Exhaust Manifold Plugs

[Robbabob]

My question is: If I have my marina winterize and summerize our boat, should I be paying them to put a freeze plug in after we've been boating several times this season? We keep the boat in dry-dock.

Last week we had our marina mechanic review why we could be taking on a lot of water (several gallons every time we motored around the lake). They were't sure if they'd get to it before this previous weekend and warned the problem may be in the exhaust boot; which would require an engine removal.

We took the boat out yesterday and no water for the bilge pump to remove. It just didn't make sense compared to the previous outing. I called them this morning and they said we lost an exhaust manifold plug. No clue what that meant, but we were quite happy they fixed it without having to remove the engine (what we thought would be a $500 solution), and they charged us just $75 for the fix.

This afternoon I'm reading on what these are and now I'm feeling a little confused. As I understand the process, these plugs are removed during winterization and placed back into duty during summerization. We have our marina perform both tasks.... so I don't understand what could cause one to pop out after we've had several days on the water already this season.

As I have read, these plugs only come out on their own due to corrosion or freezing. Neither should be the cause, in this case. Could the marina have made a mistake when placing the plugs back in, and thus, this should not be something I would have to pay for? OR, do I just grin and bear it and be happy it didn't cost $500?

Thanks in advance!
Robb

 

[aerobat]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Plugs

My question is: If I have my marina winterize and summerize our boat, should I be paying them to put a freeze plug in after we've been boating several times this season? We keep the boat in dry-dock.


Robb

first : these plugs are not for removal during winterization. for that you have the drain valves on the block and the manifold.

there are two scenarios :

-the marina forgot to drain the manifold and it pushed the plugs. the simply installed the old ones without telling you anything and since during push out the deformate you had a leaking exhaust for some trips and they finally installed new ones and charged you for their own mistake . in this case of course the marina should pay you - and pushed plugs are not the only possible problem during freezing !

-you plugs were badly rusted and the marina replaced them and charged you for that - in this case all is correct.

tell them they should show you the old ones and look carefully if they can show you the badly rusted plugs immediately or start to babble that they had thrown them away since they were such rusted.

cheers

 

[Robbabob]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Plugs

Thank you for the input. I should not have said it was a freeze plug. The service guy said we were missing an exhaust manifold plug. $16 for the plug and half hour labor.

Any thoughts?

 

[bnicov]

Re: Exhaust Manifold Plugs

If it's the drain plug, they don't just fall out, and if it did, it means that it was not tightened correctly. Somebody forgot to put it back in. Go back and raise a stink because you are getting hosed.