Salt in thermostat housing

Steve OD

Member
Oct 26, 2017
70
West Yarmouth, MA
Boat Info
Sol Searchin'
1996 330 Sundancer
Engines
7.4 L V Drives
As part of winterizing my boat, I removed the tstat housing as somewhere on this forum someone suggested pouring the pink antifreeze into the engine from there, and I also want to replace the tstats anyway.
On one engine, there was a small amount of salt on the coil of the tstat as well as on the housing, which I thought was odd as it is a fresh water cooled boat, so how does that get there?
Also, it donned on me that the coolant is green, why would I put pink stuff in there as suggested? I already poured the pink stuff in the strainer with the engine running so that should be all set.
I used to do that on my previous boat, which was raw water cooled, so maybe I misinterpreted the post.
Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving(coldest one here in 100 years!)
 
You only use the thermostat housing method if your boat is raw water cooled. If you are fresh water cooled you only need to do the raw water side, as you mentioned you did by pouring in thru strainer.
 
Are you sure it was salt and not some sort of sludge?
The only way salt water could get in there if the heat exchanger was leaking in one of the tubes.
 
Are you sure it was salt and not some sort of sludge?
The only way salt water could get in there if the heat exchanger was leaking in one of the tubes.
I'm not sure, my brother in law, who is mechanic, said to taste it.....not sure I want to be drinking antifreeze!
 
More likely to be corrosion than salt. I would definitely check the current state of that antifreeze with a tester.

As a rule, you should only taste things in boats that come from grocery stores or the ABC store. :)
 
More likely to be corrosion than salt. I would definitely check the current state of that antifreeze with a tester.

As a rule, you should only taste things in boats that come from grocery stores or the ABC store. :)
Thats much better advice than Cheech and Chongs!!!!
Thanks
 
I'm thinking it's time to flush your engine. FWC systems need to be flushed just like cars. As a rule I do mine every five years along with thermostats.
 

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