Engine Heat Exchanger Manifold Hole Repair

Case Study: Narrowboat Engine Heat Exchanger Manifold Hole Repair With Superfast Titanium

A narrowboat owner uses Superfast Titanium Epoxy Putty Stick to repair a 15mm x 15mm hole in the engine heat exchanger manifold of the vessel whilst moored 30 miles north of London. Superfast Titanium was chosen to ensure the repair had high temperature resistance up to 280°C.

Case Study Overview

Site Narrowboat
Location United Kingdom
Repair Type Heat exchanger manifold repair
Defect 15mm x 15mm hole

Repair Products

Superfast Titanium Epoxy Putty

Case Study PDF

Download Engine Heat Exchanger Manifold Repair Case Study PDF

Case Study Details

The narrowboat had a raw water system for cooling the engine, including a manifold mounted heat exchanger. It worked by pumping canal water into a tank containing a series of pipes on the exhaust manifold.

Inside these pipes ran engine coolant, circulated around the engine block by another pump. The canal water in the tank passed over the pipes, cooling the engine coolant in the same way a fan does in a car. The water was then expelled through the exhaust.

The narrowboat was moored on a canal in Hertfordshire, around 30 miles north of London, when the owner discovered a 15mm x 15mm hole had appeared in the heat exchanger manifold.

*A 15mm x 15mm appeared in the engine heat exchanger manifold*

They decided to repair the manifold using Superfast Titanium Epoxy Putty Stick. Superfast Titanium was selected because of its high temperature resistance, enabling it to withstand up to 280°C.

Within 24 hours of the narrowboat owner contacting Sylmasta, Superfast Titanium had been delivered to a collection point close to where the vessel was moored.

Before the repair, the narrowboat owner cleaned and rubbed down the heat exchanger manifold to improve adhesion with the epoxy putty. Aluminium mesh was placed over the hole as a precautionary measure to prevent any epoxy putty entering the manifold exchanger.

*Aluminium mesh was placed over the hole as a precautionary measure to prevent any Superfast Titanium entering the manifold exchanger*

Enough Superfast Titanium to cover the hole was then cut from the stick and kneaded by hand until it turned a uniform, golden brown colour to indicate successful mixing.

The putty was applied over the mesh and surrounding area. It was pushed firmly onto the manifold to ensure maximum contact before being smoothed off with a little water.

*The hole was sealed by encompassment with Superfast Titanium*

Superfast Titanium has a work time of 90 minutes. It reached working strength in eight hours and achieved a full cure after 72 hours.

The narrowboat engine could have gone back into service after eight hours, but the owner was in no rush to set sail again and so remained moored for the full cure time.