Indigo FWC

[joe_db]

I think you may want to make a 3 inlet side plate. Someone on here had one and it looked very nice. If not that, at least re-engineer the one inlet for more flow.
I would also leave the filter on. The HX has tiny passages and they clog up very easily.

[Dave Neptune]

Bill, is the hi-pressure between the pump and the injection tee?

If it is that is not really that bad and actually kinda good. I ran and worked on a lot of boats on the lower Co River which is shallow and very sandy. Pumps on OB's and inboards were getting chewed up when ever running due to the silt and sand. Many of the regulars and I ran a pressure gage on the cooling system to monitor our pumps. These gages were most always mounted by the tach. for easy visibility. I ran big OB's and a new pump would yield about 10~12 PSI when it would begin to drop we would replace the impeller's or lower the trim. Your 14PSI is a bit high but not really worrisome IMHO.

I do have another question as to what "shoe" you have in the pump? Perhaps a smaller shoe would fix the worries for you.

Dave Neptune

[alcodiesel]

Yes I am reasonably convinced the hi P is between the pump and the injection T.
Larger holes in the T? 3 holes? Good ideas.

I am not worried and will wait to see how it holds temp when summer rolls around. I am pleased with the system's performance tied to a dock.

[ndutton]

I upsized my sideplate Tee to 1/2" NPT. The new diverter cap has three holes: one 3/8" down and forward, one 3/8" down and aft and one 1/4" straight through. It has worked well for me.

[sastanley]

Plus 1 on Neil's suggestions. I think there is a bit of a restriction at the sideplate as originally designed. As Neil's pic shows, the cast pieces are smoother for more flow than machined. I upsized all my stuff on the side plate too. I also eliminated the Moyer bypass and removed the t-stat so that all cooling goes straight up and thru. It takes it a little longer to warm up when the weather is not hot with no t-stat, but I have a slightly undersized (I think) HX, so I am looking for maximum cooling. I run 165-170°F at 2,000 RPM cruise and 190°F at WOT.

[ndutton]

The great advantage I have recently enjoyed is with opening up the system for better flow and maximizing the HX size for the available space I now have the new MMI thermostat controlling the temperature, something unheard of when I started with electric FWC. I always had the larger sideplate fittings but my original HX was barely adequate. You'll notice I haven't offered the old HX to anyone on this forum. If it was marginal for me there was no reason to expect it to be different for anyone else. Let's not make my problem your problem.

As first installed with no thermostat and bypass fully closed (maximum cooling) I was running at 180° at cruising speed. Pushing her to WOT the temp would creep up beyond that. It worked, reached its own equilibrium but under no circumstances could it be considered controlled.

[sastanley]

Neil, If I ever get a bigger HX, I would add the MMI t-stat back in. For now, I am running wide open on the cooling side for the same reasons you did with the smaller HX.

[alcodiesel]

I've been out maybe half a dozen times and run the A4 for maybe half an hour each way. In these colder waters the temp has not gone over a little under 140 and usually hovers around 120. I'd like it hotter and I figure that will happen when the bay water is 40 degrees warmer in the summer.

So no issues and I am going to drain the water and put in anti freeze today.

BTW I do like the idea that for the most part my A4 is no longer corroding and gunking up inside. I'll be the only one aboard with clogged arteries.

It seems my reluctance to add another system (anti KISS) to the boat was unfounded.

[Michael Edwards]

After reading all the previous posts, I just want to say that after running for two hours yesterday my 5 year old Indigo system is working great. I dialed in 185 degrees under load and can drop the temp to 170 for a cool down, but don't bother doing that much anymore during the winter. My boat is an Ericson 32 with most of the improvements from Indgo and Moyer.
The newer Indigo cooling system sounds nice, but I am very pleased with the original electric pump and thermo coupler. One practice in summer is that I leave the ignition on for five minutes after shutting down, which quickly cools and stabilizes the temperatures in the compartment. I do have to clean calcium build-up in the raw water side annually. This may be due to a mine near me on the Pamlico....... not sure, but definitely a high build up.
The benefits of the constant engine temperature in cold water, includes not seeing the temperature gauge zooming down every time the thermostat opens, and not having to use the choke to keep the motor running at low RPM. Also it seem to be more efficient on fuel consumption. And I don't have the constant monitoring and insecurity in tight maneuvering.

[ndutton]

One practice in summer is that I leave the ignition on for five minutes after shutting down, which quickly cools and stabilizes the temperatures in the compartment.

AFTER shutting down?? You have the ignition on without the engine running for 5 minutes (presumably to run the electric coolant pump)?

Lord have mercy!

[Peter]

worried about the coil?

I too was concerned about the five minutes of ignition on with no engine running. This is a very good way to ruin a coil.

If you wish to run the pump after shutting down, it would be advisable to figure out a way to do that without providing power to the coil.

On my boat I inserted a toggle switch in the wire from the key switch to the coil. I can turn the engine instruments on without powering up the coil. I did this to allow me to monitor temperature after the engine is shutdown.

You may wish to consider a similar arrangement.

Peter

[joe_db]

There are some EI modules that tolerate being on after shut down. If you don't have one of them -
When I had my FWC set up I had two pumps and one ran from its own switch independent of the ignition

[alcodiesel]

Now with about 25 hrs on this new system including one hard run against the current for over an hour, nearly full throttle. Temp remains 140ish in slightly warmer bay. Then:

I installed the new super delux Moyer thermostat. Temps are now 180 to 200.

Even though I know a hotter engine is happier I nervously watched all parameters (including engine sound) closely. My head said one thing my heart another.

Results: the engine is quieter, smoother sounding. Runs as well as ever. I get a shade over 100 more rpms more at wot- same, if not, dirtier prop and bottom. Very happy with performance.

[joe_db]

My problem with 180-200 range is twofold:
1. It heats the boat up.
2. After a couple of hours I start getting erratic fuel pressure and eventually the engine will quit. Seems to be getting vapor lock.

[alcodiesel]

Indigo FWC update

260 hours later with the Indigo FWC system.
+Engine runs great.
+Engine totally reliable. No running issues.

-Still cannot find where very slow leak of antifreeze is coming from. not sure it has anything to do with Indigo.
-Not related to Indigo, related to Moyer: The Moyer thermostat kept the temp
too high for me (200-210).
No thermostat- 140 tops, too cool for me.
Original thermostat: 150 to 170. I like that temp range.

Very happy with the Indigo FWC with the no longer available brushless DC pump