on board generator

[greenstreak]

When using the on board generator in saltwater how do a person flush out the unit?

thanks
art

 

[steve201]

there is a muff you can buy that has a hose attachment...it attaches too the water intake while on the blocks and you run it for about 15 minutes...for me...since I'm up in the pacnorwest and on blocks...I try and do that everytime I run it......

 

[greenstreak]

Hey Steve--- I trailer my boat. So there is a kit that i can buy so I will be able to flush out the genset each time I use it in saltwater. I always flush out my engine each time i am in saltwater. Can I buy the flushout kit at a boat store like West marine?

thanks
art

 

[PascalG]

genset are fresh water cooled, not sure it's worth the trouble. if you wter intake is a plain thruhull, not a shower head style cover, you could stuff a hose in there BUT be very careful not to let the water run without the genset running or you will quickly fill the muffler and send water back flowing into the cyl. a more controlable way would be to have a valve inside the boat, between the strainer and the raw water pump so that you can control the flow of water. turn it on when it starts, and shut down right away.

still playing with fire in my opinion... not an issue with mains since they dont' need esxhaust pressure to empty the mufler like gensets.

 

[greenstreak]

Hey Pascal--- I am new to the gensets. If they are fresh water cooled then why is it pumping water from beneath the boat?

thanks
art

 

[davita]

Art,
Check to see if your genset has a radiator cap on the top and if the fluid inside is anti-freeeze. If so, you have a fresh water loop cooled genset. The raw water inlet only cools the heat exchanger and the exhaust. There is normally no need to flush that system until winterizing.
David

 

[PascalG]

fresh water cooled, whether genset or main, means that coolant/fresh water is circulating inside the engine, not raw water and thru a heat exchnager (a radiator that works with water, not air). Raw water is pumped in by the raw water pump, and pushed thru the heat exchanger (and sometimes fuel cooler and tranny cooler) then out the exhaust.

the difference between genset and mains is that the mains have mufflers which do not trap water. Gensets usually have waterlift muffler which fill with water from the raw water circuit and that rely on exhaust pressure to get the water out. if you use a flusher without running the engine, or if you crank for long period of times, you will fill up the muffler, the manifold and send water in the engine since there is no echaust pressure to force the water out.

 

[greenstreak]

Thanks Pascal and Davita for the information. Now it makes sense to me how it works. Yes, I remember seeing a radiator cap on it when I did the sea trial today.

Art

 

[Bob J]

Prior to drydock; while still in slip I run genny on dockside water supply for about a half hour. Does two things: 1) Flushes salt water out of raw water side of cooling system & 2) heats oil so that I can change it & filter for the winter layup. Once oil is changed, I run AF thru system. Also change zinc in heat exchanger at this time. Good til spring.