heat exchange or regular flushing?

[capercanuck]

I'd like to extend the life of my manifold. I considered a heat exchanger but was told the repair costs for a defective heat exchanger can be worse than that for a bad manifold. Would regular fresh water flushing be my best bet? Also, I saw an inline diverter advertized that introduces fresh water from a hose into the cooling system that would flush the system, without using the "muffs", I guess. Anyone have any comments on this device?<br />Thanks..

 

[oldboat1]

Re: heat exchange or regular flushing?

By your reference to "muffs," I'm guessing you have an I/O and not an inboard. If the boat is trailered, you would just flush after use, of course. So I guess you keep it in a slip? saltwater? Can you pull it yourself periodically? (i.e., trailerable?)

 

[capercanuck]

Re: heat exchange or regular flushing?

It's generally in a slip, I ocassionally trailer it. Yes I run it in saltwater. yep, it's I/O. I should mention I might only trailer it twice a season.

 

[Boatist]

Re: heat exchange or regular flushing?

Most Fresh water cooling/Heat exchangers systems on run fresh water in the Engine. Exhaust manifold still has salt water. The standard system is call a half system. The one that include the manifold are called full systems. I have been looking for a full system for 10 years and have yet to see one. The system you talked about where you can flush the engine without it running is a good way to go, if you have fresh water at your slip. Make sure it fulshes both the engine and manifold. Is your slip in salt water?? One last thing to know before you buy is with a heat exchanger any water LEAK just like in a car and you can loose all your cooling fluid. also runs under pressure just like a car. With the sea water system if have a minor leak no big deal as outdrive pump just pumps in more water, and it has no real pressure. One advantage of fresh water cooling is can run a heater and also can run engine a little hotter and get a little better preformance.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: heat exchange or regular flushing?

I have a freshwater system on my Chris Craft inboard (actually, a half system under Boatist's description). They are effective for the reasons Boatist cited. I don't think I would be inclined to install it on an I/O that didn't already have it, though, because it should be pretty easy to flush the system with muffs. You can even do that with the boat in the water. I think I am familiar with the inline flushing valve you describe. Again, though, I don't think I would go to the trouble if you can flush with the muffs.