Heat Exchanger cleaning question

[rebuckley]

I found a dealer with caps and brackets - it is where I got my HX for the generator from (a little cheaper than the one I saw on amazon). http://www.mrcool.us

Very helpful shop - I sent in a question and they called me right away to help answer - shipment of the HX was very fast as well.

Reb

[DCatSea]

Barnacle Buster did the trick very well. Didn't need the .22 cal. cleaning kit; (gave it to a gun-owning neighbor). Now getting new zinc holder brazed onto body of HX, and 2 new drain-cocks - just because it needs them.

For Chesapeake Bay AOGers, I have found a fully-equipped full-service "proper" shop in Edgewater MD. They can fabricate and / or repair most heavy metal workings on most boats.

[Ben423]

I've also used Barnacle Buster with good success. Best results are if you circulate the stuff through the entire raw water circuit. I use a 5 gal bucket and a small submersible bilge pump. Output from the pump goes to the intake side of the engine's raw water pump. Fit a hose to the discharge side of the heat exchanger, just before the exhaust mixing elbow and dump the fluid from there back into the bucket. Be sure to remove the impeller from the raw water pump before you start. You'll be amazed at the crud that ends up in the bucket. I like this method because it cleans the whole circuit, not just the heat exchanger.

[RobS]

Output from the pump goes to the intake side of the engine's raw water pump.....

If the impeller is not due for servicing you can connect to the outlet side of the raw water pump and not remove the impeller.

I like this method because it cleans the whole circuit, not just the heat exchanger.

Arguments could be made both ways as to the benefits of flushing the complete loop vs. pulling the components and bench servicing them. At some point the latter should still be considered including pressure testing.