calorifier problems.... ford 2.5

[paulo_picasso]

Hello everyone,

I'm hoping someone can help me with a calorifier problem i have. Let me start by saying we bought the boat (1993 50ft widebeam) from a third party who knew nothing about the boat and could only show us it running so this has all been a bit of a learning curve, overcoming problem by problem.

 

The boat has a calorifier fitted approximately 1meter from the engine, but we only seem to have hot water when the engine has been running and the boat moving, and even this is only after 3+ hours. running the engine at idle moored up produces nothing.

 

I have bled the air from the system by running the engine to hot and removing coolant filler cap as well as loosening the fittings for water into the calorifier from engine and return to the engine from calorifier whilst engine was running and hot which revealed there was some air in there. each of these actions were done in turn rather than all at once. coolant is approx 30% antifreeze.

 

Because of the length of time it takes to warm up, I believe the water is heating through thermal conductivity of the water in the system as opposed to circulating round the system.

 

The boat used to have a siren/alarm which screamed out from the instrument panel when the ignition was switched on, which we thought was normal until I had our alternator reconditioned as it wasnt producing any power for the batteries and then the alarm stopped and hasnt been back

Additionally, on the instrument panel there is a "charge" "oil" and "water" light. Charge light goes out once engine is on and slight throttle applied as I presume it has now been excited. Oil light is never on, but the water light is always on, ignition on and engine on. there is also a single very thin electicial cable with a female spade elctrical connector on top of the engine, coming from the engine where the water/coolant leaves the engine to flow through the pipe to the calorifier. I have no idea where or what to connect to this cable.

 

Can anyone advise what they think may be the problem or what my next course of action should be before contacting an engineer (and paying dearly for it). I will take photos shortly and try to upload within 24 hours.

 

Could it be the thermostat? circulation pump? faulty electrical connection?

 

 

Thanks for your help

[Paul C]

The problem might be that the engine is overcooled. Or that there is no thermostat which initially directs coolant only to the calorifier circuit, and once the engine is warm/hot enough, directs it to the skin tank(s) too to provide adequate cooling. (Once the calorifier and its contents are up to temperature, it offers no useful cooling capacity to the engine).

 

It would be worth looking at the pipework and drawing a schematic diagram of the coolant flow.

[Scholar Gypsy]

the spare wire probably goes to a temperature sensor, on the engine near the thermostat housing. Do you have a temp guage on the control panel

 

try touching the connector to bare metal surface. that will probably make the alarm sound, or the easter

light go out. any such symptoms will aid diagnosis.

 

(my boat has two oil sensors and two water sensors: one of each is connected to a dial & the other tts the alarm buzzer.)

[peterboat]

The problem might be that the engine is overcooled. Or that there is no thermostat which initially directs coolant only to the calorifier circuit, and once the engine is warm/hot enough, directs it to the skin tank(s) too to provide adequate cooling. (Once the calorifier and its contents are up to temperature, it offers no useful cooling capacity to the engine).

 

It would be worth looking at the pipework and drawing a schematic diagram of the coolant flow.

Ditto