Simple winterization process / draining 4.3gl

[rossbar86]

That's listed as a freeze plug drain on lt engines from what I'm seeing. Definitely isn't the standard drain. Port and starboard are the same size, ¼" npt I think.
If it's somehow a threaded core plug you're probably fine. Maybe post a pic of where it came from.

Here is where I pulled it and quite a bit of water came out . In the service manual it appeared to show that location with it removed when indicating how to drain the block…I wish they had of included arrows to be even clearer

 

[Lou C]

Those do appear to be larger than what is on the older versions of these engines, but in the same location. Here's what the one on the starboard side of my old 1988 looks like, the OMC had a 90* fitting there to clear the large size original Delco starter, which has been replaced with a smaller PMGR starter...

second pic is what the original drain plugs look like, some have a hex fitting on the end instead of what these have

 

[rossbar86]

Those do appear to be larger than what is on the older versions of these engines, but in the same location. Here's what the one on the starboard side of my old 1988 looks like, the OMC had a 90* fitting there to clear the large size original Delco starter, which has been replaced with a smaller PMGR starter...
View attachment 403921
second pic is what the original drain plugs look like, some have a hex fitting on the end instead of what these have
View attachment 403922

Yeah , the starboard side had a plug that required 9/16 wrench, similar to manifold plugs. This was the odd man out. Thanks for confirmation that your was in similar location. It was also the only plug I saw besides the oil pressure plug/sensor and I looked all over.

 

[rossbar86]

Well I would guess that as far as the intake goes most of the water drains when you pull the bottom end of the big hose so that sounds OK to me.
As far as spring start up with an empty engine I never liked that idea and would fill the engine & manifolds with water first.
Another tip:
Put your muffs on & turn on the water. Before cranking the engine fill a container with water & mix in some dawn dish liquid soap. Disconnect the hose that goes from the impeller to the stat housing at the stat housing. Now fill the hose with that mix of water & dawn dish soap. Reconnect the hose. That’ll lube the impeller as soon as the engine cranks and avoid a dry start. I do this on my Cobra every spring….

Thanks for the tips

 

[rossbar86]

Okay, so I have done the 5 plugs (2 exhaust, 2 block, 1 Intake manifold).

I did not end up getting the AF. So as far as hoses go, I
- Disconnected large hose from thermostat to circulation pump and drained
- Disconnected and drained both hoses on raw water unit

Is this sufficient as far as hose disconnecting and draining ?

I spent hours and hours this first time but I can see how I could knock this out in 1-2 next time now that I know what I’m doing .

 

[Lou C]

Only other thing is the raw water intake hose; but you removed the drive so I might just blow it out to make sure there’s no water in the P/S cooler…

 

[rossbar86]

Only other thing is the raw water intake hose; but you removed the drive so I might just blow it out to make sure there’s no water in the P/S cooler…

Do you mean disconnect hose going to raw water pump intake and then blow air in the hole on the transom mount where I fed the water through? I don’t have an air compressor but maybe attaching hose to the air output on my wet vac would do the job?

 

[Lou C]

I would disconnect it at the impeller housing and blow air thru it from there; normally I just pour -100 in it till the AF comes out the water intakes on the outdrive.

 

[rossbar86]

Do you think the blow side of a wet vac would be strong enough to do ?

 

[Lou C]

Yep I'd say so...

 

[rossbar86]

That seemed to work like a charm…put wet vac hose around intake tube on impeller and blew air for about 20 seconds. Almost must have drained previously because only a tiny bit came out the back initially. Went around and felt it blowing out intake on transom so was getting steady flow.

 

[Lou C]

Sounds like you’ve got it done!
Now for next year you’ll be all set!
I taught myself this stuff about 20 years ago, started out with the winterizing & fluid changes and over time started doing more & more like the outdrive maintenance, fiberglass work, repairing wiring issues, etc.
The biggest project I did myself was doing a top end overhaul. Installed reman cyl heads, new center riser exhaust and rebuilt the 4bbl Quadrajet. If you take on tasks gradually & keep asking questions you can really learn a lot.
Two things I did in the last couple years were changing the power steering actuator & rebuilding the trim rams. These 2 jobs pretty much all boats will eventually need, and it isn’t that hard, you CAN do it!

 

[rossbar86]

Sounds like you’ve got it done!
Now for next year you’ll be all set!
I taught myself this stuff about 20 years ago, started out with the winterizing & fluid changes and over time started doing more & more like the outdrive maintenance, fiberglass work, repairing wiring issues, etc.
The biggest project I did myself was doing a top end overhaul. Installed reman cyl heads, new center riser exhaust and rebuilt the 4bbl Quadrajet. If you take on tasks gradually & keep asking questions you can really learn a lot.
Two things I did in the last couple years were changing the power steering actuator & rebuilding the trim rams. These 2 jobs pretty much all boats will eventually need, and it isn’t that hard, you CAN do it!

That’s awesome to hear how your experience has developed over the years. I learned so much already just taking the out drive off and winterizing myself. Now I can trace most if not all of the cooling system. Thank you for the encouragement and guidance.

 

[Lou C]

My pleasure!
I grew up with American cars back in the 70’s so these old school GM marine engines are just like what our Chevrolets had back then even down to the Quadrajet 4bbl. That was the easy part…. The marine stuff is what I had to learn…

 

[rossbar86]

Hi again Lou...you helped me a ton back in the Winter with my first winterization. I am ready to de-winterize and curious if you could let me know what I need to do?

I believe I just need to
- Take the hoses off the raw water pump, fill them with water (I did not use AF, so they are empty)
- Check the oil
- Get the hose attached and running (outdrive still off)
- Start her up!

Is that correct?

Also, just to make sure I didn't mix the raw water pump hoses when I took them off to winterize, can you confirm that on the Volvo Penta 4.3 GL, the hose coming from the transom should connect to the top of the water pump?

I guess this is pretty clear from the manual, but just want a sanity check



Thanks

 

[Lou C]

yes based on that pic, the hose coming from the transom mount should be the top one (water flows into impeller housing).
Ok I'd make sure that your drain plugs are all in (each side of block, and exhaust manifolds) and I would fill each of the hoses for the impeller with water before firing it up. The one from the impeller to the 'stat housing, I would disconnect it at the 'stat housing and fill with water, then re-connect. The one that's from the impeller to the transom mount, disconnect it at the impeller housing and fill with water. Now this might seem extreme but it's what I have done, IF the engine was drained and is empty.... fill the engine and manifolds with water too before starting. For the engine all you have to do is disconnect the big hose from the front circulating pump at the stat housing and fill the engine with water till it spurts out of the stat housing neck, then reconnect. For the manifolds, just disconnect each feed hose at the stat housing and fill each manifold with water till it runs out the exhaust housing on the bottom of the transom mount (you'll hear it running on the ground). Reconnect the hoses, hook up the ear muffs, turn on the water and fire it up.
I like the engine to be filled as well as manifolds because that way there is no way that temps can spike up in case there is an issue with the impeller. If the engine has no water in it, the temp gauge can't register correctly. Most don't do this but it's just my perfectionism.

 

[cyclops222]

DID THE ENGINE FREEZE UP AND CRACK SOMEWHERE ?

 

[rossbar86]

DID THE ENGINE FREEZE UP AND CRACK SOMEWHERE ?

I am hoping not!

 

[rossbar86]

yes based on that pic, the hose coming from the transom mount should be the top one (water flows into impeller housing).
Ok I'd make sure that your drain plugs are all in (each side of block, and exhaust manifolds) and I would fill each of the hoses for the impeller with water before firing it up. The one from the impeller to the 'stat housing, I would disconnect it at the 'stat housing and fill with water, then re-connect. The one that's from the impeller to the transom mount, disconnect it at the impeller housing and fill with water. Now this might seem extreme but it's what I have done, IF the engine was drained and is empty.... fill the engine and manifolds with water too before starting. For the engine all you have to do is disconnect the big hose from the front circulating pump at the stat housing and fill the engine with water till it spurts out of the stat housing neck, then reconnect. For the manifolds, just disconnect each feed hose at the stat housing and fill each manifold with water till it runs out the exhaust housing on the bottom of the transom mount (you'll hear it running on the ground). Reconnect the hoses, hook up the ear muffs, turn on the water and fire it up.
I like the engine to be filled as well as manifolds because that way there is no way that temps can spike up in case there is an issue with the impeller. If the engine has no water in it, the temp gauge can't register correctly. Most don't do this but it's just my perfectionism.

Thanks Lou!

 

[rossbar86]

Thanks Lou!

Hey Lou, I just want through your recent instructions and than realized I had asked a similar question months ago and you suggested to put dawn soap in close to the impeller. If I have already gone through the trouble to do all the steps above in the specified order and the hoses to and from water pump, engine and manifolds are full of water ..what do I do now? Start it up without the dawn or can I just disconnect impeller to stat housing and add the soap to the water that is now in there ? Do I need to drain everything and start over? That is probably a bit extreme I would hope. Thanks