6BTA AFTERCOOLER

[Daniel]

Hello. I have a new to me 2002 Tiara Express 35 with 6bta 5.9 engines.  We recently installed a new RECON long block and working on the peripherals. Today the mechanic  sent me these pictures and told me that the aftercooler core is stuck to the housing and that it looks like previously someone tried to push it out and left it crooked.  Also said there was a lot of some type of silicone on the caps that might have been used to create a seal  and that there were white spots in the interior  around the temp sensor which he said were caused by saltwater infiltration.    He is suggesting I buy a new aftercooler but I wanted to see if anyone has had experience repairing one.  Could a machine shop repair this?

Topic

[Daniel]

Hope you have a great Birthday Weekend!

[Tony Athens]

Guess I read it wrong– Yes, I do get short sometimes.. Getting old & cranky?? 75 this weekend.. ……………………….Sorry

[Rob Schepis]

Daniel, be sure to service the aftercoolers the Seaboard way BEFORE you put them into service.  If you happen to buy them from Seaboard the service is done before shipping.

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Daniel

[Daniel]

Tony – BTW – “I was actually hoping someone with more experience could chime in there thoughts”  – This DIDNT mean that I was hoping that someone with more experience than YOU could chime in!!!!  This meant that I was hoping that someone with more experience than ME (which most likely would be everyone in this forum) – would chime in there thoughts.  

Anyhow thanks for the good intentions and all the good info you provide.  Will be replacing the coolers following your maintenance tips.  

[Daniel]

Thank you Stephen.  That was exactly the type of feedback I was looking for when I initially wrote on this forum. I am going to go ahead and replace the coolers and make sure to follow the maintenance as suggested on this site.   Appreciate your feedback.  

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Stephen Oliver

[Stephen Oliver]

Notwithstanding that Tony is THE MOST EXPERIENCED person you will find…..

That intercooler core is not in wonky.. as has been mentioned.. someone has tried to get it out.. probably using a big hammer.. or a tool not suited (ask me how I know)

I ended up having a friend press the cores out when I purchased the boat.. with a 100t press. He made a tool to fit the cores which I now have… The cores were so well stuck and I did such a poor job of trying to remove one of them, they were damaged. A local company who specialise in  industrial intercoolers and aftercoolers repaired them for me at a fraction of the cost of new ones. They were not as damaged as yours though. I’d suggest that you will be up for at least new cores.. and no idea what condition the housing would be in.. Condensation / leakage cause the aluminium housing to fuzz up and lock the cores in place. Its a game of frustration and patience to get them out.

They need removing properly – inspecting – repairing / replacing – refurbing etc. They need assembling exactly as Tony demonstrates on this site using the exact procedure and grease etc. They then need pressure testing at 25+psi ( I do it for 24 hours per side) with pretty much zero loss. The cores can be tested individually too.. but I test the whole thing instead. Do it right and do it every 2 years in salt water.. if you dont have fresh water flush.. its not a hard procedure.. once they have been maintained correctly but it will save some serious dollars along the way.. the sad thing is there are not many ‘professionals’ that would do this.. 

Steve

[Daniel]

Thank you Gene.  I appreciate the feedback.  

[Daniel]

Thought this was a forum to ask for help.  Seems like my question was just a disturbance for you.  Wont bother you any longer.  

[Tony Athens]

 

“I was actually hoping someone with more experience could chime in there thoughts”

  Please let us know who you find..

[Gene Fuller]

It would be absolutely impossible to install the aftercooler core in some “crooked” manner. What the picture shows is that someone has smashed the end of the core in an attempt to get it removed.

Total trash.

[Daniel]

Thanks for the suggestion.  I was actually hoping someone with more experience could chime in there thoughts.  I have read the articles and searched within other sites and even though the information is clear I just don’t have the experience and knowledge to come to a conclusion.  I was just hoping for a second opinion to what my mechanic had told me.  I apologize if this wasn’t the correct place to post such a question.  

[Tony Athens]

Start reading now and continue for a few days…………………………….. Then come back as if you truly read, the answer is there.. You won’t need this forum.

https://www.sbmar.com/category/articles/marine-aftercoolers/

 

 

[Author]

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