Running warm

Take the check valve out of play. They will sometimes stick. Happened to my BFN. I don't think you should have bubbles in your strainer. Sounds like you have an air leak somewhere. Could be the gasket on the strainer bucket also.

I pulled the strainer screen on the way back on the river tonight to just see what it would do and it ran 170 all the way back to the boat ramp. It drops when I slow down and take off again. Seems normal but weird. Then it goes from 160 to 170. When I was headed up river early in the day the temp spiked and safety killed the engine. I never experienced that before. Took the boat near shore and checked all places I could. Removed the strainer screen and let it sit for 20 min. Then on the way back it read 170 all the way.ill try again tomorrow. Thanks.

Lewy is correct, carbed engines should be running a 143 stat. 160 stat is for EFI. When was the last time you checked your impeller?

You're getting bubbles in the strainer which indicates a gasket leak. You have a drip on the RWP which could also be letting air into the system (if it isn't the impeller seal, it has to be the shaft seal). Both of which can impede the water flow efficiency through the engine. Then, on top of that, the wrong thermostat is in there.
You're extremely lucky that it's running at 180 degrees.

Fix that stuff and you should be fine.

dwouncmd wrote: I replaced the transmission oil cooler

Tony - Weren't you having tranny fluid disappear? Maybe these 2 problems have a common cause.

Found my tee like this. The gasket was torn. removed it along with the strainer. I'm going to run it straight and see where she temps.

I know. I should just listen to guys on here. I don't want to knock SkiDim. They have been great with all my needs. My motor is a repowered 351. I think they saw it as a better way to go so I said ok. they said 160 was not really that warm I thought "ok. That will be fine" I'm going back to a 143. I had a issue when I bought the boat in the spring. The stat would not close and therefore the engine would not come up to temp. To move things along the previous owner put in a 170 stat. I changed it out to a 160 with the advice from SkiDim knowing you guys said 143. Yep still learning. Baby steps. tony.

lewy2001 wrote: The 143F Thermostat does not let the motor run at 143F it will run at around 160F. So your 160F Thermostat running at 170-180F seems about right.

Well maybe I have a 143 in the SN after all (I haven't opened it up to take a look), it will run below 160...

I run a 160 in mine as well. I've been running it for 3 years in the TX heat. And like Don says, our WATER temps, not air temps are in the mid 90's. I typically see the boat running around 175 degrees. It holds fairly constant within a few degrees.

The reason they recommended a higher temp t-stat is because there is some argument for better atomization of fuel at a slightly higher temp. The 351 likes a minimum of about 155 degrees for proper atomization of the fuel. Some places have water temps that make that a difficult temperature to realize. So as an all around, the 160 is a better option if you're selling t-stats to the masses. It also provides warmer water for a shower if you have one.

Well...that's the way it was presented to me anyway. Regardless, I run a 160 t-stat. Engine is 175 degrees in warm water all day everyday. We barefoot incessantly which means we see WOT quite often. 175 degrees is nothing to worry about. Most cars on the street are running much warmer.

Dex Merc is the right stuff. If you have a leak, it leaks red (ask me how I know )

My transmission/shaft Odyssey detailed in several other threads, all boring.

That's it, I haven't seen anything else for threaded PVC.   Just for good measure, make sure there isn't anything stuck in the cooler when you put the strainer back on. Doesn't take too many leaves to clog it up.   Out of curiosity, has your water temp dropped any? Here the shorter days will drop the temp even though the highs and lows are about the same as they are in August.

Bones71 wrote: It's been really hot here the last few weeks. Water temp is pretty warm. Tony.

Tony,
The water temp really should not impact the engine cooling too much. Even if the water temp was 80, the delta T is still wide. You should have plenty of water flowing to cool the engine. I would suggest looking at other issues. Have you done a bucket yest on how much water your are actually pumping?