HX and Gear oil cooler servicing….

[Robert Vetrano]

I’ve read the aftercooler service article, forum posts, and watched the vid….I’m pretty set on that. Will someone direct me to literature for servicing the HX, gear, and fuel coolers? Or are those just basically rod them out, bathe them in 10:1 pool acid, and pressure test them?

Thanks!

Twin QSB 5.9, 380HO

Topic

[Tony Athens]

Acid Cleaning HX, Gear cooler, aftercooler–Tube side

Rod out the tubes as you can– a 1/8″ dia aluminum “TIG” rod works great.. Remove the zincs, Cap one end, and stand vertical, Fill the “tube side” with 10:1 for 30-60 minutes and rinse..You will see “bubbles” as it acid dissolves the calcium lime, old zinc, etc.

Tony

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Robert Vetrano

[Robert Vetrano]

Wow. Yeah, that would be bad. Cooler life noted though.

No, I don’t suspect any issues……so I won’t pressure test anything other than the aftercoolers. Is your recommendation for the HX, gear, fuel
coolers to just bathe them then? 10:1 pool
acid? For how long?

Thanks!

[Tony Athens]

Your take is about right.. As to pressure testing after cleaning? Unless you suspect an issue, then IMO, not necessary..

But keep in mind that gear coolers run at high pressures on the oil side, and experience over the past 20+++ years has shown that these have a finite life when in saltwater, and if they do not have zincs, then that life needs to brought into the equation as to “time to replace” before they fail…………

We just had another Cummins supplied gear cooler made by CHAMP fail at 6 months in service / under 600 hours (New QSL9) and it was over a $15000 repair as the new ZF286A gear had to be replaced…Warranty is paying, but still, that is not something I should have to deal with.

Tony

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