Draining a Merc 4.3LX Engine

[leviwynnyk]

After reading all the horror stories, I decided that I better drain the water out of my engine. I am in canada and it's starting to get fairly cold at night. It's currentley in the garage waiting to be pulled so I can fix the starter but it hasn't been winterized yet. Now I don't have a service manual yet (On the way via Iboats), but I removed 2 of these plugs. Are these all that need to be removed to drain the engine? Not a lot of water came out so I didn't know if they were the right ones to remove. If they are, well then that was easy as pie! If not, where should I look. I can put up more pics if necessary. Thanks again. This site is just awesome!<br /><br />

 

[Don S]

Re: Draining a Merc 4.3LX Engine

What Year? Is it raw water cooled?

 

[Don S]

Re: Draining a Merc 4.3LX Engine

If it's between 92 and 97, here is a section from the Merc manual. Starting on page 1B-22<br /><br /> http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/18/18B1R2.PDF

 

[leviwynnyk]

Re: Draining a Merc 4.3LX Engine

Opps, Sorry. It's a 1996 Merc 4.3LX.

 

[leviwynnyk]

Re: Draining a Merc 4.3LX Engine

Don S, that is exactly what I needed, thanks! That is an awesome resource you set me up with there, thanks a million! Is there more manuals like this online?

 

[Don S]

Re: Draining a Merc 4.3LX Engine

Here is the complete Service manual for your engine. Just run your cursor over the cover and the index to locate the links.<br /><br /> http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/18/18covr2.pdf <br /><br />Here is a link to the Manual for your drive.<br /><br /> http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/14/14cover.pdf <br /><br />Here is a link to the Service bulletins from Merc.<br /><br /> http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Bullet/sbcover.pdf

 

[tystick]

Re: Draining a Merc 4.3LX Engine

don, Is there online merc manual for a 1990 4.3L alpha 1 ?<br />thx robert

 

[Don S]

Re: Draining a Merc 4.3LX Engine

No, book 18 is the only V6 manual that is online. You would need manual #7.<br />Here is where they all came from, but not all the manuals listed links to anything.<br /><br /> http://www.boatfix.com/merc/mainmenu.pdf

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Draining a Merc 4.3LX Engine

Levi, I am not sure if you have everything you need, but I hope so. On my 4.3LX, the drain fixture occasionally gets clogged with rust. I need to shove a small screwdriver up the drain hole and twist it to make it drain (several gallons should come out of the block). Also, when I pour antifreeze into the large waterpump hose, it pushes our 8-12 oz of water that doesn't drain on it's own. I then install the plugs and fill with antifreeze. Same for the manifolds. When I pour antifreeze into the raw water hose at the thermostat cover, it too pushes water out of the outdrive water inlet, before I see the antifreeze.