Greetings - This is my first post, though I read this forum quite a bit. I know this issue has been addressed elsewhere here, but I haven't quite found what I seek, I guess.
I have a 1980
Sabre 28 w/which I bump around MidCoast
Maine. It has a
raw water cooled
Volvo Md 7/A . I bought it 4 years ago and it has been relatively hassle-free. I love it. Anyway, the waterflow out the
exhaust isn't what it should be. Additionally, the Temp Gauge will jump up if I run it full throttle too long, but quickly settles to normal when I ease it back. From a usage standpoint, this really hasn't been much of a problem, I just don't run full, or close to full throttle often and I've managed. My buddy is a
marine Engineer and he says it could run that way for the next 10 years w/out issue provided I keep an eye on it.
Anyway - I
Winter and
Service the
boat at a nearby Shipyard that I like thus far. They have told me that these engines essentially
rot (rust) from the inside out and outright
engine failure is inevitable, but measures can be taken to prolong it's life. I guess I agree, I'm not mechanical but am sloooowly
learning a bit via this
engine. Below is an
email from the yard, I'd be most appreciative if some of the mechanically inclined folks here could share your thoughts. Thanks much - Chris (I've changed the names to protect the innocent)
___________________________________
On the engine, I met with Joe, our
diesel mechanic on the engine. Last year we did the following to help with the
cooling situation.
1. We removed the
elbow and cleaned it. It was in pretty good shape.
2. We removed the thermostat and its housing. The housing was filled with rust and sediment which we cleaned.
3. We replaced the thermostat.
Joe and I discussed trying a radiator cleaner (ex: Rydlyme) on the engine. He recommends against it. Loose sediment dislodged by the harsh cleaner may cause clogging down the line.
He recommends a thorough
flushing it with fresh
water and then running non-tox
antifreeze through it. This is leaves the engine clean and protected for the
winter. Remember that this is an old saltwater cooled engine. It’s life-expectancy is limited. There is nothing we can do to reverse that, but the right measures might slow down its internal deterioration.
On the
exhaust manifold, if we can free up the bolds to remove it, it might benefit from an acid bath. BUT, as with any rusted bolt, you run the risk of snapping it off. If one were to break in the wrong place, we might have to remove the engine to
repair it. I’ll have Joe look at it and see what he thinks.
Guess that’s it. Mike