Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): flooded lawn mower, engine fluids, oil plug


Question
Hurricane Dennis flooded my lawn equipment. What should I do to my small 4 cycle engines that were submerged in salt water for about 10 hours? I hace a Honda powered pressure washer, Briggs and Straton powered lawn mower, and Kohler powered lawn tractor. I have hosed them all down with fresh water, but that's all so far.

Answer
Remove the spark plug and drain the engine oil.  With the spark plug and oil plug removed, pull the engine over several times to pump out the water.
You will also need to drain all the old gas from the equipment; remove the tanks or fuel lines to drain.  With the gas drained from the tank, I would remove the float bowl nut located on the bottom of the carburetor to drain any water that may be in the carburetor.  

Get some fresh oil and gas.  I would recommend putting a teaspoon of oil in the spark plug hole  and pulling the string several times to lube the cylinder, piston and rings.
Install any plugs that were removed and refill the engine fluids.  After they start I would run them for 15 to 20 minutes and then drain the oil again to remove any other deposits.

Let me know how it goes.
Eric