Expert: Everett Peacock - 8/24/2010

Question
I'm looking at buying a Diesel boat which has been in fresh water. So the water taken in to cool engine isn't salt. What I like to know is that I understand salt water can't be left in an engine or else corrosion happens. Does this mean the engine needs to always be flushed or just flush whenever the boat is taken out of water?

Answer
Any brackish tributary water should be flushed out when letting the boat set.  Now if the engine says that it is fresh water cooled then the engine has a closed stytem cooling system.  That means that antifreexe cools the engine and a sea water pump cools the heat exchanger..