I have twin 318 Chryslers with vee drives. The prop shafts have Las-drop dripless shaft seals. Ther is a 1/4" cooling water line that runs from a tee in the engine cooling water sytsem to a fitting on the side of the seal. The cooling water is the lubricant for the seal. If the water flow to the seal stops, the seal runs dry and scores the carbon graphite seal ring.
I would like to be able to run on one engine when when out for a slow cruise. If I tee the two cooling lines together, whichever engine is running would provide water to both seals. That way, if I lose an engine or just want to cruise on one engine I won't burn the seal on the shaft with the engine not running.
Does anyone see a problem with tying the two engine cooling systems together with 1/4" tubing? Could backflow through the engine that is not running cause a problem? The water that goes to the seals discharges through the shaft log and out through the bottom of the boat, so I think the pressure on the non running engine cooling system would be minimal.
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08/24/2011 01:29:18 PM
