Any Mercruiser guys here?

[spbutler]

Replacing exhaust manifolds and elbows on my other (wife's) boat. Anyone have any comments on Sierra manifolds over OEM?

[Brad Zastrow]

Are yours cracked? Why are you replacing them? I do not think you will gain anything.

[vnemous]

I would assume your replacing them cause they are corroded. OEM will last much longer than aftermarket. That has been our experience.

[Ziemer]

Buy the factory Mercury manifolds and risers. Believe the newer Mercury’s have an extra coating on them to help prolong the life. Would not trust Sierra long term.

[spbutler]

Original on a 2001 boat. Mostly Delaware river. Starboard side was running 45 degrees hotter. Got them off yesterday, they don't look too bad but I'm not waiting any longer and risk a failure. Thanks everyone.

[vnemous]

Starboard side is always warmer but yeah after 18 years there is probably some scale in there.

[RSWORDS]

I would assume your replacing them cause they are corroded. OEM will last much longer than aftermarket. That has been our experience.

I will back this up. Buy once cry once and get OEM

And all the saltwater stern drive guys are hating you and your 18 year old manifolds right now. Lol

[flabum1017]

I will back this up. Buy once cry once and get OEM

And all the saltwater stern drive guys are hating you and your 18 year old manifolds right now. Lol

And yeah, most manifolds and risers we replace down here are about 4 - 5 years old and have to do a valve job at the same time.........

[RSWORDS]

And yeah, most manifolds and risers we replace down here are about 4 - 5 years old and have to do a valve job at the same time.........

Yep.

[spbutler]

I winterize by filling motor and manifolds with a 50/50 regular antifreeze according to the manual directions of removing thermostat housing and filling all hoses and intake manifold every year so that must of helped. I don't run the pink stuff through the muffs. Thanks everyone. Ordered tonight from NuWave Marine in NJ. Good guys there.

[Black Outlaw]

Mercruiser has a manifold and elbow for that engine that is advertised as “hot dipped and powder painted “ these last a long time. This is probably what you originally had. The other option is listed as fresh water and is E Coated. I hope you got the good ones. As far as aftermarket we won’t touch that junk. Down here in our salty environment we have seen that stuff fail in as little as 3 years

[spbutler]

Mercruiser OEM Non-Dry Joint manifolds and Elbows, no risers.

I'm getting conflicting information from calling Mercury and Mercury literature and Service Bulletins.

Loctite 510 on elbow and dry at manifold to head?

Loctite 510 at Elbow and Perfect Seal at manifold to Head?

Perfect Seal on both?

Dry on both

Does the mating surface on the Head, the manifold and elbow have to be bare metal, the new manifolds and elbow are painted there.

[flabum1017]

I use perfect seal on all the bolts. The mating surfaces between the elbow and manifold should be bare metal. Use a single edge razor or a sharpened wood chisel to remove the paint with no gouging. Don't use a grinder since you chance gouging the surface.