Closed Loop Cooling for 06 Maristar MCX

[Chief]

I will be glad to take more pictures of specific areas if you need them now or as you dig into the project, just let me know.

Thanks Mike! Looks like a managble project.

[michael freeman]

I will be glad to take more pictures of specific areas if you need them now or as you dig into the project, just let me know.

[michael freeman]

I shoved my camera below the engine to see where the pickup lines are routed and got this:

[michael freeman]

The other side of the engine:

[michael freeman]

Here are the sides of the engine:

[michael freeman]

This is me looking down between the air cleaner and the heat exchanger:

[michael freeman]

Here is the intake into the engine:

[michael freeman]

Here is a picture of the top of the engine (top of picture is back of boat in V-drive):

[Chief]

Sorry for the slow reply. I will try to take pictures tonight when I get home and post them between answering the door for candy goblins.

Not a problem. Thanks again.

[michael freeman]

That would be great Mike maybe the mounting of the heat exchanger and the hose connections. That will help with the install. I really appreciate the help.

Sorry for the slow reply. I will try to take pictures tonight when I get home and post them between answering the door for candy goblins.

[Chief]

The heat exchanger goes across the front of the engine... which is towards the back of the boat in a v-drive. It kind of tucks in under the flame arrestor on the MCX engine. There isn't a lot of room to make the plumbing connections and mount the tank in a v-drive with the engine in the boat.

The reason I suggested draining the one-piece aluminum manifolds is that there are plugs that are welded into the manifolds to plug up the holes that are used to let the casting sand out of the manifolds.Those plugs are not the same aluminum alloy as the manifolds and in fact are more electrically active than the manifolds themselves.If you remember 6th grade science, any time you have two dissimilar metals (the manifolds and the plugs) and an electrolyte (salt water) you have a battery. Eventually, the anode of the battery (the welded in plugs) gets consumed, resulting in water leaks in the manifold. I am not sure how "conductive" the salt away material is. If it was my boat, I would disconnect the hose that runs between the manifolds and let them drain.

Engine Nut

Thanks engine, good point on the dissimilar metals. I may have to hire a midget for the install.

[Engine Nut]

Engine: Where do you think I'm going to run into the biggest problem when installing. The Maristar has a lot of room in the engine compartment when I remove the dividers. Hell I can lay down on each side of the engine compartments. It is a half system since the the manifolds are one piece and thats all good with me since I am what you would call "analretentive" (spelling?) and always flush religiously when I even come out of freshwater. I use a product after a through flushing called "salt away" to leave in the block and manifolds. Should I still drain the manifolds with salt away filling the manifolds?

Thanks

The heat exchanger goes across the front of the engine... which is towards the back of the boat in a v-drive. It kind of tucks in under the flame arrestor on the MCX engine. There isn't a lot of room to make the plumbing connections and mount the tank in a v-drive with the engine in the boat.

The reason I suggested draining the one-piece aluminum manifolds is that there are plugs that are welded into the manifolds to plug up the holes that are used to let the casting sand out of the manifolds.Those plugs are not the same aluminum alloy as the manifolds and in fact are more electrically active than the manifolds themselves.If you remember 6th grade science, any time you have two dissimilar metals (the manifolds and the plugs) and an electrolyte (salt water) you have a battery. Eventually, the anode of the battery (the welded in plugs) gets consumed, resulting in water leaks in the manifold. I am not sure how "conductive" the salt away material is. If it was my boat, I would disconnect the hose that runs between the manifolds and let them drain.

Engine Nut

[Chief]

I have a closed cooling system (factory install) on my 06 MCX. If you would like me to take a picture of anything let me know.

That would be great Mike maybe the mounting of the heat exchanger and the hose connections. That will help with the install. I really appreciate the help.

[michael freeman]

Engine: Where do you think I'm going to run into the biggest problem when installing. The Maristar has a lot of room in the engine compartment when I remove the dividers. Hell I can lay down on each side of the engine compartments. It is a half system since the the manifolds are one piece and thats all good with me since I am what you would call "analretentive" (spelling?) and always flush religiously when I even come out of freshwater. I use a product after a through flushing called "salt away" to leave in the block and manifolds. Should I still drain the manifolds with salt away filling the manifolds?

Thanks

I have a closed cooling system (factory install) on my 06 MCX. If you would like me to take a picture of anything let me know.

[Chief]

There are two types of closed cooling systems, commonly referred to as half systems or full systems. A half system closed cools the engine only but not the exhaust manifolds. A full system includes the manifolds in the closed cooling system. On your engine, a full system would require new exhaust manifolds. If you have a v-drive engine configuration, installation is not an easy task. We generally install the closed system before the engine gets installed in the boat!

A closed system still needs to be winterized. You have to drain the raw water side of the heat exchanger, the raw water pump and transmission cooler and if it is a half system the manifolds need to be drained also.

If you install a closed system and run in salt or brackish water, the system still needs to be flushed to prevent salt buildup in the trans cooler and raw water side of the heat exchanger. If you install a half system, I also recommend draining the one piece aluminum exhaust manifolds after each use in salt or brackish water.

Engine Nut

Engine: Where do you think I'm going to run into the biggest problem when installing. The Maristar has a lot of room in the engine compartment when I remove the dividers. Hell I can lay down on each side of the engine compartments. It is a half system since the the manifolds are one piece and thats all good with me since I am what you would call "analretentive" (spelling?) and always flush religiously when I even come out of freshwater. I use a product after a through flushing called "salt away" to leave in the block and manifolds. Should I still drain the manifolds with salt away filling the manifolds?

Thanks