Block draining.

[wutagoalie]

Its that time of year, getting ready to winterize, but for the first time! Ive had it done at a marina for the past 7 years.

Im looking to drain my block, and refill with AF to ensure full protection.

I have taken some pictures to better understand this situation. Basically this is what i have gathered on the forum so far.
1) Drain the block
2) refill with AF through the Thermostat housing, as well as the 3 hoses that go into the housing.
Here are my pictures.
3.0L merc alpha 1 2002

 

[wutagoalie]

Re: Block draining.

both of these 2 blue hoses have quick disconnects, undo them both and water starts draining out, once water stops draining, should i pour Af down the blue hoses?

 

[wutagoalie]

Re: Block draining.

This is where the to blue hoses attach to the block. Does this mean i have no other drain plugs? I checked around and did not see any other drain plugs.

Also i read that after draining these blue hoses" this only drains the seawater section of the engine only"

What does that mean?

 

[wutagoalie]

Re: Block draining.

I believe this is the thermostat housing. one large hose on the left and 2 smaller ones on the right . I thought there were only 2 hoses going to the thermo housing, not 3?

So my plans are to remove the bolts on the housing cover, remove the thermostat, remove the large hose on the left, pour AF down it then re attach, remove the 2 small hoses on the right side and pour AF down both and re attach.

Am i missing anything? Are there any drain plugs outside of the blue hoses?

Thanks everyone!

 

[wutagoalie]

Re: Block draining.

How do i know if i have a "single point drain system" or a "raw water cooled model" ?

sea water cooled or close water cooled?

 

[Searay87]

Re: Block draining.

Do you have access to the owner's manual? Many of your questions can be answered there. But basically you've got it right, Drain the block and manifold and pour anti-freeze through the thermostat housing. Some pour it through the large hose to the circulating pump until it comes out the housing so they don't have to replace the gasket.

Something else you should investigate is draining the water hoses that connect to the power steering cooler. Mine is a 1987 Merc 3.0 and is mounted vertical at the transom end so it will drain with the outdrive down. Just to be safe I removed the raw water inlet hose that attaches to the thermostat housing and poured anti-freeze into it until it poured out the water intake on the outdrive. Another tip I've picked up here is storing your boat with the outdrive down. It will prevent the bellows from permanent deformation and will also allow it to drain.

Another excellent resource is getting a copy of the engine service manual. Alpheus seems to be able to help out anyone who asks for one. You can do it yourself, save $$ and learn more about how to do your own maintenance. What about fogging the engine? There's a difference of opinion on this forum. Some don't think it's necessary for winter storage. I did it, it's also easy to do.

Checkout the DIY videos on youtube. The Long Island boaters club have some good ones. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=liboatersclub#p/u/7/_bxpqmT1S3c

As for sea water or closed cooling, your manual could answer that question or perhaps one of the more experience forum members will know. My 3.0 Merc is sea water cooled. You should be able to tell by following your raw water inlet hose. Does it go to the thermostat housing or to a separate cooler?

 

[dubs283]

Re: Block draining.

undo the quick diconnects at the block

let the water drain from the block and manifold

remove two hoses from the t-stat housing - one large from the stbd side and the water intake hose from the port side (the water intake hose is the one that runs towards the transom on top of the manifold)

once the water is drained from the block/manifolds - pour antifreeze down the large hose until you see it coming from the block drain - it will be obvious

pour antifreeze down the intake hose until you see it coming out the water pickup on the drive

let all the antifreeze drain out

reconnect all hoses - your done

 

[wutagoalie]

Re: Block draining.

Thanks guys, this really helps.

Does anyone know how i find out if i have a "sea water cooled or close water cooled" engine?
Ive checked out one of the manuals, but its not clear.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Block draining.

Does anyone know how i find out if i have a "sea water cooled or close water cooled" engine?

Ayuh,... Do you have a small tank, with a radiator cap on it,..??

If Not,... You have the standard raw water cooled motor...

 

[dubs283]

Re: Block draining.

you have a sea water cooled engine

the drain hoses are there to drain sea water from the block and manifold - the engine would not be equipped with the blue drain hoses if it had closed cooling

 

[wutagoalie]

Re: Block draining.

No rad cap, that i can see!

Thanks Bondo

 

[wutagoalie]

Re: Block draining.

you have a sea water cooled engine

the drain hoses are there to drain sea water from the block and manifold - the engine would not be equipped with the blue drain hoses if it had closed cooling

perfect, thanks Dubs

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Block draining.

Im looking to drain my block, and refill with AF to ensure full protection.

Completely draining the block is what ensures complete protection, once that is accomplished adding antifreeze is up to you.

 

[fossill]

Re: Block draining.

I did the antifreeze thing last year. This year I just drained the block and left the blue plastic plugs out and towed the boat around the block prior to parking it just for my peace of mind that all water drained out. Stored the blue plugs in bag and tie wrapped it to the steering wheel and lowered the outdrive full down. The antifreeze thing is just too much of a hassell and environmentally unfriendly. As most on here say, air don't freeze.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Block draining.

This year I just drained the block and left the blue plastic plugs out and towed the boat around the block prior to parking it just for my peace of mind that all water drained out.

Ayuh,... Don't remember what you've got, But,...
Towing around the block does Nothing...
Poking a screw into the drains, 'n pulling hoses is what insures things are truely Drained...

 

[wutagoalie]

So now that i know i have a Sea water cooled engine, looking at my above pictures with the 2 blue hoses that drain my block and manifold.

Does that mean i will have no other drain plugs on the block?

I also have a power steering , i know some of mentioned to drain the cooling hoses that go to the power steering, Where would those cooling hoses be? hard time locating them.

Thanks

 

[wutagoalie]

Re: Block draining.

so now that i know i have a sea water cooled engine, looking at my above pictures with the 2 blue hoses that drain my block and manifold.

Does that mean i will have no other drain plugs on the block?

I also have a power steering , i know some of mentioned to drain the cooling hoses that go to the power steering, where would those cooling hoses be? Hard time locating them.

Thanks

ttt

 

[scipper77]

Re: Block draining.

So now that i know i have a Sea water cooled engine, looking at my above pictures with the 2 blue hoses that drain my block and manifold.

Does that mean i will have no other drain plugs on the block?

I also have a power steering , i know some of mentioned to drain the cooling hoses that go to the power steering, Where would those cooling hoses be? hard time locating them.

Thanks

power steering cooler is generally a small brass "tube" something like 7" long. Just follow the lines from the power steering reservoir. One of them should go straight to the cooler.

Many people on this forum will "correctly" tell you that adding anti freeze to a "correctly" drained engine is not necessary. I for one did not know about draining the PS cooler and I believe that flushing my system with antifreeze is the only thing that saved the cooler for the first couple of seasons. Now that I feel much more confident in what I am doing I skip the antifreeze.

For your piece of mind I would recommend flushing with antifreeze, but not filling with it and leaving it in. Note that the flush is not needed if things are done right.

 

[Bluestream]

Re: Block draining.

The power steering cooler will have a drain plug as well. Depending on the orientation and design it may or may not have water in it. My 1997 Alpha one PS cooler was vertical to the transom and when drained only a drop or two of water ever came out. After the first two years I didn't even bother to drain it any more.

Draining an engine for storage is a very simple process. Reading the owners manual is the first step. Follow the directions and you don't need any anti-freeze. The engine have been designed with drain cocks to drain the blocks and manifolds of water. If no water comes out poke a wire in to break up the debris blocking the hole. After you have done this once you will be amazed at how simple it in fact is.

 

[wutagoalie]

Re: Block draining.

The power steering cooler will have a drain plug as well. Depending on the orientation and design it may or may not have water in it. My 1997 Alpha one PS cooler was vertical to the transom and when drained only a drop or two of water ever came out. After the first two years I didn't even bother to drain it any more

Thanks guys, so as far as the PS cooler, once i locate it, all i am doing is draining it, no AF in there?