Where are the Perkins 4-108 Zincs??

[TSPMorgan383]

I'm new to the boat - 1982 Morgan 383. The Perkins has a side mounted raw water heat exchanger (without an oil or Hurth transmission cooler - so far I can tell). This configuration is not shown in shop manual.

I have read that some engines have no zincs. Can this be right?

Thanks, John

[camaraderie]

From another forum:
"The 4.108 and all other Perkins marine engines did not have zinc pencils fitted as standard. Presumably they have never been used for exactly the reason described by David; they can break up and cause raw water flow problems. If the engine is properly bonded to the boat's main anode, zincs are not required. You will only find zincs on a 4.108 if the marinisation is non-standard or it has been modified to incorporate them."

[PorFin]

John,

Sounds like your 4.108 is the same as mine. The unit is a combo header tank and h/x, mounted on the port side of the engine right? If so, it's likely a Bowman h/x (model PE 180).

According to the Bowman folks, their units are not equipped with sacrificial anodes. Don't mistake the drain plug at the aft end of the unit for the anode -- if you do, you'll have a bilge full of antifreeze (don't ask me how I know...)

I'll try to shoot you an engineering diagram of the h/x.

Por Fin

[WanderingStar]

My 4-107 has the same setup. I spent some time looking for zincs, no dice. When I cleaned the sea strainer I found some little tablets in it, like zinc tums. I threw a zinc pencil in there.

[TSPMorgan383]

Originally Posted by PorFin

John,

Sounds like your 4.108 is the same as mine. The unit is a combo header tank and h/x, mounted on the port side of the engine right? If so, it's likely a Bowman h/x (model PE 180).

According to the Bowman folks, their units are not equipped with sacrificial anodes. Don't mistake the drain plug at the aft end of the unit for the anode -- if you do, you'll have a bilge full of antifreeze (don't ask me how I know...)

I'll try to shoot you an engineering diagram of the h/x.

Por Fin

Thanks Por Fin. You have my HX described correctly right down to the "glycol to the bilge" plug.

[TSPMorgan383]

Originally Posted by WanderingStar

My 4-107 has the same setup. I spent some time looking for zincs, no dice. When I cleaned the sea strainer I found some little tablets in it, like zinc tums. I threw a zinc pencil in there.

Excellent suggestion! Thanks.