Full closed cooling systems - advantages?

[dvan1901]

This may be a stupid question, but are closed cooling systems "better" or easier to maintain than a traditional open cooling system? What about when it comes to winter layup time? From some of the things I've read, it sounds like you get the greatest advantage if you boat in salt water. What sort of "problems" does a closed system eliminate?

 

[Don S]

Re: Full closed cooling systems - advantages?

With a closed cooling system, you have antifreeze cooling your engine (and exhaust manifolds with a full system) instead of raw (lake or salt) water.
The heat exchanger has raw water cooling the antifreeze similar to the radiator of a car.
One thing about antifreeze, is it dosen't rust up the engine like salt water.
But It's NOT recommended to install a closed cooling system on an older engine that has over 100 or so hours or a years use.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Full closed cooling systems - advantages?

a full system circulates the coolant mix through the manifold, only seawater goes through the riser. full cooling with stainless risers last a long time here in the salt pond.
with full cooling all that needs to be done to protect the seawater system is to run a few gallons of non toxic AF through the system.
maint is much easier on full cooled systems.
about the dumbest boat I have seen was last summer,
had a big camper with twin 7.4s, half cooling system with the merc manifolds that have the aluminium covers. they corroded through in 2 years.
what a nightmare.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Full closed cooling systems - advantages?

What sort of "problems" does a closed system eliminate?

Corrosion of your engine and exhaust manifolds. And corroded exhaust manifold eventually lead to getting water in the cylinders, which ruins a motor. Those are the big problems it eliminates.

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Full closed cooling systems - advantages?

So, there seems to be a lot of advantages to this system over the long haul. Why don't more people run them? It seems like the $1000 or so now would save the same or more later...?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Full closed cooling systems - advantages?

cause most folks are clueless,including most boat salesmen.
most folks have no concept of engine cooling nor liquid to liquid heat exchangers.
they simply see the bottom line.
I did a repower on a 27 Albermarle a year or so ago with twin 5.7's. tried for 3 weeks to talk them into closed cooling.
now they are wishing they had done it as we have had to replace the riser gaskets and both circulating pumps.
yes it adds to the cost but I have never seen a hole corrode through the intake into the lifter vally on a fresh water cooled engine

 

[Speakrdude]

Re: Full closed cooling systems - advantages?

I "half-cooled" mine. (Volvo)
Love it.

 

[Coors]

Re: Full closed cooling systems - advantages?

Trailer it home. muffs for 1/2 hour=brackish water gone.