Jump to content

Peahole


Recommended Posts

I think this is what you call it. i started my boat today & it wasn't putting water out in that spot where water comes out.I'm talking about that stream of water that comes out of the back of the motor.My brother said that it takes a minute to come out that it has to get hot & open the hole up. Is that right i turned my motor off i was afraid id hurt my motor? Any help will be appreciated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User

It's not the hole that opens up - just like your car, a water-cooled boat motor has a thermostat. When the engine reaches normal operating temperature, the thermostat opens allowing water to circulate through the cooling system.

 

So yes, the motor has to warm up before you'll see it 'peeing'.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Most have a thermostat. Look when you are under power to make sure it is pushing hard. Also most boats have an alarm that will sound if you are over heating. You could also flush your cooling system. I try to do that every two months. Mud and other debris can build up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User

Get a set of muffs for the motor and hooks up to a water hose. Straighten out a paper clip and work it around in the hole. I solved this same problem with mine a couple of times doing this. If this doesn't work then you probably need to replace your water pump.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Especially when first getting the boat out, some type of insect has crawled it and blocked the line up with their larve.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That telltale hose can get clogged from wasps, debris most anything.  Find a long skinny wire, or something to check that there is no blockage.  Sometimes you need to up the rpm a little to get the water flowing, if no pee after 5 minutes on a cold engine then look at the pump impellor.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User

I think Pee Hole or Pisser is the most common terms used but it's actually the visual indicator. 

Depending on the make and size motor, there can be a delay, but probably not a minute.  Larger motors hold several gallons of water in the exhaust chest part of the block and it has to fill with water before it start coming out that hole.  Whether or not the thermostat is open has little affect on how long it takes.  It only prevents water from leaving the block, that hole is ported before the thermostat.  There are air bleed holes cast into the block so trapped air can't prevent the block from filling with water.  

As mentioned, Dirt Dobers love ready-made holes to lay their eggs and if you don't keep something stuck in in when parked, they will plug it. 

Your water pressure gauge should be your main indicator.  If you don't have one and your boat is large enough to have a console, you should add one.  Water pressure gauge, tachometer and voltmeter (to make sure it's charging) are three must have gauges on any boat as far as I'm concerned, and on a pontoon boat or boat you can't see the motor/midsection, a trim indicator.

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Global Moderator

Poke it out with weedeater string. If it’s still not peeing there’s a problem somewhere else. Usually it’s something like what @GreenPig posted, but I had a different problem. 
 

Mine would only pee with some throttle, it would stop at idle speed and start beeping. I got a new impeller and had a buddy help me install. The old impeller was in perfect shape. The problem was the small intake tube was slightly askew. It’s hard to line it up just right when re installing the lower unit, especially if only one person is doing it 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also make sure your intake screen is not plugged up.  I have had that happen when driving through a lot of weeds.  It usually clears itself, but I have had my alarm go off while driving through vegetation.  I stopped and lifted the motor.  Weeds had sucked up to the intake.  I cleared it, let it cool down and was good to go.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User

Every time I park the boat at home, I put a cable tie in the pee hole all the way to the end.  I have a 250 Yamaha HPDI and it will not pee well on muffs at all.  As soon as it gets submerged, it’s fine.  It has had multiple impeller/water pump/poppit valve/ thermostat replacements over the years and it’s always been a very low water psi at idle, it jumps to 35 when running and yes I’ve replaced the gauge over the years as well.  Yamahas, so I am told, work more on volume than pressure.  It’s got 500 hours so I don’t worry about it.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Super User

It's important an engine is not running below the recommended minimum water pressure.  It's easy to do if it's too high, especially in turns or worn water pumps..  If you start playing with engine height, a pressure gauge is a must.  Most all water-cooled engines require a pressurized cooling system to prevent hot spot from forming.  (pressure raises the boiling point of water) These will create steam and push the water out of the block.  I don't know what the four stroke motors require but the two strokes were usually 10 to 16 psi.  Yamaha and Mercury were usually on the lower end of that and the old OMC's were on the higher end of that.

The alarm doesn't go off until it's already hot. the gauge can let you catch it before that.  Things happen, like one time I was cruising along at 4,500 rpm and noticed my water pressure was zero.  I immediately stopped and raised the motor.  A frigging loaf bread wrapper someone had thrown away had wrapped around the lower unit and blocked off the intake ports on both sides of the motor.

One thing I should mention.  Letting a motor sit for long periods of not being used is actually more damaging to the water pump than regular use.  The rubber hardens and develops a memory, so it doesn't flex out against the wall of the pump as firm as it should to maintain good pressure.  Three years is about as long as you should run one.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



  • Outboard Engine

    fishing tackle

    fishing

    fishing

    fishing

    fishing

    bass fish

    fish for bass



×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.