the Salt-Away instructions say??

Not really think about it that brackish water is everywhere. It's in the engine, heater, tranny cooling lines, etc.. Everywhere. I'd say 30 min minimum if you want to make sure.

[Baddog]

30 minutes or so should do the trick for you.

Really!!?? That seems like a long time, is that what the Salt-Away instructions say??

Not really think about it that brackish water is everywhere. It's in the engine, heater, tranny cooling lines, etc.. Everywhere. I'd say 30 min minimum if you want to make sure.

I in no way know the factual answer on this but I strongly suspect that the complete engine and ancillary hoses and devices would be flushed in far less than 30 minutes. If you have ever seen how much water the impellor pumps you know that it is a LOT. My hose came off the tranny cooler in the middle of a run and let me tell you there was a whole bunch of lake inside my boat in a very short period of time.

[martinarcher]

True, but idling in the driveway is pretty cheap and the water is free so if it were mine I'd run it for at least a half hour. Heck detail it while your waiting. Nothing like working to the sound of a GM V8.

[stooges4]

True, but idling in the driveway is pretty cheap and the water is free so if it were mine I'd run it for at least a half hour. Heck detail it while your waiting. Nothing like working to the sound of a GM V8.

I agree as long as its not some POS Ford!