Closed Cooling....?

[capercanuck]

I have a 1995 2252 Bayliner, freshwater use only. I just bought it and will be using it in salt water. <br /><br />I'd like to put a closed cooling system on it. I got a price from a Bayliner dealer and it was ridiculous, and it was only a 1/2 system.<br /><br />I see aftermarket systems available. Yes, I have read other forums that say a fresh water system should not be installed in boats older than 1 year old, but I still want to do it.<br /><br />Can anyone suggest a good aftermarket product and dealer?<br /><br />For the record the boat has a 4.3l, Alpha I with V belts.<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[Mahoney]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

I am guessing you are going to get a lot of people trying to get you to second guess your decision. If you were amazed how much the bayliner dealer wanted to install the cooling system, think how much its going to cost to repower or do it over when the corrision flakes off from all the passageways on a 10 year old boat and cloggs your heat exchanger putting you in the forums asking for a good aftermarket engine dealer.<br /><br />I am thinking you would be much better off inspecting and replacing the manifolds and risers, then making sure you rinse out good after your salt trips.

 

[achris]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

I am guessing you are going to get a lot of people trying to get you to second guess your decision. If you were amazed how much the bayliner dealer wanted to install the cooling system, think how much its going to cost to repower or do it over when the corrision flakes off from all the passageways on a 10 year old boat and cloggs your heat exchanger putting you in the forums asking for a good aftermarket engine dealer.<br /><br />I am thinking you would be much better off inspecting and replacing the manifolds and risers, then making sure you rinse out good after your salt trips.

Good advise. Engine's too old to be thinking of closed cooling now. Should have been done before it's first use, in 1995.<br /><br />Chris........

 

[capercanuck]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

ok...I see where you guys are coming from....<br />so, onto another question...<br /><br />I currently own a 1986 24' Sunray Mirage also. I've had it for a few years, raw water cooled. I just got the Bayliner.<br /><br />I have never found a good way to flush the motor while it was at the dock. I have seen inline kits that mount so that a hose can connect, while in the water, and flushes the engine. Do you guys know anything about these devices?<br /><br />I'll probably leave the 2252 in the water for no more than a few days at a time, but I'd like to be able to flush it after every trip. <br /><br />Looking for answers...

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

Good idea! a plumbing supply house should be able to get you a quality selector valve, avoid plastic. One thought, does the lower unit have a pump that will pressurising the supply as you are running and flushing the engine with the engine mounted pump? fred

 

[mercrewser]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

It takes ALOT of salt water exposure to ruin an engine. A few days at a time will not hurt. Just flush it after its out, not every day. Believe me, I wouldnt think of buying a new boat without FWC. But at this point, even if you left the Bayliner in salt all season, every season, it would still take a awhile to ruin the engine. By the time its salted out, the engine would be worn out any way. You'd have more issues with the outdrive than the engine. Make sure you have fresh zincs. You worrying way to much, although in the land of boating, thats not really a bad thing. Enjoy the boat.

 

[capercanuck]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

I'm worrying because I lost an inline 6 on my 1980 Grew a few years ago. I thought I was flushing it enough and doing the right things, but it just died. It was a combination of a lot of things, but the salt water inthe cylinder killed it. If it was antifreeze in the cylinder I don't think it would have been too bad, or not AS bad.<br /><br />Thanks !

 

[mercrewser]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

If it was a manifold riser, you can't prevent that on FWC. Even with a full system, the riser can still go. I feel your pain.

 

[achris]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

That's why a proper service, by a properly Merc certified shop should include removing the elbows and checking them. <br /><br />If you are doing your own servicing you need to be aware of this requirement, again, that's why the genuine manuals are so much better.<br /><br />Chris............

 

[21270]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

I did exactly what youre supposed to not do, I pieced together a full freshwater system for my 1993 4.3 merc, got everything from E-Bay and put it together. I got mixed responses about doing it, but I decided to try it out. I used a merc heat exchanger off a big block. the reason I did it was because it was a trailored fresh water boat with 140 hours on it,I got it a year ago and wanted to play in the salt water. I have used it just for one season so far with the full system on it and everything looks fine. I drained the exchanger and block about once a month just to see how much sediment i was getting, not a whole lot!!!! Im very anal about upkeep and making sure things are working the right way. Im telling you this just to let you know that someone has done what you are not supposed to do! If it does go sour on me, I will post it and take the heat!

 

[achris]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

Well done jgw,<br /><br />Difference being that yours was only 140 hours old, You'll probably get away with it. A 10 year old engine is a completely different story.<br /><br />Chris.........

 

[21270]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

Thank You achris, just thought I would tell the story. I figured hours on the motor had a big part in the continued success I have had so far, just hope it stays that way!

 

[21270]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

A question for you achris, what would you say the max hours you could have on a fresh water boat would be in order to play it safe on putting a full system on?

 

[21270]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

are there any benefits to using the big heat exchanger off a big block for my 4.3?

 

[achris]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

jgw,<br /><br />

what would you say the max hours you could have on a fresh water boat would be in order to play it safe on putting a full system on?

How long is a piece of string? And I'm not being funny. It would depend on the 'freshest' of the water. Some 'fresh' water is still quite hard on the block metal and it wouldn't take long to start flaking. It would also depend on whether the engine was kept full of water at all times. No oxygen, no corrosion.<br /><br /><br />

are there any benefits to using the big heat exchanger off a big block for my 4.3?

About the only thing I can see is that it will stand more blackages before affecting the cooling performance of the system.<br /><br />Chris........

 

[KaGee]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

Capercanuck...<br /><br />There are aftermarket as well as OEM kits available for flushing. You could do it the old fashioned way and just use a set of muffs. Either way, you still have to run the engine up to temperture to insure you get the block flushed out.

 

[tommays]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

well when the people that SELL the kits dont recomend doing it on old motors i tend to listen<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[capercanuck]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

Really, I was speaking to distributors, which I agree are not the manufacturers of these aftermarket kits, and they didn't see a problem putting it on my boat. I don't know if it makes a difference, but the engine only has 154 hours on it, even though it is a 10 year old boat. Also, it was used in the 1000 Islands region of NY. Anyone familiar with the water there?<br /><br />Thanks again!

 

[achris]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

Really, I was speaking to distributors, which I agree are not the manufacturers of these aftermarket kits, and they didn't see a problem putting it on my boat.

And they'd have no vested interest in you putting a kit on?<br /><br />Chris............

 

[qystan]

Re: Closed Cooling....?

Agree with Mercrewser, it does a bit of saltwater to kill the engine. I have a 1989 5.7 block run only in saltwater and flushed after each use, so far so good. Max continuous immersion time is about 3 days for maybe 10 occasions a year, others are only daily or 2 day periods. <br /><br />And Merc is an idiot to sell engines without FWC.<br /><br />Currently trying out a freshwater flush setup to allow flushing while in water, any reduction of saltwater immersion will surely help. I have a Alpha 1 Gen 1 so it has to be done without the engine running. <br /><br />Installed 2 small shutoff valves, 1 at the thermostat housing and the other at one of the the block drain with a length of hose to drain overboard. <br /><br />With the engine off, water is fed to the thermostat housing connection and flows out the block drain, this should flush the block. <br /><br />Flushing the manifolds is the tricky part, the setup only works while the thermostat is still open, may need another feed point.<br /><br />Still in experimental stage.<br /><br />Qystan