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Kelkara · Today, 13:31

my engine has been very slowly consuming coolant ... I took apart the heat exchanger today, and found a damaged o-ring that I think must have caused a leak between the raw water and coolant sides.

however, the coolant side is full of scale and white gunk. usually when servicing the heat exchanger the tubes are pristine ... this is not scale built up on the seawater side, but in the coolant reservoir.

I guess my question is ... is this something I just clean up and put back together ... or should I panic and get a professional to sort it out?

donradcliffe · Today, 13:44

It is not usual. Its likely due to salt. I'd use a pressure washer to see if it knocks the gunk off, then maybe run the engine with coolant flush.

While you have the heat exchanger out, test to make sure all the tubes are patent.

thinwater · Today, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelkara

my engine has been very slowly consuming coolant ... I took apart the heat exchanger today, and found a damaged o-ring that I think must have caused a leak between the raw water and coolant sides.

however, the coolant side is full of scale and white gunk. usually when servicing the heat exchanger the tubes are pristine ... this is not scale built up on the seawater side, but in the coolant reservoir.

I guess my question is ... is this something I just clean up and put back together ... or should I panic and get a professional to sort it out?

The calcium coagulated the organic inhibitors. You will need a full flush of the motor as well. Hopefully it has not been long enough for the chloride (salt) to do serious damamge. I would do it twice, followed by fresh water. This is exceptional. I would then change the coolant again in the few months.

[My day job for decades was coolants formulation, including one patent. I am not fear mongering.]