Suzuki dt65 running hot...

Jimmy C · 13 June 2008, 22:19

I have been running up the engine on muffs after about 4 months since its last outing. There was a lot of sediment coming out of the telltale and the temperature of the water was warmer than normal.

I have rodded out the pipe, but is it possible to run it up in a tank with an addititve to clean out the gunk. I was thinking caustic soda or similar, but not sure of any side effects or even if it would work??

Reccommendations would be appreciated!!

Jimmy

Nos4r2 · 13 June 2008, 23:52

Might be worth seeing whats in the proprietory car radiator flush bottles from an auto factors and adding some to a tank then running it. NOTE-I've never tried it!

Jizm · 14 June 2008, 08:36

Take out the stat and clean out the housing, then run it without it on muffs for a while. Don't know if I would use caustic soda!!!

spartacus · 14 June 2008, 11:56

Chances are it could be a build up of salt in internal cooling passages (assuming you're running it in salt water!!!). When you remove thermostat - you'll see the chamber coated with salt deposits. Scrape away and clean thoroughly. I'd be tempted to use some sort of salt-dissolving agent.

You can also use strimmer wire (flexible but rigid enough) to insert in the tell-tale outlet.

codprawn · 14 June 2008, 13:40

Most of the car radiator flushing solutions ARE Caustic Soda!!!

Just make sure you don't use too strong a solution and make sure it is properly mixed - caustic soad can form a solid cake if you are not careful..........

Caustic is great for cleaning things but I don't know if it's a good idea to try to remove salt deposits with another salt!!!

And before people start mentioning things like Salt X etc remember that the way they extract salt in some areas from rock is to pump water down and then extract it - the hotter the better.

Jimmy C · 14 June 2008, 21:41

I have been running the engine up with out the thermostat when it was running hot. Although i have cleared the area around the thermostat you can see inside and it is pretty grotty. I have used the wire up the telltail lots of times.

The engine has been used in salt water prior to me taking ownership of it. Some Areas are quite clean such as the impeller and water pump housnig which i replaced anyway.

After a bit of reading, caustic soda does not seem to be the best as it can react with aluminium!

Who knows! I am tempted by a bucket of calgon(!) or similar, not sure if it will have any effect, but there must be a 'salt-dissolving' product out there somewhere!!!

Thanks for the comments so far...

Jimmy

codprawn · 14 June 2008, 21:57

Yes it's called water - HOT water!!!

You could try some acid - just be careful.................

behavin · 15 June 2008, 10:17

i had twin dt65's on my old boat and lost a head gasket on one.Managed to save it but when the mech' stripped it down the waterways were really choked up and also the internal anodes were shot.

may be worth a strip down and clear the waterways.

Jimmy C · 17 June 2008, 09:07

Right,

Yesterday i removed the thermostat housing and thermostat and also the flow guage (i think) and so i blasted the inside with a high pressure air line, this loosened a lotof the crud.

Then i changed the telltale jet for a much larger bore pipe which just looped up over the engine tray, then ran it up in a bucket of hot water from the tap. The amount of sludge and stuff that came out was quite impressive (!).

After about 10 minutes of gentle idle i replaced the hot water with flush muffs and ran for aother half hour. Now the telltale is plentiful and cool. Excellent!

Thanks for the comments, no acid was needed, thankfully.

Jimmy

Andy JC · 17 June 2008, 12:23

This might be useful for anybody experiencing similar problems.

Dunno how good it is mind.