drain plugs

[downriver]

I cant get the drain plugs out of the block, looks like someone epoxied them in. Can i take off the thermostat housing and blow out the water with compressed air? It is getting cold outside

 

[bpmcl00]

Re: drain plugs

Wow. what kind of motor?? Im sure someone here will chime in with what you should do. i would start by pulling all water hoses to drain as much water as possible. Also i would try to get some antifreeze into the block. you could do this with muffs and a couple gallons of anti-freeze. Make sure the boats gets up to running temp in order for the thermostat to open up, that way the AF circulated through the whole block. Also i would find a way to open those plugs my friend. just my .0002 cents.

Good luck

 

[downriver]

Re: drain plugs

Wow. what kind of motor?? Im sure someone here will chime in with what you should do. i would start by pulling all water hoses to drain as much water as possible. Also i would try to get some antifreeze into the block. you could do this with muffs and a couple gallons of anti-freeze. Make sure the boats gets up to running temp in order for the thermostat to open up, that way the AF circulated through the whole block. Also i would find a way to open those plugs my friend. just my .0002 cents.

Good luck

Not sure of year, Mercruiser 4.3 alpha one, engine number OD707859, I m new to the forum and to boats, never had one. Not sure if it has the original motor.

This boat is abandoned on my property, 1992 180 SE Glasstream in poor condition. I m trying to decide if I want to spend the money to put a lien on it, to get title.

It will not start, I believe it has a bad fuel pump I just want to protect the motor from freezing until next spring.


Any ideas

 

[Bondo]

Re: drain plugs

I cant get the drain plugs out of the block, looks like someone epoxied them in.

Ayuh,....

Use some Heat,+ a Bigger Wrench.....

 

[chiefalen]

Re: drain plugs

Shoot them with pb blaster. Let it sit. Shoot it again. 3-4 times. Than try taking them of. If still no go, use the heat baby.

You don't want to get the plug super hot with heat.

 

[bpmcl00]

Re: drain plugs

there should be at least 4 plugs. 2 for sure on the manifolds and 2 for sure on the block. i have the same motor. if you cant get the plugs on the manifolds then pull the hoses on each side of the manifold, that will drain them just as well as pulling the plugs. also in your bilge there should be a main water hose, in the middle of that hose there should be a clamp to take it apart. unscrew that clamp and pull the 2 hoses apart. As for the block... What everyone else said. try some PB blaster, let it soak. Also if you can get it to start you can flush some antifreeze through the engine with muffs. But you cant to get as much water out. so that it doesnt dilute your AF

 

[downriver]

Re: drain plugs

Can i take off the thermostat housing and blow out the water in the block with compressed air? Then fill it with antifreeze.

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: drain plugs

Can i take off the thermostat housing and blow out the water in the block with compressed air? Then fill it with antifreeze.

No. You won't get all the water. And just pouring the antifreeze in will not get it circulated to all parts it needs to go.

Best thing for you to do since the engine doesn't run is to..........

SOAK THOSE PLUGS and USE A BIGGER WRENCH/BREAKER BAR to get them out.

or

Move it into a heated building.

 

[downriver]

Re: drain plugs

No. You won't get all the water. And just pouring the antifreeze in will not get it circulated to all parts it needs to go.

Best thing for you to do since the engine doesn't run is to..........

SOAK THOSE PLUGS and USE A BIGGER WRENCH/BREAKER BAR to get them out.

or

Move it into a heated building.

These drain plugs have 1/4" allen fitting to remove them, so I am not able to get much leverage on them. If I did, I could easily round them out. Going to buy PB Blaster and soak and soak. These plugs will be replaced when I get them out.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: drain plugs

Take your allen wrench and put a pipe extention on it those plugs will come out, clean the rust out of them really good so your allen bottoms out completely they wont round out as long as someone hasn't messed them up already. I would be leary of concentrating any heat on that thin casing really nervous about doing that.

 

[Maclin]

Re: drain plugs

Are you sure the plugs you are looking at are the drain plugs? There should be one on each side of the block real low about in the middle just above the oil pan. I have not seen every drain plug in every engine, but plugs should have a protuding square or hex head on them, allen head like you described are not designed to take the torque of pipe fittings. If they are as you described then someone went to a lot of trouble to put the wrong kind in there, hence the goop. Also be sure they are allen head, they may be torx or star if you can't see them that well..

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: drain plugs

Nothing wrong with allen plugs I prefer them.

 

[Maclin]

Re: drain plugs

Yeah, I was thinking about a really small size hole in a larger plug for some reason, like for a bolt cover trim piece or something. Oil galley plugs and the like are certainly stout enough.

Those having the goop on them would bug me, should never be necessary on those type of pipe fitting drain plugs.

Good luck downriver.....

 

[J JACKSON]

Re: drain plugs

when getting the water jacket drain plugs out if a engine when we rebuild them we use heat just enough to brake the sealant lose. but sometimes we have to use a short ezout. worst case you could drill the center out of the plugs to drain it and worry about getting the plugs out latter

 

[downriver]

Re: drain plugs

I used a miirror and a flashlight to get a good look at these plugs. Wow! there's only a divot in the middle and not an allen wrench fitting. both have gray goop on the plug.

These plugs are on each side of the block in about the middle about 3/4" up from the oil pan lip. I an 99% sure these are the drain plugs.

I guess my only hope is to drill a hole thru them and try to get them out next spring.


Any ideas

 

[bpmcl00]

Re: drain plugs

yes you could drill them out and re thread them in the spring

 

[chiefalen]

Re: drain plugs

I'm trying to think if they are casting plugs?

I don't remember any being Allen wrench. But someone posted he's seen them i believe him.

Always a protruding 3/8ths.

Or those peacock. On the block.

No other plugs under there?

Isn't this motor the one you couldn't turn?

This whole motor might just be a anchor.

 

[downriver]

Re: drain plugs

I can t get a drill motor in there to drill it out. Any other ideas on how to get the water out of the block.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: drain plugs

Get a digital camera and put it down there and take a picture for you and us to see. A picture speaks a thousand words.

 

[downriver]

Re: drain plugs

I'm trying to think if they are casting plugs?

I don't remember any being Allen wrench. But someone posted he's seen them i believe him.

Always a protruding 3/8ths.

Or those peacock. On the block.

No other plugs under there?

Isn't this motor the one you couldn't turn?

This whole motor might just be a anchor.

It turns over, got fuel to the fuel pump but no fuel to the carb, prolly a bad fuel pump. I like your idea about using the electric fuel pump and a gas can of clean fuel., but the auto parts place wanted $60 for the cheapest electric pump. I rather do this in the spring.

Now, I am just trying to get the water out of the block