Generator Heat Exchnger

[BobFino]

I have the Onan MDKBD generator and the heat exchanger cap is leaking. The generator runs great and at normal temp. I flushed it out a year ago and was just thinking of changing the cap and gasket. Not really familiar with generator work so the question is, am I wasting my time on just changing the cap or should I remove the heat exchanger and get the whole unit serviced? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[bajturner]

I have the Onan MDKBD generator and the heat exchanger cap is leaking. The generator runs great and at normal temp. I flushed it out a year ago and was just thinking of changing the cap and gasket. Not really familiar with generator work so the question is, am I wasting my time on just changing the cap or should I remove the heat exchanger and get the whole unit serviced? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Do you know if it's the original? Mine was starting to drip last spring. Pulled it off to see about a repair and it was pretty well done. Replaced it. My boat spent it's previous life (2009 to 2017) in the Boston area before I moved it to fresh water...

 

[BobFino]

I have to believe it is the original. The boat is a 2005 from Florida, I have owned it for the past four years and the engines have 1300 hours but the generator has about 3000 hours so I believe it spent a great deal of time in the Bahamas.

 

[JHornsby3]

Only one way to find out. I would remove it and give it a good looking over. Any corrosion, then it either needs replaced or rebuilt. A good radiator shop could rebuild one.

 

[BobFino]

Yea, no easy way around it. I think I will start by taking the end cap off and see how it looks. Depending what I see will tell me how much further I need to go (i Hope). Thanks for the input.

 

[bmac]

Bob, there's a simple o-ring behind that cap. If it's been leaking any period of time there will be corrosion etching on either the HX body or cap. If that condition exists on the body, time for a complete new assembly. If it's ONLY on the cap replace the cap. If it's on neither, you got lucky. Just replace the o-ring.