[C38] How do I tell if my heat exhanger is not working?

Tue Aug 4 00:16:04 EDT 2015

Tom, 
Thanks for more information. 
Checking the compression seems like a good plan. 
Patrick 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Tom Troncalli" <tdtron at earthlink.net> 
To: "Catalina" <listserve at catalina38.org> 
Sent: Monday, August 3, 2015 7:20:48 PM 
Subject: Re: [C38] How do I tell if my heat exhanger is not working? 

Hello Patrick, 

I installed my Prestone kit back in the '90's and sold my boat several years ago so I'm working from memory but I think I mounted the elbow on the hose going from the engine to the exchanger but I'm not really sure. 

The main thing is to connect it in a hose that is accessible.  If you mount the elbow in the highest possible location it will help you "burp" the engine by temporarily cracking the cap loose and letting any trapped air escape from the elbow. 

As far as needing a new engine, many good engines are replaced that could have given many more years of dependable use.  If your 5424 has good compression and the lower block has no bearing noise, keep it.  That Kubota block makes for a very durable engine.  The good news is, they last forever.  The bad news is, they last forever. 

I appreciate your offer for a ride on your boat but I'm in Georgia which may make for a very long commute. 

Good luck, 
Tom Troncalli 

On 8/3/2015 11:43 AM, 1derful at comcast.net wrote: 

Tom, 

Thanks for the valuable information.  I plan on installing a Prestone flush kit today.  Does it matter which of the two hoses going to the heat exchanger I put the attachment on? 

Also where would I look to purchase a 3" heat exchanger? 

Just to give you some background my last mechanic told me I needed a new engine.  Engine costs about $10,000 = $5,000 labor + time for a bottom job on boat which is another $2,000.  I was thinking it may not be a good way to spend $17,000.  Fixing it with a heat exchanger is totally cool. 

Don't know where you live but if you're in the San Francisco bay area sometime I'd enjoy taking you out  sailing. 

Best, 

Patrick 
aka "Blue Eyes" 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Tom Troncalli" <tdtron at earthlink.net> 
To: "Catalina" <listserve at catalina38.org> 
Sent: Sunday, August 2, 2015 7:21:39 AM 
Subject: Re: [C38] How do I tell if my heat exhanger is not working? 

The original 2" heat exchanger on the 5424 was marginal in the best of conditions but with any debris or warm sea water environment the engine will overheat.  I have seen the 5424 overheat on a relatively new boat going across the Florida straight to Bimini. 

I kept my Catalina 38 in Tampa bay and even with the engine flushed and using clean antifreeze water, the engine would run on the hot side in Summer when the bay was warmer. 

I made a 3" exchanger for my 38 and never experienced overheating again. 

Prestone makes an engine flush kit that puts an elbow in a coolant hose from the engine to the heat exchanger which allows easy flushing of the engine and also an easy way to "burp" the engine to remove air in the system.  This kit is cheap and works well with any boat, upgraded heat exchanger or not. 

With this kit you can put the chemical flush in the engine, run it to clean up the engine, then use a city water hose to flush the residual cleaner from the cooling system. We first drained the engine into a bucket to remove as much of the cleaning solution safely from the boat as possible before we used the city water flush with the intention of keeping as much of the flush chemical from exiting through our bilge pump into the harbor. 

Flushing probably eventually helps any engine but on the 5424 nothing beats a larger heat exchanger.  The original 2" exchanger just could not handle 24hp except in ideal conditions.  With a thermostat controlled engine, it is better to have an exchanger larger than needed but not smaller. 

That's my experience anyway. 

Tom Troncalli 
Previous owner #95 

On 8/1/2015 11:29 PM, 1derful at comcast.net wrote: 

<blockquote>

Hello, 

My Catalina has been overheating.  Universal Diesel 5424. 
I removed the thermostat........it was corroded and wrapped with debris. 
I removed and cleaned the internal water pump.  Also lot of debris. 
Put hose in engine.  Water didn't flow but eventually it did.  More debris. 
now when I run the engine it is cool until I put on the radiator cap..........then it gets too hot and loses water. 

Any thoughts? 

Patrick 

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