Guys,

I noticed that none of you guys appear to have a coolant reservoir. The Merc 496, among others, has a close cooling half system, but it uses a reservoir. Is it not necessary in your setups?

Thanks. Brad.

Their reservoirs are built into the top of the heat exchangers. Merc's is remote.

My interest to have a closed cooling system falls in the opposite lane expressed here, since I have "aluminum" Imco powerflow plus manifolds and "cast iron" Merlin heads.
my Merlin heads have survived salt in the past, but not the Imco manifolds .......leaving me to believe I need a full system.....I don't believe you can protect the manifolds
independent of the engines thus a full system is needed........also, take a look at my efi engines, the efi throttle mouth would block a horizontal mounted tank and that's with
the air cleaners off.........I've been on this awhile and can't presently see where I have the room to mount even off engine locations.....I still have the original merlin heads
compared to 2x's replaced aluminum manifolds.......love the ocean, but fresh water lakes since the new pair of Imco's.

You could mount the heat exchangers on the bulkhead.. I’m running a half system with aluminum heads , stainless marine Gen 3 exhaust. Aluminum manifold. Hard to beat a 5 year warranty . I do flush with salt away after being in salt.

I have recovery bottles (blue) that will suck excess fluid back in.

The 496 uses a pressurized reservoir, doesn’t it?

TomZ,

Oh, Hell.... I don't know. Does it....?

I know you can crack the lower snout that leads to the heat log if you pull the reservoir out of the way to remove the fuel rail, though. Ask me how I know.....

I did see the radiator caps on your heat logs, and figured that was your reservoir. I just want to confirm.

Thanks. Brad.

very cool

Mounting the system down in the stringers didn't create bleeding issues? I have a vacuum bleeding system that works awesome on my 2003 Cobra because that car is an air pocket nightmare when doing anything with the cooling system. I assume it will work the same on a closed loop in the boat.

More work from draining the coolant?
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I was thinking of setting up a pumped system to draw the coolant out and store it while engines are out. Unless it needs changing of course...but at least something that is simple, and avoids the bilge mess.

Probably a Tee and a ball valve to a guick connecter.

The thermostat water neck off the intake is often the highest...or close to...engine coolant flow, and can have an air bleed in the neck.

The remote exchanger has the benefit of being mounted anywhere , and in any position. Just adds some plumbing.