🔍 Key Concepts

• Typical shipboard practices for cleaning fuel oil heaters and lube oil coolers • Differences between mechanical, chemical, and circulating fluid cleaning methods • Risks of using compressed air or steam lances on heat exchanger shells and tubes

💭 Think About

• Which method can safely loosen and carry away sludge from inside the shell without risking tube damage? • On most vessels, what medium is already available, compatible with the oil system, and unlikely to introduce corrosion or foreign chemicals? • Which options are more suited to hard scale removal rather than soft sludge removal?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which choice is least likely to damage tubes, gaskets, or joints. • Decide which method is most commonly used in routine maintenance (not major overhauls). • Consider which option avoids introducing water or aggressive chemicals into an oil system.