[C38] Water Heater Plumbing

[Glen Robinson]

Hi, all!
I'm doing a thousand things at once, right now, & can't remember if I already posted the following to this group:
After years of chronic engine heating problems, I asked this C-38 forum for suggestions.
Unfortunately, I can't recall who to credit, but I received the following advice which absolutely ended the engine heating problem without imparing the efficiency of the water heater.
It is a simple 3-step process, as follows:
1) Completely remove both the hoses (inlet and outlet) from the water heater heat exchanger.  Bypass the heat exchanger by reconnecting its inlet hose to the place where the exchanger outlet hose connected to the engine accumulator tank.  (This will require a new length of hose, long enough to reach from the water pump clear to the accumulator).
2) Remove the thermostat bypass hose (as I recall, it is a short, 90-degree hose
going from the thermostat discharge to the front of the engine block).
3) Run 2 new hoses to the exchanger: the first from the thermostat discharge to the exchanger inlet, the second from the exchanger discharge back to the bypass fitting on the front of the block.  (It may be necessary to use different hose fittings to allow this new routing of these hoses, but I don't recall for certain).
This system removes the restriction of the heat exchanger from the engine cooling system, greatly improving the volume of engine cooling water flow.  And the heat exchanger only gets flow after the engine comes up to operating temperature, and only uses water that previously was simply recycled through the thermostat opening.
Again, I apologize to whomever gave me this info, as I can't recall your name.  I do, however, strongly endorse the process and the excellent result.
Glen
SnowBird
C-38 #296

--- On Wed, 8/19/09, Tom T. <tdtron at earthlink.net> wrote:


From: Tom T. <tdtron at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [C38] Water Heater Plumbing
To: "Catalina 38 Listserve" <listserve at catalina38.org>
Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2009, 12:25 PM




I have no idea what that valve is for in your system.  My hot engine water circulates through the exchanger and hot water heater all of the time.
 
Mine is routed through the hot water heater before the exchanger so that no heat is wasted in the exchanger when waiting for hot water while we motor to a place to anchor after a day of sailing.
 
Tom Troncalli
Renata #95
 

 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Steve Smolinske 
To: Catalina 38 Listserve
Sent: 8/19/2009 1:16:25 PM 
Subject: [C38] Water Heater Plumbing


Okay now that Im going to fix the heat exchanger issue, looking at the plumbing between the exchanger and the water heater there is a length of fittings with a gate valve in the center.  From what I can access when the valve is closed it forces water through the heater, when opened less of a direct route into the heater but I would say its a total bypass.   It would be simpler without this, are others water heaters plumbed directly to the exchanger?  can anyone tell me the function of what I have just described?  Thanks. 
 
Steve Smolinske
President
 
4M Company, Inc.
15660 Nelson Place South
Seattle, WA  98188
425-227-4500
www.rainierrubber.com

 
The information contained in this email may be confidential and/or proprietary in nature and is intended for the recipient of the email only.  Please treat all information contained in this and any communication with the 4M Company as such.  Thank you.
 
P Before printing, think about ENVIRONMENTAL responsibility
 
 
 
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