Inspect or replace?

davidbrooks · June 2021

I am at the 5 yr mark for exhaust manifolds and elbows. I dont have any indication of corrosion or that they are restricting water flow but i know that general practice is to replace them at 5 yrs. The Chesapeake is not very salty so i am just wondering what everyone has done. I am definitely looking to do this my self as it seems about as straight forward as can be. I was just thinking if anyone just ordered a gasket kit to to pull off the elbows to inspect them instead of just replacing? I don't have risers and do have a closed freshwater cooling system. I have seen such a big price difference also. Anywhere from $850 an engine to twice that. Any benefit of one over the other?

LaRea · June 2021

I'd take one off for inspection. My risers have been used for 6 years/230 hours in the upper Chesapeake, and 9 years/600 hours in the Potomac (fresh water). They look almost new.

Dream_Inn · June 2021

You can also check your water pressure. If it is reading around 20psi, then you don't have much clogging creating back pressure. If it is upper 30's then it is time. I just did mine and a friend has one that is touching the 40 mark, time for him too. Mine were 13 years old.

davidbrooks · June 2021

@Dream_Inn that is good to know. I will have to look at that and see if i can get that reading from the gateway. Where did you get yours from and what was the cost?

Dream_Inn · June 2021

I get mine on VesselView, but you should be able to get it from gateway.

davidbrooks · June 2021

Sorry. I meant where did you get the elbows and exhaust manifolds from and what was the price.

Dream_Inn · June 2021

oh, I had Rhode River do mine. I can't remember exactly how much (probably a good thing), but I can look up the bill.

davidbrooks · June 2021

@Dream_Inn I tried to add in the water pressure this weekend. No luck. The closest reading i could find was Coolant Pressure. I guess i am going to have to crack them open and inspect this fall.