Bought a new Challenger today. Have a few ?'s

[usctrojan]

We were looking at an 05 ended up getting a brand new 08 180 SE out the door for 21k with the 6 year warranty. So we went with that.

I do have a few questions. First, how important is the break in? I have never been good at those. Is it just stay below 3/4 throttle and vary the speed at times?

Also, the salesman said you dont have to run fresh water through it since it is a closed loop cooling system but that doesnt make sense to me. If you run it in salt water it still is running salt water through the headers and cooling system right?

I still like the 05 because of the low profile wind deflector instead of a full windshield. Can you get these aftermarket to replace the winshield on the 08?

Thank you

Bryan

 

[ultramaxracing05]

closed loop is like a car's radiator, except a plate (radiator) on the bottom cools off just by riding on the water so you dont have to worry about salty water.

 

[Craigmri]

Flush

USC,

Congrats on the new boat! While the engine itself is a closed loop cooling system using its own coolant, the exhaust manifold is in fact cooled with raw lake/ocean water. When you use your boat in salt water you need to flush the exhaust manifold.

Get yourself the quick disconnect system. One part stays permanently screwed into the flush port and the other half gets attached to your garden hose. The procedure is quite specific so be sure you understand before you begin.

1) you must start engine first before you attach hose.(if you start hose first you will fill engine with water entering exhaust valve)

2) After engine is running for a few seconds you attach water hose water flow. I flush for about 30 seconds.

3) remove water hose while engine is still running.

4) after a few seconds I then shut off engine.

Hope this helps.

Craig

We were looking at an 05 ended up getting a brand new 08 180 SE out the door for 21k with the 6 year warranty. So we went with that.

I do have a few questions. First, how important is the break in? I have never been good at those. Is it just stay below 3/4 throttle and vary the speed at times?

Also, the salesman said you dont have to run fresh water through it since it is a closed loop cooling system but that doesnt make sense to me. If you run it in salt water it still is running salt water through the headers and cooling system right?

I still like the 05 because of the low profile wind deflector instead of a full windshield. Can you get these aftermarket to replace the winshield on the 08?

Thank you

Bryan

 

[Mueller]

I just made it to 10 hours with my Challenger 180 that I bought at the end of last season. Make sure you turn the electrical switch off when you park the boat or you will drain your battery. Mine would die after just a couple of days as the radio in the 2008 draws current even when off. I wish my dealer would have warned me about this "feature". I was pretty religious to vary the speed and really break in the engine, never going full throttle. I had the boat winterized and parked for 5 months and it started up immediately last Saturday. Nice feeling.

Good luck!

 

[usctrojan]

I just made it to 10 hours with my Challenger 180 that I bought at the end of last season. Make sure you turn the electrical switch off when you park the boat or you will drain your battery. Mine would die after just a couple of days as the radio in the 2008 draws current even when off. I wish my dealer would have warned me about this "feature". I was pretty religious to vary the speed and really break in the engine, never going full throttle. I had the boat winterized and parked for 5 months and it started up immediately last Saturday. Nice feeling.

Good luck!

Yea I will try my best to break it in but it's hard. My dad is a motor guy and never really believed in the break in thing but I will try it anyways.

As far as the battery cut off. The guy showed us that but my old boat had it as well. I'll probably get one of those trickle chargers as well just to make sure. I'm in so cal so I can pretty much use the boat year around. I doubt I will need to winterize it.

 

[Mueller]

You are really going to love this boat. The boat actually has some kind of limiting software the first 10 hours and then it opens up a bit more. Or I am hallucinating, Being from Washington DC, that is also a logical answer!

My point on the battery was that when I forgot to turn it off it was dead in a day or two. It took me about two weeks of trickle charging then the solenoid died. After it was replaced, I learned about the cut off switch and it now sat 4 months without being run, then kicked right over. No biggy, it is easy to reach under the hatch next to the engine hatch, just above the battery. Now part of my routine when I stow it to turn the switch. Happy wave flying!