Another winterizing question, sorry!

[boatingnva]

Sorry, another winterizing question. I've gone through all the stickies, searched here high and low, and even gone through the Merc service manual (which isnt exactly very clear), but I'm still not clear on which hoses to pull to pour a/f into. The attached pic is of a Merc 5.0 exactly like mine (20' Bayliner, 5.0 Merc, Alpha 1). At the top of the engine there are 4 hoses coming into the thermostat housing. My questions are, a) do all 4 need to be pulled and a/f poured into (leaving the plugs out until the a/f color is consistent), and b) will this get a/f into the engine block area sufficiently or do I also have to pull the thermostat and pour a/f in through there?

I know air doesnt freeeze, but I would feel better if it had a/f in it.

I've already pulled the manifold drain plugs, wired them out, etc, changed fluid in lower drive, topped off tank with 1.5 cans of SeaFoam. Now just need to warm it up on muffs, fogg it, change oil/filter/fuel filter, and do the antifreeze part.

Thanks

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Another winterizing question, sorry!

My questions are, a) do all 4 need to be pulled and a/f poured into (leaving the plugs out until the a/f color is consistent), and b) will this get a/f into the engine block area sufficiently or do I also have to pull the thermostat and pour a/f in through there?

a) yes
b) yes

 

[fossill]

Re: Another winterizing question, sorry!

Mercruiser says drain block as published. Put drain plugs back in place. Remove thermostat housing (leave hoses on). Fill with 50/50 antifreeze till block is full. Replace thermostat gasket and reinstall with proper torque value. Remove exhaust manifild hoses and fill exhaust manifold with anitreeze mixture. Reinstall hoses when full. Store with leg down. Hope that explains.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Another winterizing question, sorry!

I've already pulled the manifold drain plugs, wired them out, etc, changed fluid in lower drive, topped off tank with 1.5 cans of SeaFoam. Now just need to warm it up on muffs, fogg it, change oil/filter/fuel filter, and do the antifreeze part.

Ayuh,.... You're Out of sequence,....

The block,+ manifolds are Drained,.. Just before you attempt the Antifreeze part....
Any other way,+ you risk crackin' the block....

 

[boatingnva]

Re: Another winterizing question, sorry!

Ayuh,.... You're Out of sequence,....

The block,+ manifolds are Drained,.. Just before you attempt the Antifreeze part....
Any other way,+ you risk crackin' the block....

I think have the sequence right, I just drained the block and manifold, in case we get a freeze before I have a chance to attempt the a/f part. I realize I will have to drain them again after running it to drain the oil, and before doing the a/f part. If I'm still wrong, pls correct me. Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: Another winterizing question, sorry!

I realize I will have to drain them again after running it to drain the oil, and before doing the a/f part. If I'm still wrong, pls correct me.

Ayuh,... That's right....

 

[boatingnva]

Re: Another winterizing question, sorry!

Thanks all for the input!!

 

[maddog2112]

Re: Another winterizing question, sorry!

I too have the 5.0 mercruiser exactly like the photo you show. I performed my winterization last week. After all the prerequisites of running to temp, changing oil and outdrive fluid and fogging the carb. Pulled all plugs 1 at a time and gave 3 to 4 second sprays of fogging fluid and reinserted plugs. Pulled plug off of coil and turned the engine a few times without starting. I drained all 5 blue plugs of all remaining water, then pulled all 4 hoses off of the thermo housing, and then poured 2 gallons each side into all hoses. When the exhaust manifolds fill, I would assume a/f drains into the block on both sides.Pouring a half gallon or so in the large wye hose off the water pump would have to go into the ports on the front of the block, as the A/f went somewhere. It didn`t stay in the hose. Poured a bunch in the other 2 hoses as well. When I let it set for awhile, went back to each block drain on each side and slowly unscrewed. There was pink fluid coming out of both plugs. quickly rescrewed plugs back in. Seeing as I drained all 5 plugs after running before backfilling, I would have to believe, the only thing in that block is A/f. Please advise if I`m wrong.

 

[boatingnva]

Re: Another winterizing question, sorry!

5 blue drain plugs? I can only find 4. Where's the 5th?

Also wanting to know.

 

[maddog2112]

Re: Another winterizing question, sorry!

You must have had the same problem I did at first. I could only find 4 and after reading a few posts about there being 5, kept looking. There is 1 on each side of the block, pretty much the same exact spot. The one on the starboard side is hard to see, unless you can really get your head down there or a good size mirror. 1 under each exhaust manifold each side. 1 at the wye coming off the water pump front side of engine, (large hoses). Keep me posted. What do you think of my antifreeze procedur?[

 

[boatingnva]

Re: Another winterizing question, sorry!

You must have had the same problem I did at first. I could only find 4 and after reading a few posts about there being 5, kept looking. There is 1 on each side of the block, pretty much the same exact spot. The one on the starboard side is hard to see, unless you can really get your head down there or a good size mirror. 1 under each exhaust manifold each side. 1 at the wye coming off the water pump front side of engine, (large hoses). Keep me posted. What do you think of my antifreeze procedur?[

I'll look for the one on the front tonight. I've only ever seen the 4, and was told of the 4 when I bought the boat, and I think only 4 are mentioned in the service manual. But the manual is pretty difficult to find stuff in, and I have a lot of wrench bending experience in previous lives.

Your procedure sounds correct, but this is the first time I've attempted winterizing the boat - so I want to make sure I do it right. But what was making me confused is some advocate pulling the t/stat housing, and some pouring into the hoses. Gotta take a closer look at the cooling flow diagram tonight.

 

[maddog2112]

Re: Another winterizing question, sorry!

Boatingnva, my motor is off a Q6 2006 model. It might be a little different than yours. When i was researching mine, I found that some 5.0`s did have only 4. I could look it up in my new seloc manual if you can`t find it to make sure. I would think the 2 block drains would be the absolute most important since everything in the engine is going to trickle down to block over time. worst case scenario, you`ve already drained those. If you have a 5th like mine it would be on the left looking aft at the front of the enginewhere the 2 large hoses coming off the water pump meet in a wye. Let me know.

 

[boatingnva]

Re: Another winterizing question, sorry!

Maddog, I just did mine, didnt see a 5th plug anywhere. I used 5 gal of RV A/F, I let a lot go through the outdrive, wanted to make sure all the water was gone. I just pulled the 4 hoses off the t/stat housing, and started dumping in A/F.

I did find a little gizmo at WalMart that helped. It was a valve with a spout and multiple thread fitting that would go on various sized containers. Just open the AF bottle, take the foil off, screw this on, put the nozzel into the hose, and open the valve. No funnel, no spilling everywhere, very easy to use.