8V71TI Cooling System Cleaning

[Nonchalant1]

I want to get ready to start a Great Circle Route cruise in 2006. Over the winter I'm going to clean the cooling system on my 8V71TI's. I plan to have the heat exchangers boiled out at a radiator shop, take off the intercoolers and check for fouling, and take off the shower heads and clean them. The gear oil coolers are under the heat exchanger and don't block raw water flow, so I think I'll leave them alone. That leaves the engine blocks.

What can you use to clean the engine block cooling system channels? The engine oil coolers are part of the captive water system too. I'd guess that automotive radiator flush is safe but not effective. DD sells one that you have to drain the engine block, not just the heat exchanger and elbow. I have heard the OSPHO should not be used in the block.

Suggestions on other things to check and do would be appreciated too!

Doug Shuman

[Genesis]

The twin-pack that Detroit has for this is the proper solution to the problem. I would not use anything else for cleaning the block proper, as there are seals and metal compatability issues, and I wouldn't fool with that.

[Traveler 45C]

And no Ospho for the fresh water side, raw water only.

[Genesis]

Correct.

I THINK the Ospho would be safe on the fresh water side, BUT I AM NOT SURE, and I would NOT take the chance.

No risk on the salt water side. BIG risks on the fresh water.

Second, on the fresh water side, the big problem is likely to be silicate drop-out related - or oil contamination related. NEITHER of these is affected by Ospho - at all. The only solution to THOSE problems is caustic (the exact opposite of what Ospho is), and of course you cannot mix them.

Get the Twinpack and use it.

BTW, the big problem on the fresh water side is likely to be found in the oil cooler. The only real fix for that is to pull the cooler and have it cleaned out of the boat. A clogged oil cooler is extremely bad news, as it will lead to very high oil temperatures which can result in oil breakdown and resulting severe engine damage. This is one cooler that many people NEVER pull....

[SKYCHENEY]

Doug,

What is your plan for the Great Circle? Which route are you taking and when do you plan to leave? How long are you planning and how many legs? I have made most of the trip on several occasions. I don't have any log books or notes, but I do have a video of the Chicago to Aqua leg and my memories(which may or may not be completely accurate). Let me know if you have any questions. It's a fun trip with alot to see. The latest issue of Passagemaker has a good article on this trip.

Sky Cheney

[Nonchalant1]

Doug,

What is your plan for the Great Circle? Which route are you taking and when do you plan to leave? How long are you planning and how many legs? I have made most of the trip on several occasions. I don't have any log books or notes, but I do have a video of the Chicago to Aqua leg and my memories(which may or may not be completely accurate). Let me know if you have any questions. It's a fun trip with alot to see. The latest issue of Passagemaker has a good article on this trip.

Sky Cheney

Sky,

We're going to leave Chicago in October 2006 and will do the route counter-clockwise via the Illinois, Ohio, and the Tenn-Tom to Mobile, around the Keys, up the intercoastal waterway, in the Hudson, up to the St Lawrence seaway, through the Trent-Severn and the North Channel (a wonderful place) and Lake Michigan back home.

I expect it'll take about 10 months because we'll stop and play at a lot of places along the way. We may also leave the boat at a marina and fly home for a week every now and then, so I won't do an exact cruise plan. There are lots of books, etc. on the Great Circle route, but if I come up with questions, I'll put them here.

Thanks,

Doug

[Angela]

The twin-pack that Detroit has for this is the proper solution to the problem. I would not use anything else for cleaning the block proper, as there are seals and metal compatability issues, and I wouldn't fool with that.

My local Detroit Diesel is absolutely worthless. I went to DD of Florida in Miami and asked for the twin-pack cleaner for the radiator for my 8v92TIs. Waited a half an hour or more....they guy says he's never heard of it and has nothing to offer to clean the radiator. He said he'd look into that deeper and call me back in a day or so. I got a call back and was told DD no longer makes anything like that. So what do I use?????

Next (on another day), I asked DD about the coolant additives...DD rep said he's never heard of such a thing which is total BS since it's mentioned in the service manual I bought from them and I told him that. He responded with the suggestion that since it's for marine use that I should probably call another DD in some other geographical location. I'm in the yachting capital of the world for crying out loud! And they've NEVER HEARD OF NEEDING THE ADDITIVE...and they don't get many requests for marine stuff???? I kid you not...that's what I was told. Just absolutely worthless, I tell you! These are the same folks that said to use ordinary automotive antifreeze in my marine DDs. I didn't even get around to asking for the impellers...why bother...they probably don't know what an impeller is.

But...they do have pencil zincs for the bargain price of $20 EACH! Got them elsewhere for a third of the price and that was at one of those "expensive marine stores".

Any suggestions where to go from here? I need the additives to mix with distilled water for my radiators (freezing is not an issue for me), and I need to clean/flush them first. I have the 8v92 and understand there are "crevices issues" somewhere in there that makes it very important to get the coolant mixture/formula right.

Ang

[Genesis]

Geezus. Call Saunders in Panama City and have them send you the additive. Its not expensive.

They know what the twinpack is too.....

[Angela]

Thanks for the quick response. Unbeliveable, eh?

Ang

[Traveler 45C]

Saunder's Web Site for you: http://www.saundersengine.com/

The Panama City number is listed.