De scaling which chemical?

[catalina1]

Im about to de scale the internals my Bukh 20 engine
I have some Spirit of Salts which according to the bottle is 32 % hydrochloric acid.
Will this be ok to use ?

 

[sailorman]

Im about to de scale the internals my Bukh 20 engine
I have some Spirit of Salts which according to the bottle is 32 % hydrochloric acid.
Will this be ok to use ?

yes but dilute prol 2or3>1 water to acid as 32% is strong. add the acid to the water (very carefully) is safest.
usual precautions as per personal safety.
assume you are going to remove the stack or is it raw cooled

 

[VicS]

That is concentrated hydrochoric acid . I'd dilute it about 1 in 10 or 1 in 5 at least but I'd rather use something less aggressive.
Beware of the fumes from conc HCl. Best handled in a laboratory fume cupboard.

I'd favour Fernox DS3 Limescale remover and central heating boiler descaler. Available from Plumbers' merchants and some DIY stores.
It's based on sulphamic acid which is a much less strong acid.

Alternatively Rydlyme. Actually as far as I can see based on hydrochloric acid but buffered by organic salts to a higher pH so behaves more like a weaker acid.

 

[catalina1]

Thankyou

Thank you Gentlemen
Ill take all that advice.
By the way its raw water cooled

 

[bendyone]

Fernox DS3 worked very well for me. Engine runs cooler now.

 

[PaulR]

I am wanting to descale my holding tank - the link to fernox ds3 says it is safe for stainless steel - any thoughts/experience on use for descaling stainless tank ?

 

[vyv_cox]

I am wanting to descale my holding tank - the link to fernox ds3 says it is safe for stainless steel - any thoughts/experience on use for descaling stainless tank ?

I would have expected sulphamic acid to be safe for stainless steel, which cannot be said for hydrochloric acid. No experience though.