Draining engine coolant for winterization

[mboudre1]

Hi I am new to this forum but have been following it ever since I purchased my boat. My question comes kind urgent since winter is fast approaching and in need to winterize. Last year I drained the raw water from my system and added antifreeze where i removed the thermostat until filled. I would have just left the system dry, however my engine block has two cooling plug drains whereas one is a torx head and has been stripped. I drained the one side and was unusure wether though that drain, the other side of the block would have drained as well through only that one hole. Therefore I added antifreeze to the block just in case. My question is wether the engine block drains completely through 1 drain or whether the block has two separate cavities. Im trying to save on antifreeze and thermostat gaskets .

4.3LX Mercruiser 1994

 

[Don S]

Re: Draining engine coolant for winterization

I know of no drain plugs that are Torx on Mercruisers. Post a picture of this plug.

On your engine, you should have a drain plug on each side of the block, one on each manifold, and a couple of hoses to pull and drain for the power steering cooler and the circulation pump. None are Torx.

You Boomers friends friend?

 

[mr-steve-jones]

Re: Draining engine coolant for winterization

My block's original brass drain plugs were rounded off by the previous owner, so i removed them with mole grips and threw them away. They are now replaced with Allen head plugs as I could get those for free. Sounds like that's probably what's happened here.
Use mole grip wrench and take out the plugs if you can.

 

[Don S]

Re: Draining engine coolant for winterization

Post a picture of the plug. If it's not an actual drain plug, it doesn't matter what tool you use or how you remove it., or what you replace it with.

Probably should have learned how to winterize sooner than the day before you needed it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Draining engine coolant for winterization

I know of no drain plugs that are Torx on Mercruisers. Post a picture of this plug.

On your engine, you should have a drain plug on each side of the block, one on each manifold, and a couple of hoses to pull and drain for the power steering cooler and the circulation pump. None are Torx.

You Boomers friends friend?

Ayuh,.... can't say's that I've ever seen a torx pipe plug either, anywhere......

Boomer's Bud's, Buddy has an I4,... this 1 is a V6...

 

[Don S]

Re: Draining engine coolant for winterization

Boomer's Bud's, Buddy has an I4,... this 1 is a V6...

I wasn't too sure after reading this. So I asked, what was wrong with that?

This is from a friend of a friend. I do not know what the exact engine is.

 

[mboudre1]

Re: Draining engine coolant for winterization

ok my mistake, it is acutally an allen head plug, that is now stripped on port side of engine :S. Efforts to remove no good so far last year and just left it. I know how to winterize as I did it last year with no issue since I drained the block removing the starboard side plug and adding antifreeze after removing the thermostat. The question I need answered is wether or not the engine block drains completely from 1 plug, as if both engine block cavities are connected? If it drains completely dry with the one plug removed than I will not add antifreeze and leave the thermostat alone. Power steering, waterpump and manifolds and 1 engine block drain plug have all been drained so far. My question really is if the water passages for both sides of the block are interconnected or seperated? Like i said, I want to save money by not adding antifreeze and replacing the thermostat and just bank that the engine and hoses are dry from excessive water.

Thx

 

[Bondo]

Re: Draining engine coolant for winterization

ok my mistake, it is acutally an allen head plug, that is now stripped on port side of engine :S. Efforts to remove no good so far last year and just left it. I know how to winterize as I did it last year with no issue since I drained the block removing the starboard side plug and adding antifreeze after removing the thermostat. The question I need answered is wether or not the engine block drains completely from 1 plug, as if both engine block cavities are connected? If it drains completely dry with the one plug removed than I will not add antifreeze and leave the thermostat alone. Power steering, waterpump and manifolds and 1 engine block drain plug have all been drained so far. My question really is if the water passages for both sides of the block are interconnected or seperated? Like i said, I want to save money by not adding antifreeze and replacing the thermostat and just bank that the engine and hoses are dry from excessive water.

Thx

Nope,.... It's a V-motor, 'n each side is independent of each other, as far as drainin' is concerned...

Even addin' antifreeze ain't much insurance, if ya don't drain it 1st...

 

[mboudre1]

Re: Draining engine coolant for winterization

Alright, thx Bondo! I guess that side of the engine will have water remaining it. Hope enough antifreeze gets to it. Last year it worked, hope I luck out again. Ill be working hard this week trying to get the stubborn plug out anyways! Thanks everyone for the replies