Etec and volcanic ash

[BogMonster]

We're now getting a dose of volcanic ash in the deep south, from Mt Puyehue in Chile.

So ... is it safe to run an Etec with airborne ash deposits? I know last time we had this stuff when a volcano blew in 1991 it blocked up vehicle air filters but I'm not sure how good the Etec air filtering is (I'm not close to the boat at the minute) - a lot of marine engines are pretty basic, the Mermaids in the boat at work have a mesh filter you could stick a ballpoint pen through.

All local and international flights have been suspended at the moment and it's thick enough to be clearly visible in the air and leave deposits on vehicles.

Bonus is it seems to bring lovely calm weather so I will feel the call of the sea this weekend but not if it's going to bugger my engine up ... I can live with having to buy new air filters if they are up to the job of removing the fine particles but if there is any serious risk I'll leave her parked up for the moment...

Thoughts please?

[Nasher]

Sorry mate, can’t help with the filters, but just though how comforting it must be for you to experience the same things as the rest of the UK

Most older outboards don’t have a filter at all of course.

Nasher.

[BogMonster]

Yeah. Fortunately I don't go on holiday until the end of July so the f'ker had better have stopped blowing its load by then or I will nip round the Horn in the boat and hammer a cork into it!!

I'm pretty sure the old Johnson only had a mesh filter but not sure you can really see the Etec filter anyway and I'm not near the boat to look - hence the question.

[Starovich]

If the RAF are flying I'd say it was safe

[kwil]

Just had mine apart to clean everything and no sign of anything you could call a filter, just convoluted air passage to stop water being digested and deaden some sound. The air silencer box is just an empty plastic box that you can take off and wash out.

Keith

[willk]

Surely an air filter in a outboard would quickly be sodden from spray and begin to restrict airflow?

[Chris]

There is no airfilter in the air box however the cowling does have foam inserts so as it draws in air it passes through these foam bits.

As for safety is use with a bit of ash in the air I have absolutely no idea !

[BogMonster]

Mercifully the ash cloud appears to have buggered off north again so I had a good day out yesterday

I think the message is to avoid it - I've decided to use the yardstick that if the local air service is flying, then it's OK - their Lycoming engines cost a hell of a lot more than mine!