I have a question regarding my cooling system. My freshwater/antifreeze system as a leak somewhere because I have to keep on filling it up and I was wondering if anyone had that problem before. Hoses and connections are fine, salt water cooling system (impeller0 seems to be working correctly. I suspect a leak in the heat exchanger but I'm not sure. Does anyone have anything to suggest or any idea where I can buy a new heat exchanger? thank you.
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leak
Hi Patrick; Is your engine a Universal M25XP? Do you find a small puddle of antifreeze in the engine bilge, or no sign of antifreeze anywhere? Could be as serious as a blown head gasket, or as simple as tightening a fitting. Give us a little more info to work with. I have a M25XP and found the coolant drain on the starboard side of the engine to be leaking little. Actually it was the larger fitting that the drain screws into which then screws into the block. A 30mm socket fixed that leak. I did have a small puddle of antifreeze in the engine bilge and could not find the source for quite a while. fair winds Dave
Hi Patrick; Is your engine a Universal M25XP? Do you find a small puddle of antifreeze in the engine bilge, or no sign of antifreeze anywhere? Could be as serious as a blown head gasket, or as simple as tightening a fitting. Give us a little more info to work with. I have a M25XP and found the coolant drain on the starboard side of the engine to be leaking little. Actually it was the larger fitting that the drain screws into which then screws into the block. A 30mm socket fixed that leak. I did have a small puddle of antifreeze in the engine bilge and could not find the source for quite a while. fair winds Dave
Pressure test
The way to test for and find leaks like this is to pressurize the freshwater system. This is a common test and any mechanic has a tool for doing this: essentially you remove the freshwater fill cap and stick the tester in. It has a cuff that you inflate which locks it in place while you then pump some pressure into the system. If the system holds pressure, you don't have a leak. If it doesn't hold pressure, you crawl all over looking for where the coolant is leaking out (which is much easier to find when everything is cold and the coolant leaks as a liquid, not vapor). Losing pressure and can't find a leak? pull the raw water outlet hose off of the heat exchanger....if coolant is coming out, you have your answer.
The way to test for and find leaks like this is to pressurize the freshwater system. This is a common test and any mechanic has a tool for doing this: essentially you remove the freshwater fill cap and stick the tester in. It has a cuff that you inflate which locks it in place while you then pump some pressure into the system. If the system holds pressure, you don't have a leak. If it doesn't hold pressure, you crawl all over looking for where the coolant is leaking out (which is much easier to find when everything is cold and the coolant leaks as a liquid, not vapor). Losing pressure and can't find a leak? pull the raw water outlet hose off of the heat exchanger....if coolant is coming out, you have your answer.
antifreeze in the impeller pump
Hi Dave, Yes I found trace of antifreeze in the impeller pump which make me believe that the two systems are mixing up together somewhere. And this somewhere is most likely the heat exchanger. Otherwise why would I have Antifreeze in the saltwater cooling system? I thought about a blast head gasket but that would have probably contaminated the whole engine and I would probably be able to see it just by looking at the oil level gauge which would show trace of other liquid than oil. That is my assumptions but if you have any other ideas let me know. Oh, my engine is a 25xp. Thanks for helping. Is there any way that the two cooling system (freshwater and saltwater mixes in the heat exchanger caused by a unpressurized system?
Hi Dave, Yes I found trace of antifreeze in the impeller pump which make me believe that the two systems are mixing up together somewhere. And this somewhere is most likely the heat exchanger. Otherwise why would I have Antifreeze in the saltwater cooling system? I thought about a blast head gasket but that would have probably contaminated the whole engine and I would probably be able to see it just by looking at the oil level gauge which would show trace of other liquid than oil. That is my assumptions but if you have any other ideas let me know. Oh, my engine is a 25xp. Thanks for helping. Is there any way that the two cooling system (freshwater and saltwater mixes in the heat exchanger caused by a unpressurized system?
Try the C34 Assoc. website
www.c34.org, go to forums, then message board and post your question, here: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?board=11.0 Yes, Patrick, if you have a leak it should be in the bilge unless it magically evaporates. Which doesn't often happen. It's gotta be going somewhere. Let's keep it simple: Most likely your pump seals are gone. Easy fix, remove the raw water pump, and either have the carbon seals replaced, or buy a whole new pump. Been there, done that. In my estimation, the HX has nothing to do with it. If that's what it is, and I suspect it is, you can start to begin sleeping at night again without having to rip your engine out. Come visit us. The gentlemen on the C34 message board are pretty much experts on the M25 series engines, and they would be glad to help you. We have members of our C34 International Association in your area who would be more than glad to help you in finding a new HX if, indeed, you actually need one.
www.c34.org, go to forums, then message board and post your question, here: http://c34.org/bbs/index.php?board=11.0 Yes, Patrick, if you have a leak it should be in the bilge unless it magically evaporates. Which doesn't often happen. It's gotta be going somewhere. Let's keep it simple: Most likely your pump seals are gone. Easy fix, remove the raw water pump, and either have the carbon seals replaced, or buy a whole new pump. Been there, done that. In my estimation, the HX has nothing to do with it. If that's what it is, and I suspect it is, you can start to begin sleeping at night again without having to rip your engine out. Come visit us. The gentlemen on the C34 message board are pretty much experts on the M25 series engines, and they would be glad to help you. We have members of our C34 International Association in your area who would be more than glad to help you in finding a new HX if, indeed, you actually need one.
Pump seals?
Hi! Sorry for the delay in my response. I've thought about the pump seals but if the pump was defective, I would be able to see the leak in the bilge. Wouldn't I? Is it possible that such a leak be invisible? The pump seems to have had a rough time so I think what you said is a fair hypotheses. I just need to know a little bit more about the symptoms of such a leak. Thanks for your help.
Hi! Sorry for the delay in my response. I've thought about the pump seals but if the pump was defective, I would be able to see the leak in the bilge. Wouldn't I? Is it possible that such a leak be invisible? The pump seems to have had a rough time so I think what you said is a fair hypotheses. I just need to know a little bit more about the symptoms of such a leak. Thanks for your help.
Weep hole
I have a Catalina 30 with the M25 engine which is very close to yours. I just replaced my fresh water pump (coolant) and noticed there is a weep hole next to where the large hose fitting comes out of the pump. You may have to stand on your head to see it if the pump is mounted like mine (large hose points down). When the seal starts leaking, water (coolant) will come out of the weep hole, usually a few drops at a time in the beginning and get progressively worse as time goes on. Place a paper towel under the large hose outlet and secure it so it doesn't blow away. Then run your engine until it gets up to temp. Then shut it down and wait a couple of minutes. If water is coming from the weep hole, you should see it on the paper towel. Dave
I have a Catalina 30 with the M25 engine which is very close to yours. I just replaced my fresh water pump (coolant) and noticed there is a weep hole next to where the large hose fitting comes out of the pump. You may have to stand on your head to see it if the pump is mounted like mine (large hose points down). When the seal starts leaking, water (coolant) will come out of the weep hole, usually a few drops at a time in the beginning and get progressively worse as time goes on. Place a paper towel under the large hose outlet and secure it so it doesn't blow away. Then run your engine until it gets up to temp. Then shut it down and wait a couple of minutes. If water is coming from the weep hole, you should see it on the paper towel. Dave
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