salt water block cleaning
 

Hello All,

I have a fairly new 502 engine that has ran in salt water one season always flushed out after every use. I would like to put a closed cooling system on , but I hear it's a waste of money because he block had salt in it and then starts to erode, is this a true statement. I inspected the water jackets in the block and they are very dark and have a carbon slim or film on the walls. I tried flushing it with water but it does nothing . Is there any type of chemical like acid or something strong to remove the black looking water jackets. any suggestions. Thanks Alec

There are salt removing poducts. People use them when they flush after boating in salt water. If your block and heads are in good shape now, adding closed cooling will make them last longer.

I would give a good flush add the fresh water system and you will be fine, don't forget to ck your thermostat as some engines use diff temps for raw vs fresh water cooling..Rob

This is just the ticket! Can't go wrong and will flush all that out so you can put that closed cooling on!----
http://www.cpperformance.com/SearchR...CategoryID=461

What I was Told
 

Years ago when I completed my 540 using NEW block, New Intake and Used heads I investigated going closed loop cooling. I do not recall the company (big one that sells complete kits) had a salesman that recommended that because the heads had salt in them and that the salt has bound chemically with the cast iron that closed loop cooling was not a good idea. He stated that his experience was that the salt comes back out of the cast iron and causes the anti-freeze to turn into a jell like material. That even the small amount of salt contaminated cooling area comprised of the heads would be enough to cause disaster. I do not know if you can run a system on pure water or not but that would seem to be the only way to prevent the engine from creating jello if it really happens. I did not want to take a chance and stayed with open cooling.

Other opinions?

Sounds questionable. Time for a home chemestry experiment?

I have heard that it's not advisable to run the closed system after running in salt. Seems if you flushed with the Saltaway a few times and maybe run a mild Saltaway solution in the closed system for a short time and then more flushing. Story i got was the Salt is embedded in the cast Iron when Hot ...m