Cool down time

[Philip]

On my QSC8.3-540’s during a normal cruise I see engine coolant temps of 172. I can run for a two hour run and the temps never budge. Temps cool down as soon as I come off plane as expected. I idle into the harbor and get into my slip. 

 

My question is not cooling system related per se, rather I wonder how long should I idle and let things cool down before shutting down? Once tied up at the dock I see temps at 158 so I am sitting on the thermostat. I let her run for a bit longer to let oil temps and the turbos cool, but how long should I let them cool before shutdown? 5 mins, 10mins? Is longer better? 

Topic

[Rob Schepis]

You really do not have to give this too much thought.  The turbos is coolant jacket cooled so the normal course of coming back to the slip (no wake zones, docking, securing the lines) is a built in cool down.  Same thing with motoring into an anchorage or the like.  The only time I have even thought about it was setting down to rest from cruise in open water and then I do let her idle a good 5 minutes or so.  A dry turbo would run much hotter and if that is shut down hot it could cook the oil left within.

[Author]

Replies