4.3 rust cominout of drains

[fuelinaround]

Hello all,

Just went to install the engine drain plugs and get the boat ready and noticed alot of rusty metal coming out of the lower block drains. I've had this boat since 2006 and mostly run in the salt but flush it religously at the ramp and again when I get home with salt away. averaging 70 hrs a year since I've owned it. the boat is a 2001 bayliner with a 4.3 mercruiser. Would a flushing of the coolant system help? Is this a sign the manifolds need to be changed now or would I make it one more year?? also, no overheating problems.

Thanks in advance

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: 4.3 rust cominout of drains

You might as well get used to it.Any time you mix water with cast iron your going to see rust.Flushing always helps but will not stop the problem. Your manifolds on average should last about 5 years. I cannot say for sure.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 4.3 rust cominout of drains

sounds like you left the block empty for the winter,likely just some scale coming off the dry cast iron.We winterize not to keep the blocks and manifolds from freezing but to keep the cast iron wet so the dry scale dosent form.

 

[fuelinaround]

Re: 4.3 rust cominout of drains

Yeah, left the block empty. So in the future I would want to fill it with antifreeze to keep the scaling down. Would descaling actually help now and how do you know when it's time to change manifolds before you get stuck on the pond?