My winter project: HEAT!

[johndoe]

I am going to add heat to my 6.2L Mercruiser. It's a 2004 Regal with the Bravo 3 outDrive... I beleive its a, "dry Stack"... not exactly sure what this means or how it affects this installation.... Still researching that...

I found a kit for around 30$. I am looking for any advice and tips on this type of project.

In addition, since the boat is stored in freshwater, and I am moving it to salt water within the next six months or so, I want to know if anyone has information on coverting it to a closed cooling system ??? Could this be done in conjunction with the heater system...? Is there a kit for this and what is involved in it...?

Any advice or information would be helpful.

 

[Don S]

Re: My winter project: HEAT!

It's called "Dry Joint" exhaust system, and has nothing to do with heating. It's a new design by Mercruiser to prevent engine failures due to manifold and riser failure at the gasket between the two. Looks like a good idea to me.
What kind of heating system are you refering to?

 

[johndoe]

Re: My winter project: HEAT!

I honestly didn't realize there were so many manufacturers out there... I am looking at Heatercraft. But I have a wholesale connection for stuff like this, so it depends on what they carry... Heatercraft is one of the top manufacturer of these systems..
I understand the ducts, vents, motor(fan) 12vdc and switches, and I understand how a heater core works, but not sure where to get the hot water from the engine, and not sure where to mount the "heater core" or I guess they call it the exchanger unit... lots of engine compartment space so I will be looking for mounting options and placement of everything... and the thermostat location on the engine and hose sizes and the like.... Lots of fun!
any ideas?.

 

[Bondo]

Re: My winter project: HEAT!

Doesn't your 6.2l already have Closed Cooling,..??..??....

I did sort of what your looking to do a year or so ago,...
On a High-Liner 222, with a 4.3l, Alpha genII......

I used a New take-out Heater Unit from an "R" Model Mack cab,....It's a self-contained little steel,+ plastic Box, about 12x15x18" or so,...... I mounted it under the passenagers seat,+ ran the wiring,+ hoses to it...... No Ducting though,... It draws in from the rear,+ blows out the front,+ side.....

I had a waterport on the Intake manifold just before the T-stat(the Hottest water) to draw the Hot water from,+ Returned the cooled water to a port on the engine Waterpump......

Inside the Cabin Canvas it was Warm,+ Toasty,... Well into early December of last year........

The only draw-back is that it's Another thing to Winterize by Blowing it clear of Water......
Making Both hose-ends, at the engine, Accessable is Critical.........

 

[johndoe]

Re: My winter project: HEAT!

Good tip Bondo....
A flushing attahchment of some sort should be included in the installation...

 

[Bondo]

Re: My winter project: HEAT!

Ayuh,........

Adding a Schraider(sp) Valve will allow the use of a Tire Chuck to Blow things out.......

 

[Don S]

Re: My winter project: HEAT!

Up here, RedDot and Heatercraft are the 2 most popular heaters and about every boat has one.
With the 6.2, it's more involved than you think trying to put a closed cooling system on it. It also requires the ECM for the engine be changed because of the temperature difference. There is also a kit for installing the heater outlets on the engine. Everything is so packed onto the engine, it's not possible to just tap in like the older engines.
If you have a serial number for your engine, I can help you look up the information, or you can go to the Mercruiser Parts experss site and look up all the parts yourself.

http://www.mercurypartsexpress.com/PartsExpress/HomePage/homepage.asp

 

[johndoe]

Re: My winter project: HEAT!

OM686392

Thanks Don!

 

[Don S]

Re: My winter project: HEAT!

To do the changeover to a closed cooliing system, go to this link at the Merc Parts Express site.

Closed Cooling Kits

Just look at the MCM MX 6.2 MPI Bravo section and read the notes. You need the closed cooling system kit and the ECM listed. If you have 6" riser extensions, then you also need the hose kit.

As far as the connections on the engine for your heater. Here is the kit you will need in conjunction with the closed cooling system. The instructions with the kit will explain where to put them.

Hotwater fitting kit

PS: Are you the original owner, and how many hours are on the engine?

EDIT:

Looks like the links won't work, go here.
Accessories>Zipcode>Dealer>Engine Accessories>Mercruiser>
From there, just choose either the closed cooling kits or the hot water fitting kits. When looking at either, use the application chart at the top of each section.
Here are the PN's you need.
Closed cooling kit 864920A 1 (Note: the picture looks nothing like the actual kit)
ECM 865008T0 3
Hose Kit (If you have 6" risers extensions) 32-865039A 1
Hot water fitting kit 22-72932A 6

 

[johndoe]

Re: My winter project: HEAT!

Thanks Don,
I am the second owner... had 98 freshwater hours on it when I got it... now it has 215, but parked in freshwater after each run...

I am moving it to a salt water moorage, eventually, and want to take all steps I can to extend the life span... perhaps with the dry stack/joint, it is not as much of a concern, but I wanted to know what my options were.... flushing engine while sitting in salt water never made sense to me...

thanks for the info and I will update all on the progress..

 

[johndoe]

Re: My winter project: HEAT!

Okay,
I have done some more researching and discovered that adding heat is not as simple as I hoped for... Any of the heater manaufacturers, Reddot, heatercraft, etc, do not reccomend using their product with salt water... the heater core portion of the kit will not last in salt water...
I noticed that the hot water heater uses engine water and electricity (12vdc) to heat water, yet it does not seem to leak or have any issues with salt water...
Is there a manuf out there for salt water? or am i stuck with converting to closed cooling and then adding the heater...?

I really just want to add heat... the closed cooling is much too expensive, and complicated and I am not sure I completeley understand what is involved in that...

 

[johndoe]

Re: My winter project: HEAT!

Don,
What is the differrence between the mercury parts express ($2600) and the Boatfix ($600) system...

The boatfix product is made by Monitor, ...

thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: My winter project: HEAT!

Since I don't buy stuff from Boatfix, and have never seen a Monitor cooling system, I couldn't tell you.
Best thing you could do is give Boatfix a call and ask them.