fresh water cooling system

[ccruser1]

Greetings everyone. I am thinking of adding a fresh water cooling system to my 2300 SCR with a 4.3. Has anyone done this and if so was worth the expense? I run this in salt water and because it is slipped I only flush it when it comes out mid season to clean the hull and at the end of the season. I know there are some add on units out there but not sure how good they are.
Thanks for your input.
ccruser1

[seapuppy]

ccruser.....the problem is that your boat has been in salt water for so long...it might behoove you to get a flushing system and shoot salt away thru it a few times to clean out all the water jackets.....might want to have the elbows and exhaust manifolds checked ...then install the orca brand fwc system.....mercruiser also has a kit that's pretty good and complete......don't know what the cost is but it's a good unit or they wouldn't put it on every engine.....

keep us informed on what you do...

SP

[pascavone]

Most mechinic will tell you a fresh water heat exchanger is only good if then engine had it on since new to protect the engine.

They run for about $800, but i've seen then on craigslist for $400 from time to time.

I have it on my 7.4, and makes winterize a lot simpler.

[ccruser1]

Thanks for your feedback. This boat has seen mostly fresh water as this is really it's first full season of salt water use. I bought it in Sept. and slipped it for 6 weeks. It came out of New Hampshire and was used I was told 85-90% in fresh water. The manifolds seem to be in great shape. When I winterized them last month they looked to be in good condition. The engine block plugs came out easily and had just a very minor amount of debris around the plug opening.

[MCM]

I am thinking of adding a fresh water cooling system to my 2300 SCR with a 4.3.
ccruser1

So did you add the cooling system, and if so, which brand and how much did it cost if I might ask?

Thank you.