Engine flushing

[Lyndon]

Is there a solution that you can put through a Volvo MD7 that would dissolve the salt deposits in the waterways without damaging any gaskets etc?

 

[Viking]

You could try a fresh water and descaling agent that you use in a iron or kettle.

- Or just stop embarrassing you engine!
No thats 'blushing' now I'm doing it!

 

[Johnjo]

Lyndon, when I had my MD2B I tried various solutions to dissolve the
scale, but with no success, I removed the heads and manifold the scaling
was so bad I had to drill the ports open, engine was receiving little
or no cooling water at all, worth checking the thermostat on these engines
as they perform a dual function, as the engine heats up it closes a bypass,
even though you have water coming out the exhaust do'snt mean its goin through
the engine, if you remove the thermostat the engine will receive no cooling
as it relies on the thermostat to supply back pressure,not the info you asked
for, but Ihope it helps,

regards mike

 

[GilesC]

I've no personal experience of this, but from what I've read in the past, general consensus was nothing was really powerful enough to clear heavy deposits without damaging something else.
Not very helpful, I'm afraid.

 

[Paulka]

If your engine overheats, then you'll have to bite the bullet!
Sorry.

Take the engine to pièces, press the liners out, and go ahead with hammer and chisel.
That's the treatment I had to give to my MD11 two years ago.
All waterways were blocked by an enormously hard deposit.
I tryied to dissolve bits of the stuff, without any success, even in acid!

Sorry for the bad news.
Good luck.

Paul

 

[nickdick]

What are the symptoms that prompted the post? I had major water cooling problems with an MD7a this year - all solved by a number of different approaches. including back flushing through the core plug etc. Happy to tell you more

 

[Lyndon]

The Volvo actually belongs to a friend of mine who has recently had the injectors overhauled and was told that the injectors had been cooked(?).
This prompted the the thought that maybe the waterways were blocked.
When running, the engine does not show any symptons of overheating hence the reluctance to spend £100 on a top end gasket set to remove the head and have a look.

 

[AvanLoon]

This season I had a cooling problem as well with an MD7A. The overheating alarm sounded, but since this never happened before, I discovered it just after a few times. The solution was very simple after all. I removed the small pipe between the water pump and themostat housing (there is a joint under the outlet manifold!) and cleand it by rattlin with a screwdriver and flushing. Then I removed the manifold to clean (with the same screwdriver) the openings between cilinder head and manifold, flushed that thing as well and put all things together. I ran the engine for half an hour without thermostat to flush loose rests and then refitted the thermostat. I had no problems after this most easy operation. So no waken nights are needed, just dare to turn some bolts on this most simple engine. Its worth it!

 

[Guest]

Try "white vinegar". It will disolve salt. It won't happen fast, but if you can rig your engine to recirculate it through your raw water system or engine you should be able to get most of the salt deposits out.

Reality is the cause of all stress!!

 

[Freebee]

try this link

www.mitchsmarine.com/volvo/penta.html