LouC wrote:
I am not a fan of these single point drain systems because:
When cast iron corrodes rust particles flake off and will clog drain lines.
If the engines used aluminum blocks and heads like outboards when alu corrodes it builds up a self protective layer it does not make flaking rust particles.
As long as I have been a back yard boat mechanic I will never understand why manufacturers and owners fight reality and refuse to install the cooling system that GM intended these engines to have!
Raw water cooling does not make sense in cast iron engines!!!
Agreed Lou, that's why I fitted/ had fitted the closed cooling system on my two 5.7 Volvos.
It's a shame though that the VP setup wouldn't protect the "consumable" manifolds and risers. Expensive in Europe at least, but simple engineering tweaks by VP would have made them simple to protect from corrosion.
Now I am on a VP diesel setup; closed cooling as standard. Plus plastic parts in the cooling system that break apparently on a regular basis ( changed very 2 years in France apparently, as a routine "precaution" maintenance item). Symptom; overheating once on the plane, requiring haul out. Diesel power / EVC hasn't saved me a cent, it's almost destroyed my enjoyment of boating !