Water issues running on trailer
 

There must be an an answer to the problem of LOW water with multiple stage pumps while trying to run engines on trailer for tuning or flush out. My situation is with a two stage pump. My set up uses one stage for the engine and exhaust. The other stage for the intercooler. What happens is the intercooler gets 90% of the available water leaving the engines and exhaust just barely getting anything at all. My feeling is that no matter how much water I can get in there without the pressure the boat forces on the system the water is just going to the easiest shortest route, which is of course the intercooler. Any solution?

I'm a bit surprised. Lot's of views, but not one suggestion. There has to be a bunch of high horsepower boat owners on here with multi stage pumps that run in salt water and need to flush their engines after each use. what are you guys doing?

How about a ball-valve on the line to the intercooler? Or can you use hose pinch pliers to pinch it off? Or maybe even more rudimentary... if your thru-hull exit for the intercooler is brass or stainless; can you just pound a rubber cork into it when needed?

Pinch plyers was my first thought.

That's not a bad thought. I would have to think about that a little. I have a braided line to the cooler, so it would have to be something more permanent like an in line ball valve. Thanks........any more ideas? I have to think I'm not alone with this situation. Thanks again.

After thinking a bit I don't think that can work. You have the impeller turning in that chamber pushing water out. I don't think it would be a good idea to force the water back.

I`m surprised you`re running water thru the intercooler at idle, I`d run a adjustable relief valve and only run water thru the intercooler above say 7 psi.

http://www.cpperformance.com/p-976-w...ve-12-npt.aspx

I believe (if I am wrong please tell me!) that adjustable relief valve is used when you have a separate pick up for the intercooler. I chose not to do that and have just a single pickup.

Are you experiencing high engine temps on the hose or just worrying?

The engine does not usually need full flow to flush.

To be honest I have not got to the point of high engine temperatures as the headers get hot way before that is going to happen. There is probably a way to feed the engine while having the pump dis connected (belt off). I just haven't come up with it yet.

I have cut down plastic barrel to fit under drive. had problems with muffs not getting enough water to pump. normally use 2/3 of barrel and put thru hull fitting in bottom for hose fill/drain.

a single stage water pump will use all the water a garden hose will give at idle speed,a 2 stage pump is not going to get enough water on the hose even at idle.2 impellers =twice the water flow .

I take the outflow hose from the intercooler pump and wye it into the incoming water supply hose going to the sea strainer. As is probably your case, both pumps draw from the sea strainer. Easy for me as everything is AN plumbed. There is no 'wasted water' except what the pump cannot draw is dumped out of the through hull intake and since the system is not closed, you do not have to worry about too much or too little (during a quick rev of the engine) flow from the water supply. Yes, the sea strainer has a fitting welded in for the fresh water hose.

2 or 3 garden hoses is what I've seen, and or restrict but not block the intercooler stage outlet. Water can't get out only so much can come in.

Yes, SFOcean. I was thinking about something like that as well. Just couldn't figure it out as yet. In my case the intercooler is braided hose and the engine is rubber. But, for sure there has to be a way.

to clarify, the garden hose is plumbed into the strainer, it is capped air tight when not in use.