Cooling Tubes on Heat Exchangers

[irwin28]

I have a yanmar 3gm30 and I was just reading in the manual about leaning the cooling tubes. Does anyone of you ever lean this? Was curious how often you should or if its really necessary that I risk cleaning it being I'm a rookie with tools and would hate to make it work LOL.

[Laidback]

Originally Posted by irwin28

I have a yanmar 3gm30 and I was just reading in the manual about leaning the cooling tubes. Does anyone of you ever lean this? Was curious how often you should or if its really necessary that I risk cleaning it being I'm a rookie with tools and would hate to make it work LOL.

What does the manual say ???

[irwin28]

It didn't give any kind of service due date kind of thing but it just showed a discription and told how to clean it...nothing about it happening periodicaly.

[Laidback]

Guess the answer must be :- if they need cleaning - clean them as per manual.

[irwin28]

But how would you know if the only way you have to find out is by taking it apart anyway

[Laidback]

Originally Posted by irwin28

But how would you know if the only way you have to find out is by taking it apart anyway

Depending on the type - one way would be:- by connecting a fresh water supply to the the inlet of the cooling 'tubes', and an outlet hose to the outlet - then turn on the water and check the flow.

[irwin28]

So how do you guess my flow should be?

[Laidback]

Originally Posted by irwin28

So how do you guess my flow should be?

#1 Take a bucket - stop watch - with water from supply source - Take the time it takes to fill the bucket.
#2 empty the bucket
#3 Take the bucket - stop watch - with water from the cooling pipes outlet - take the time it takes to fill the bucket

The difference in time that it takes to fill the bucket should indicate poor, reasonable or good in terms of flow and volume.

[delmarrey]

The best thing is too take the core out of the heat-exchanger and look down the tubes. If you see lots of good size bumps inside or around the tubes then it's due for a cleaning.

You can either take it to a radiator shop or buy some radiator flush and soak it in a bucket with hot water and the mix. If the bumps remain after a do-it-yourself then take it to a radi shop. They'll need to manually clean the tubes with a scraping rod and they should test it afterwords.

Don't forget to buy new gaskets for the end caps and use anti-sieze on the bolts when reinstalling. And don't tighten the bolts too tight (aluminum heat-exchangers)

[irwin28]

Very much appreciated guys....god I love this web-site

[Tempest245]

in addition, probably the best maintenance you can do is to regularly check the zinc and change it as needed.

[Strygaldwir]

You have a zinc!!

[scotte]

Looks like this is a fresh cooled model - 3gm30f, which has no zinc...

[Blue Stocking]

If you are over here in my part of the ocean, Sargasso Sea, and motor thru the Sargassum weed, check the tubes for berries regularly. Don't ask me how they get past the strainer baskets, but they do.
We keep a 24" length of St.Steel core from an old Morse cable to poke them out.

[irwin28]

Sorry for the late reply...I have 3 zincs that needs to be checked next. Now I. Have been calling everywhere for the gaskets and can't find one without waiting til next week...can ii just use liquid gasket on something like this? Btw how is this not a saltwater scotte?