Failed flush hose

[GandDFreehold]

I think I attached a photo of the flush hose on my 2015 502 HO Mag engine. I was working on my boat today and heard a dripping sound. After some investigation I noticed water dripping from my starboard engine, down low, under the exhaust manifold. Crammed self down in there and discovered that the engine flush, about 6" above where it tee's into the raw water line was leaking. Determined this by disconnecting the other end and blowing in to the hose, you can't see down there. Bought another piece of hose and replaced the hose. Apparently, what happened is that when Mercruiser built the engine, they routed the hose right against the hot part of the exhaust manifold, where it comes out of the engine. Anyone with the flush option on their engine might want to inspect this item and reroute the hose. Not an easy job, but necessary.
That's my public service announcement for the day.

 

[gustaf]

If you ran it that way, I bet your motor ran a bit hotter than normal. I had that happen on my previous 31PC and the motor ran hot because the raw water pump was sucking more air than water.

 

[GandDFreehold]

I think I may have caught it just at the point of failure. Lucky, I guess. I'm a gauge watcher. I frequently run through the various functions on my vessel view, temp, cooling pressure, oil pressure, voltage, etc. The last time we'd been out my temps were normal and cooling water pressure was normal, so I don't think I was sucking in air. Sometimes it's better to be lucky, than good. :>)