Beta Marine Heat Exchanger

alexrunic

alexrunic

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Hi,
i have found my anodes to be eaten away very quickly going to need 2 every 6 months at least. i have also noticed a white very hard residue / covering inside the exhanger that blocks the tubes.

i thought this was dried salt but some mates of mine with the same make of engine have been told this is a form of corrosion and may have an electrical problem. one mate has had his electrical system checked out but he could not find a problem. he has also had problems removing the end caps on the heat exchanger due to corrosion.

any ideas i'm getting worried as thought these were good engines/

thanks

alex
 
The white residue is zinc oxide from anode erosion and salt water.

If engine has been left standing for a long period of time with salt water in heat exchanger then this will naturally build up and erode the anode.

If left for long period of time it is advisable to flush with fresh water through circuit.
Winterizing your engine can also help reduce this problem.

You can get Refill Anodes for Betas from HERE for only £4.99 FREE P+P.

Hope this helps.
 
You are looking for answers with too little input data.

If your anodes are being eaten away and turning white due to salts leeching you have a galvanic promblem with your vessel, are you on shorepower? The sources of stray current activity is outside most electicians sphere of knowledge.

Beta is a good little motor, if your friend does not have a handle on regular heat exchanger maintainence he could well end up in the do do.
 
I think you will find this is perfectly normal on these engines. The wasting zinc is simply doing its job and clearing the tube stack and checking the anode needs to be a regular task.
The handbook mentions every 6 months but in certain conditions it should be less, so maybe spring/mid season/winter.
Cheap anodes are available from: Latham Marine 01227 762742
......PS Still worth checking, as other have said, for stray current faults etc
 
it's the heat exchanger barrel / tubes that gets the white residue. no never on shore power and engine runs at least once a fortnight. both mates and my self service regularly.
 
Ours last six months and yes, there is some white residue.

I am of the 'perfectly normal for this engine' school of thought and don't think you should worry about it. Getting in someone who 'understands' boats and galvanic action would be costly and probably much use as getting a witch doctor or exorcist on board IMO.

- W
 
webcraft said:
Ours last six months and yes, there is some white residue.

I am of the 'perfectly normal for this engine' school of thought and don't think you should worry about it. Getting in someone who 'understands' boats and galvanic action would be costly and probably much use as getting a witch doctor or exorcist on board IMO.

- W
Click to expand...
I had a new Beta30 installed and 18 months later, I had to have the heat exchanger swapped out due to galvanic corrosion. I sometimes walk the docks and often times find electric cords going from the shore-power box.. in the water and up onto the boats. If there is a leak in the cord, it could sink a boat/s. I’m not sure of the legal grounds (pun) if you take it upon yourself to adjust the cords so that they aren’t in the water.
I check zincs often and the cords could have cost me another heat exchanger.. sometimes down, never out.?
 
An old thread, my new engine is now 12 years plus. It used the anode quite quite quickly the first year, now it lasts 2 years or so and I have given up cleaning the heat exchanger each season because it is generally clear.
Still a very good idea to remove it now and again, grease the interface, and fit new O rings.

.
 
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