Cooling System Service & Why It’s Important
The cooling system of your yachts equipment contains some of the most critical components that allow your yacht to perform as it should. Its job is to literally cool down the heat created by the engine, transmission, or generator, so that they can run at the proper temperature. Without a properly working cooling system engines, transmissions, and generators can quickly overheat, leading to costly and sometimes catastrophic damage. The big question is, how do we avoid the bad things that can occur from a cooling system failure? The answer to this question is to Stay on top of cooling system service!!!
What Cooling System Service Entails:
Servicing or replacing heat exchangers, gear coolers, oil coolers, aftercoolers, fuel coolers, raw water pumps, and strainers.
Flushing old coolant and replacing it with fresh fluid.
Inspecting and replacing sea water valves, thru-hulls, worn hoses, clamps, and seals.
Removing scale, corrosion, and other buildup that restricts water flow.
Why It Matters:
Prevents Overheating and Erosion
Proper service ensures the system can not only reduce heat effectively, but it also protects against saltwater continuously eating away at the cooling system components. Overheating can cause major and even catastrophic damage to engines, transmissions, and generators. Saltwater erosion will cause damage just as badly by the means of saltwater intrusion. Whether that be saltwater getting into the oil via the oil cooler, or by getting into the air intake via the aftercooler just to name some examples. Bottom line is regular cooling system service will extend the life and reliability of your yacht.Reduces Corrosion and Blockages
Saltwater, rust, and mineral deposits can clog cooling passages. When these passages get clogged it can restrict sea water flow to the point things just aren’t being cooled enough.Saves Money Long-Term
Routine service is far less expensive than repairing or replacing components damaged by overheating or corrosion.Peace of Mind on the Water
A properly maintained cooling system provides confidence that your vessel’s engine, transmission, and generator are staying as cool as you.
The photo above and below are both of heat exchangers (Coolers that cool the coolant down). Both you can see have significant corrosion and build up. This is a perfect example of coolers that should be serviced immediately.
Below is a photo of a raw water pump. Do you where all that green/ blue corrosion is in the center of the pump? That is a clear indication that the pump is leaking out of what’s commonly called the “weep hole”. When this is noticeable it’s time to replace your raw water pump.
Below is another raw water pump in fact it’s the same pump as in the photo above just not off the same engine. You can see that it also has a “weep hole” leak, and if you look at the raw water pumps outlet it’s completely clogged with impeller blades. This was on a generator that was getting no water flow out of the exhaust.