Volvo D6 - Heat exchanger Salt Water leak: time for a cleaning?

[marcochi76]

Hello my friends,
I have a salt water leak from the heat exchangers of my Volvos D6 330.
Engines have 570 hours and the heat exchangers have never been cleaned.
Engines always run properly at 85°C.

Do you think these water leakages indicate that it's time to clean the exchangers?
or is it just a joint to be replaced?

Thanks!

 

[kashurst]

I would take the end cap(s) off to a) fix the leak with new gasket etc and b) have a look inside the heat exchanger and see how gunky it is. If the sea water leak gets a grip, it will damage the heat exchanger housing and the sea water drip will get places you really don't want it like electrical components.
After 570 hours and everything is still running at the right temperature chances are the heat exchangers are still OK. But a good flushing with aquafuerte/brickcleaner/rydlyme will shift most gunk out without stripping everything down and keep it all in good order for a few more years.

 

[andy59]

Have you still got the plastic end caps ? . VP updated to metal because of distortion/ leak problems.

 

[marcochi76]

Have you still got the plastic end caps ? . VP updated to metal because of distortion/ leak problems.

what year was this udpated? my engines are from 2015
I will go to the boat to check if they are plastic or not.

 

[gordmac]

Is it not part of the service requirement to strip and renew the seals every five years?