Drain the block crowd, did I do it right?

[KD4UPL]

I've always pumped antifreeze into my engine to winterize it. I've always been afraid that just draining the block might not get all the water out. It certainly doesn't do anything for draining the water passages in the outdrive including the impeller.
However, I decided that since so many people on this forum advocate just draining the block (the "air don't freeze" crowd") I'd give it a try.
The boat is a '97 Larson with a 5.7L Mercruiser and Alpha 1. I found 5 blue drain plugs: one on the bottom of each exhaust manifold, one on each side of the engine block, and one on the water hose running from the engine water pump down under the engine to the rear of the boat. I ran the engine up to operating temperature, I shut it down and removed all the plugs. Lots of water came out the block plugs, a bit less from the bottom one on the hose, even less from each of the exhaust manifold plugs. All of the water was hot. I probed each opening with a nylon wire tie. Some crud came out, not much, not much additional water.
Is this engine and outdrive now considered winterized as far as the water goes? I know there is more to winterizing, I'm not detailing all of that here. How can I know for sure there's no water left inside the engine, pump, hoses, etc. How did any of those plugs drains the water from the outdrive and impeller housing?
All advice is appreciated.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Drain the block crowd, did I do it right?

I do not side with the "air don't freeze" crowd - There are just too many possibilities for water to be laying somewhere it shouldn't be. I like to flush antifreeze through everything using the muffs (after removing the t-stat) and then drain everything, You can physically see the pink run out and you know if it's "stuck" someplace you will still be ok.

I know everyone will not agree with this method but I can sleep at night even when it's -20 outside.

LK

 

[84EdH]

Re: Drain the block crowd, did I do it right?

KD....did you read the adult only section at top of this forum on winterizing? sounds like you didnt fog your engine. but per your question, you dont have to get every bit of water out of every hose. like an ice cube expands in the tray, water will expand in a hose. no water stays in the impeller or outdrive. make sure the boat is level when you open drain plugs. take the big hose with the loop off the front of the engine and get the water out of there, and also the hose by the power steering cooler to get water out of there. hope this helps!

 

[ricohman]

Re: Drain the block crowd, did I do it right?

I drained my new 4.3 the same way. The dealer I bought it from when it was new last year did the same thing and it gets very cold (-45) here.
If it makes you feel better, crack a few hoses loose and see if there is any water remaining. A bit of water in a hose or in the engine is not going to damage anything anyway.
I never heard of adding anti freeze until I joined iboats. Nobody up north seems do do this, at least nobody I know. The guys that fish late into the season drain their boats every night, and it can get down to -15 or so. I don't see how you would want to **** around with antifreeze twice a weekend for two months. If you use 4 gallons at a time that would be 8 gallons per weekend or 32 gallons a month. Draining is free.

 

[90stingray]

Re: Drain the block crowd, did I do it right?

I do not side with the "air don't freeze" crowd - There are just too many possibilities for water to be laying somewhere it shouldn't be. I like to flush antifreeze through everything using the muffs (after removing the t-stat) and then drain everything, You can physically see the pink run out and you know if it's "stuck" someplace you will still be ok

I somewhat agree with this... I like to have antifreeze mixed with the remaining water but i don't like to go thru the trouble of removing the thermostat. What i do is drain all water from the block and hoses, then add just a little antifreeze thru the large circulating hose from the top... this will fill the hose and water pump, then into the block. Once it's draining from the block, i stop. I like to pour some in the hose from the thermostat toward the power steering cooler... once i hear it hitting the ground from the drive, i stop. I let it all finish draining and then put the plugs back in. I probably only use 1/4 of a gallon a year. But that's my method...

OP, Draining all the water is just fine too

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Drain the block crowd, did I do it right?

I was part of the filling the block with A/F after removing all fluids and and hoses and blowing out the block,pump and cooler with compressed air. But now I just skip the adding A/F and allow it to sleep without it the only thing you miss is the corosion protection the A/F gives the inside of the block,pumps and cooler. AIR DON.T FREEZE!.

 

[Don S]

Re: Drain the block crowd, did I do it right?

There are just too many possibilities for water to be laying somewhere it shouldn't be.

If the engine is level or even close to it, and the drain plugs are kept open by cleaning with a screw or nail, then there are no possibilities of water laying anywhere in the block that can damage anything. A puddle of water freezes outside, but it doesn't break everything around it.

The boat is a '97 Larson with a 5.7L Mercruiser and Alpha 1. I found 5 blue drain plugs: one on the bottom of each exhaust manifold, one on each side of the engine block, and one on the water hose running from the engine water pump down under the engine to the rear of the boat.

Was your engine level? Did you make sure all the holes were cleaned out? <<<< Making sure the holes aren't plugged up is very important in a raw water cooled system.

No mention of the power steering cooler being drained. Pulling a hose off is the easiest way.
Putting the drive down, empties the water out of the drive, along with makeing sure the drains in the drive are open as well.

 

[Husker-Q]

Re: Drain the block crowd, did I do it right?

I somewhat agree with this... I like to have antifreeze mixed with the remaining water but i don't like to go thru the trouble of removing the thermostat. What i do is drain all water from the block and hoses, then add just a little antifreeze thru the large circulating hose from the top... this will fill the hose and water pump, then into the block. Once it's draining from the block, i stop. I like to pour some in the hose from the thermostat toward the power steering cooler... once i hear it hitting the ground from the drive, i stop. I let it all finish draining and then put the plugs back in. I probably only use 1/4 of a gallon a year. But that's my method...

OP, Draining all the water is just fine too

Once I put my belt and suspenders on - I go outside and do this.......... 1) keeps me in my boat longer before I have to put her away 2) for $10 I get the peace of mind I need to hibernate through the winter!

 

[straightleg]

Re: Drain the block crowd, did I do it right?

I most years fogged my engine first. A few years i did not. I use sea foam in the gas tank for the gas sitting.

I bought my boat new in 1989. The manual told my to open the brass plugs and take off the hoses. I work from the top down.
Manifolds first 2 brass screw in pet cocks. Then one side of the top hoses off.
2 brass petcocks on lower engine. I stick a piece of wire up in each hole to get out crude/rust, better flow of water out.
Then all lower hoses.

Lower unit down, battery tender plugged in

I also nornally lift the trailer and put on jack stands so tires are off the ground. I have 2 floor jacks and extra stands so it is not a big deal



SL

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Drain the block crowd, did I do it right?

If the engine is level or even close to it, and the drain plugs are kept open by cleaning with a screw or nail, then there are no possibilities of water laying anywhere in the block that can damage anything. A puddle of water freezes outside, but it doesn't break everything around it.

The engine block is not my only concern, Lots of other places for water to sit, Just makes me feel warm & fuzzy inside.

LK

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: Drain the block crowd, did I do it right?

No, the engine was no level, I didn't think about that. I also didn't do anything about draining the PS cooler. I need to look into that device anyway to see if it's leaking. (I've got another post about that somewhere).
This block draining experience was more of a dry run (sorry about the pun). I've never pulled those plugs before. The boat is currently in my heated garage. I will probably put the plugs back in and run it again later. I still need to change the oil and I will fog the engine before finally putting it away for the winter. It sounds like if I keep the block level and check on the PS cooler I should be good to go.
That's very interesting that so many people say they've never heard of adding A/F. I'd never heard of not adding it until I got on this forum. Everyone and every shop I know of here does it.
I'm still a little nervous about hidden pockets of water.
How far fetched is this: I would think a given engine set up would hold a known quantity of water. I could collect the water as it drains out the bilge and compare that to the engine's holding capacity to see if I got it all.

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: Drain the block crowd, did I do it right?

I'm from the 'add anti-freeze' school of thought. You need to fog your engine before you do the draining and antifreeze, simply because you need to spray fogging oil into the carb intake while the engine is running. Then, shut it down, pull the spark plugs and spray fogging oil into the cylinders. Our previous boats had outdrives; our present boat is a twin inboard. What I would then do is remove the drain plugs and clear out the holes, remove the large water circulation pump hose and twist it around to drain it, and remove the hose to the power steering cooler (if you have one) and drain it. I would then reconnect all the hoses, remove the thermostat housing and clean the gasket surfaces, and begin pouring antifreeze into the intake manifold through the thermostat housing and its base. As antifreeze began leaking out each drain hole, I would re-install that drain plug (don't forget to replace the O-rings on the blue plugs). I'd top off the antifreeze through the housing and then install the thermostat with new gaskets, and close up the housing. I would then service the outdrive. Drain and replace the outdrive fuid. Then remove the outdrive completely, storing it separately on a stand I had built. I'd grease the gimbal bearing, the steering mechanism, all linkages, and everything else needing grease. This would be a perfect time to check the bellows, the bearing, the shift cables, and everything else. The whole job would take about 2-3 hours, but the boat and engine were put away safely. Download a Mercruiser manual for you engine and one for your drive for more information. Hy