Exhaust Water Injection Elbow - cleaning and inspection

[npf1]

Read a few things now that mention the elbow should be removed, cleaned and inspected periodically, so am planning to do it over the next few weeks (Perkins 6354). Can anyone explain a) a good way of cleaning it - acid? and b) what I should be looking for when I inspect it?

Thanks

Nigel

 

[ruvane]

I used dilute hydrochloric acid on mine, but this is definitely not the right thing to do!

We use stuff called "lemon salt" to descale the kettle as our local water is almost liquid calcium. This does the job well for years and hasn't done any harm to any parts of the kettle.

I assume that it's citric acid, but may be wrong. Another advantage is that it's pretty environmentally friendly.

 

[ParaHandy]

You're looking for corrosion and carbon build-up; either or both can clog the water path. They're fairly robust pieces of kit so I scraped it clean with small needle files and coat hanger wire. Surprising amount of crud builds up ...

Blew through it at the end and all seemed well.

One caution, though. Have a spare gasket to hand as you may tear the existing one when you remove it. I didn't as somebody warned me of this and I eased it off carefully. You might not be so lucky ...