I may be stepping out on the technical gang plank in saying so, but the breakthrough Guardian Marine Flushing System* is so clever it might become standard equipment in the very near future. A gadget that's more than a gadget, it attacks saltwater corrosion, the arch enemy of marine engines. Caused by destructive chemical reaction of salt with metals and alloys, saltwater corrosion costs you and I big money. It's been estimated that half of all engine failures begin with corrosion. With nearly 70 percent of the powerboats in the U.S. operating in coastal waters, this engine cancer adds up to a rather expensive problem. Raw-water cooling systems flush water into every interior nook, cranny and cavity of your motor. Little pockets inherent in castings collect the salt and mineral deposits, which destroy metal and start cracks that grow bigger. Salt is very, very invasive. (Fresh water can also contain harmful corrosive chemicals, such as debris and sand.  To retard corrosion, mariners spend millions on anticorrosion systems and paints. But not all internal passages are treated, particularly cylinder heads and exhaust manifolds on inboard engines, which are known weak spots. Extreme heat in nearby water passages increases the causticity of the saltwater three to five times, which removes metal quicker.  You and I take another countermeasure. We flush the cooling system with clean, fresh water after every use. Several devices are sold for this purpose: in-line, T-type flushers for inboards and so-called ear-muff-style adapters for outboard motors. Hook up the garden hose, turn on the water, climb into the boat, start the engine, reach for the valve and wait. However, traditional engine-flushing techniques are far from perfect. Inadequate water volume and incomplete flushing can damage water-pump impellers and leave standing saltwater in cavities. The process is time consuming and noisy, at best. The Guardians system is an alternative. Unlike mass-flush devices that treat the cooling system as a single entity, it flushes the power plant through an ingenious multipoint injection scheme. The arrangement proportionally injects a pre-measured volume of water into the engine and drive at specific points and pressures, which vary from engine to engine. A V-8 stern drive, for example, has between three and six injection points: the thermostat housing, the intake manifold and the transom housing that feeds the drive leg. An outboard motor has two or three injection points. Engines with raw-water heat exchangers, such as diesels, may use five or six injection points. The heart of the invention (four years, 32 patent claims) is a unique pressure-sensitive valve that senses and controls water pressure to each injection point. Water volume is controlled by the size of each outlet and the system is designed to fill every cavity. As one area fills and water begins to drain through the usual gravity orifices, pressure drops and the valve redirects excess water flow to an area that is not full. Flushing from head to foot, overpowering passage restrictions, this aggressive ebb-and-flow process continues five to twelve times per minute, depending on the engine. Machine work is not required for installation, and an accessory reservoir is available to flow rust-busting additives, zebra-mussel treatments or antifreeze into the system. According to the manufacturer, Guardian removes 95 percent of salt deposits in the first cycle alone and the system is at least twice as effective as conventional flushing. Further studies suggest the system could extend engine life a minimum of 2.3 times. We like the prospect, though engine builders and re-power firms may not, since longer engine life means fewer sales. Guardian kits for most popular stern drives, jet-drive systems and outboard motors sell for less than $400. For more information, call or write Boat Tech Corp. at (850) 233-6704, 10570 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, FL 32407. Best of all, the gadget that's more than a gadget chops total flush time to three minutes for a single engine and the engine doesn't have to be running. Just ending the hassle and noise is worth the affordable price alone.

 

reprinted with permission of PowerBoat Magazine