Cummins Marine Diesel Repower Specialists › Forums › Cummins Marine Engines › Cummins QSC 8.3 coolant flush/change
jeff vargas.
Does anyone have any links or instructions on the steps to changing/flushing cooling system?
Thanks,
Thanks, really appreciate the help! The guys at the local Cummins were pretty much useless on marine applications with this engine.
Mine don’t have filters either. They aren’t needed for the marine application.
Hey Phil, I have a stupid question. I went and picked up my Coolant today and the parts guy asked me if I needed filters. Hmmmm, I was puzzled as I didn’t see any coolant/water filters anywhere on the engines. I bought them anyway as they were cheap and I didn’t want to go back and figured WTH. So today, I’m back at the boat and I can’t find coolant filters anywhere on the engines. Am I blind? What is it that I don’t know? Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this.
I wish I knew a good mechanic in San Francisco, I’m sure they exist. With the knowledge you have it’s a matter of talking to guys and asking them questions. Let them explain in detail their process. You will know when you find the right guy as he will have the right answers to how he services an aftercooler.
The cores won’t come out without removing the whole thing from the boat first. Sounds like the port exhaust is coming off unless you find a really small mechanic. Then again it’s a good opportunity to inspect the turbo.
Phil
I’ve read through all the info on the aftercoolers on this site. This site has been so helpful it’s not even funny. It’s saved me from buying some pretty shitty boats, and there’s a lot out there. Every time I asked a broker about aftercooler maintenance they all went silent. What I’ve found is a bunch of unscrupulous brokers trying to sell boats that haven’t been maintained. All a bunch of crooks! And then I found this boat after about a years search that actually had maintenance records.
I think the whole aftercooler process is beyond my ability both mechanically and time wise. I could probably pull the port engine one off but the Starboard engine will need the exhaust tube pulled just to be able to get to it. That is unless you know some trick to pulling the cores while the manifolds remain. But then again, if it’s going to get done, I assume the whole thing should be pulled off and pressure tested and done right. The boat is a 2008 48 Searay Sundancer. What I’d really be interested in is hiring someone in the San Francisco Bay Area that is trustworthy, competent and knows how to do the job right.
Do you travel Phil? 🙂 Any recommendations?
Nothing more than I posted to refilling the system.
Usually the aftercooler is more sensitive to service interval and wear status. I’d rebuild that if your unsure of when or how it was last done. Lots of great info here on how to do that properly. If you have specific question as to that process just ask.
Phil
Phil, thanks I really appreciate the quick response. My post wasn’t 100% on point. I actually just got this boat 2008/550hrs and I’m going through everything. So, I actually pulled the end caps on the heat exchangers to check them out to see what I got myself into. Everything looks really good right now. So, I thought I’d reach out to see if there’s anything special I need to do when refilling coolant. Attached is pic of heat exchanger core when I got the cap off. Again, thanks for the help!
The first question that comes to mind is why do you believe you need a coolant flush. These engines are not particularly coolant sensitive.
It’s a straight forward process. Drain is located on the bottom of the oil cooler. Holds about 8-9 gallons. Refill slowly. Warm the engine up with the coolant cap loose. When it cools you will be able to top it again.
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