Closed cooling system

Brit Rider · Posted: May 27, 2004 3:25 am Post subject: Closed cooling system

So i'm looking at closed water cooling for my new boat, but how does it work?

on a car you have a radiator getting air blown at it... but you don't have that on a boat, Just wondering how marine engines keep cool - and also, does closed water cooling keep the boat as cool as standard raw water cooling?

Thanks,

Swass · Guest

With closed cooling, you still have a raw water pump that draws lake water through the risers and past a heat exchanger to lower the temp of the coolant. The heat exchanger acts as the radiator. I think that's how it works.

wesgardner · Posted: May 27, 2004 5:04 am Post subject:

Hey Brit Rider,

There will be a tank looking thing - that's the heat exchanger - the principles are the same as a car - the heat from the engine in drawn off by passing coils of your engine's hot water passed coils of the cooling systems cool water inside the heat exchanger. You run antifreeze all the time (actually coolant) in your engine just like in a car. Cool water is brought in from the lake/pond/river/bay via a raw water pump and is expelled via the exhaust risers of your engine. It is cheaper to replace a heat exchanger when it finally dies than an engine block...

Wes

Brit Rider · Posted: May 27, 2004 5:30 am Post subject:

Sounds simple enough.

so how much does it cost as an option on a new boat normally?

and does it cool as effectively as raw water cooling? i'm guessing its better for your engine as you are only pumping clean coolant through it rather then dirty lake water?

thanks for the replies

Swass · Guest

They both work equally well in terms of cooling. One drawback with closed cooling: you can't have a shower.

Brit Rider · Posted: May 27, 2004 8:45 am Post subject:

I'm not so fussed about a salt water shower...
I will be going with closed water cooling for sure as i board on the sea, i jsut didn't get how it worked before.

so does anyone know how much it costs as a facotry option roughly?

Thanks for the help Very Happy

Swass · Guest

It's about a $1500 option, I think.

Remember - closed cooling does not mean "salt-free." You still need to flush the risers.

tommyadrian5 · Addict Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 907

closed cooling is only really necessary (not necessary, but useful) if you are using the boat in salt water or very dirty water, fresh water does not damage engine innards. All closed cooling does is run antifreeze through the block instead of raw water, and cools the antifreeze with the heat exchanger. The risers and exhaust system are still cooled by raw water, and although not necessary, flushing the system with fresh water (the raw water part) after use in salt water will prolong the life of the heat exchanger.

There is very little advantage to closed cooling if all use is in fresh water.

Swass · Guest

"....and although not necessary, flushing the system with fresh water (the raw water part) after use in salt water will prolong the life of the heat exchanger."

I strongly disagree - it's VERY necessary if you want your risers and heat exchanger to last more than 3 years or so. I do agree that closed cooling is not necessary in fresh water, but it sounds like he'll be in salt water almost exclusively.

Ruune · Posted: May 27, 2004 10:17 am Post subject:

actually, there is a shower thats designed for closed cooling systems. It just adds another cylindrical water to water heat exchanger.

http://www.wakeside.com/page/W/PROD/wakeboard_boat_showers/heater_craft_120-s-c_shower

tommyadrian5 · Addict Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 907

swass, that's what i said, it will prolong the life of your risers and heat exchangers

Swass · Guest

You said "...although not necessary..." I say it IS necessary. Aside from that, I guess we do agree.

Thanks Ruune - I was not aware of that.

Brit Rider · Posted: May 27, 2004 11:45 am Post subject:

cool, thansk for the comments guys... so what you are saying is:

Its a must have if i'm in saltwater.. but i still need to use a fake a lake to flush the risers and heat exchanger out?

I'm not so fussed about extra effort, i enjoy pampering my pride and joy and this new boats gonna cost a hefty wedge of cash, so long as i know it will be ok then i'm happy Very Happy

Later

powdrhound · Posted: May 27, 2004 12:39 pm Post subject:

whoa hold the phone Batman
just wanna get this right. I am looking at closed water cooling for the same reasons and also cause I don't want to piss the neighbours off flusing the boat at night but your saying I still need to flush it.

Ruune you are a legend I had to break it to my girl that the shower on the boat that I said she could have for camping was a no go cause of the closed water cooling. That will make her day Very Happy

Swass · Guest

Batman does not hold his own phone. He's got his bitch Robin to do that for him.

Yes, there is still flushing to do with a closed cooling system. The advantage is that not as much of the engine is exposed to salt vs. "open" cooling.

tryan · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 257

skidim has a pricey little kit for converting to closed cooling.

MrBlean · Posted: May 27, 2004 2:06 pm Post subject: Closed cooling

Mike

Try: http://www.orcamarine.com/exchangers.htm

They are the OEM suppliers to most boat manufacturers/engine marinisers.

Will tell you all you need to know.

lcap · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 10973 City: Homeless

I've always read it does very little to add closed cooling system after the boat has been run in salt for a season or two.

If you want/need closed cooling it should come with a new boat.

deepcove · Soul Rider Joined: 15 Mar 2004 Posts: 296 City: Vancouver

I have a 2004 Mobius LS which I run and moore exclusively in salt, i have a closed cooling system and a flush kit installed. As far as flushing the motor I would say it is not neccesary however if you want to get longer life out of your manifolds and risers I would recomend flushing after each use ( as i do). this should extend the life from 3-4 seasons to 6-7, depending on how many hrs you put on in a season.

The advantage to a flush kit over a fake-a-lake is you can flush while in the water, you can also use this to winterize by running the hose from a bucket of anti-freeze which draws it thru your exchanger, risers and manifolds.

I paid $1500 CDN for my closed cooling system ( $1100 US).

Bruky · Guest

I do not think I have ever seen a closed cooling system as a factory option before... Neutral

BillJ · Posted: May 27, 2004 11:16 pm Post subject:

If you use your boat in salt frequently and want to prolong the life I recommend using saltaway to flush the engine after each use. Also be sure to thoroughly rinse the trailer off as it will corrode pretty quickly. Also rinse out the engine compartment/bilge after each use. A galvanized trailer is highly recommended for saltwater use instead of a painted one.

Even with good maintence you will have more issues after a couple of years. But if that's your only option then you just have to make the best of it.

MrBlean · Posted: May 28, 2004 1:01 am Post subject: What, again?

MrBlean · Posted: May 28, 2004 1:14 am Post subject: Correct!

Swass · Guest

lcap · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 10973 City: Homeless

MrBlean

Like you said. Thanks for making my point. Closed cooling is an option to consider when buying a new boat, not after. And in my opinnion, essential if running in saltwater.

tommyadrian5 · Addict Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 907

Swass · Guest

Huh? Please rephrase your attempt at criticizm in the form of a coherent sentence. This is very necessary if you want me to understand your logic.

I don't like to criticize - I like to argue. The difference is subtle, I know.

tommyadrian5 · Addict Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 907

Swass · Guest

Dude - you're clueless. Go away.

tommyadrian5 · Addict Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 907

Right, as we're both regular contributors to this board, i'll let it rest, knowing i'm right, and you're wrong. Done.

Swass · Guest

WTF? Is this funk with Swass day?

What, exactly, are you "right" about? "Inherently necessary?" That was neither implied nor explicitly stated.

I said: "I strongly disagree - it's VERY necessary if you want your risers and heat exchanger to last more than 3 years or so." If you don't want to extend the life of the risers and heat exchanger, then it's not necessary.

The only thing I can think of that's "inherently necessary" is breathing.

tommyadrian5 · Addict Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 907

I said: "I strongly disagree - it's VERY necessary if you want your risers and heat exchanger to last more than 3 years or so." If you don't want to extend the life of the risers and heat exchanger, then it's not necessary.

Thanks, you just backed up what i said, its not necessary, but is good to do. Well done.

It is not necessary in the fact that heat exchangers and manifolds are meant toe replaced and aren't all that expensive. And by the way, our 1996 Sea Ray with twin 454's and closed cooling, run exclusively in salt water, had the manifolds and heat exchangers replaced this winter, they were 8 years old with 650 hours. The technician that replaced them said they could go another 2 years no problem. The boat has never been flushed after use (you would require 2 water hoses per engine). So your three year life estimate is a little off.

Swass · Guest

Jesus H Bubb Rubbing Christ on a stick! That's your bone of contention? THAT'S IT?

I made no statement to suggest that it's inherently necessary. "If" does not mean it's inherently necessary any more than it means that it's NOT necessary. If I say "you have to breath if you want to live," does that mean breathing is not necessary?

This is just too stupid - I don't like funk with Swass day.

tommyadrian5 · Addict Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 907

No, its "Swass is wrong day", i'm done, good luck with your other argument.

MrBlean · Posted: May 28, 2004 9:24 am Post subject: Agreement

Swass - we've had our run in on the cruise issue but I'm with you on this. There's pedantic, then there's p-e-d-a-n-t-i-c.

I abhor sloppy posts to this forum but life's too short to worry about the most subtle and finest points of grammatical detail herein.