Most boaters know it’s imperative to flush an outboard with freshwater after boating in saltwater or brackish water. Failure to do so can allow corrosion to take hold in your motor’s water passages, compromising your cooling system and shortening the life of your engine.

However, not everyone understands that it’s also a great practice to flush your outboard after freshwater outings. Why? If the water is murky – or if you, say, touch bottom with your lower unit – you could end up with mud, algae and other debris trapped inside those narrow water passages, keeping your engine from cooling efficiently. Also, an unflushed engine could cause you to unwittingly transfer invasive species from one body of water to another.

Here’s the good news: flushing with freshwater is a simple task, and this Mercury Quick Tip video will show you how. All you have to do is lower your engine to the vertical position, hook up a hose to the conveniently located flush connector and let the water run for 10 minutes – you don’t even have to start your engine. By the time you’ve unloaded your tackle and cooler, your engine is flushed clean and ready to put away until your next outing.