Backwash My Heat Exchanger?

[DennisM]

Okay, during winterization, I took a bit too much time switching my intake hose from one jug of antifreeze to another, sucked up a bunch of air and tore three veins off my impeller. I've been told that I'll need to backwash my heat exchanger to remove the impeller pieces. That makes sense to me, but I have two questions:

1. Do I need to do that before I start the engine in the spring?

2. How do I do it?

As always, any and all help is greatly appreciated.

[DeepFrz]

Usually people just take the end caps off the heat exchanger to clean and inspect it. When was the last time your HE was cleaned?

Compass Marine "How To" Articles Photo Gallery by Compass Marine at pbase.com
Scroll down and check the red HE to see what can accumulate.

[DennisM]

Thanks very much for the link, DeepFrz. I sent the HE away for steam cleaning two seasons ago.

[DeepFrz]

Sometimes the pump vanes, depending I guess on how broken up they are, can go right through the HE and end up clogging the injection elbow. I have not personally seen this though...

[DennisM]

Hmmm...the elbow is new from two seasons ago. I guess I'll try to take the caps off before launch and see if I can find the rubber pieces.