mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

[aerobat]

Re: mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

i,m wondering if winter time causes all this thoughts because when it comes to freezing protection just draining does the job always and any time. i guess not a single boater in history got freeze damage on drained engine because its physically not possible so for what all the discussion ...?

 

[Bondo]

Re: mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

Good to go! What's so hard about that?

Ayuh,.... That's the question I keep askin', 'bout Drainin' the water out of the motor, 'n manifolds,....

The motor, 'n manifold in this thread is Two(2) Drain plugs, 'n pop the Big hose off the circulatiin' water pump,...

Easy Peasy,...

 

[Idlespeedonly]

Re: mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

So, What do people do in the spring that use AF for winterization? Do you drain it all out of the motor,lines/hoses and manifolds?
Or do you just drop it in the lake and crank it up, and pollute all of our water?

 

[Lou C]

Re: mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

If you are going to use AF at all, the only reason is for added corrosion proctection not freeze protection.
So:
For freeze protection you drain
For added corrosion protection you add AF (manually after draining). But it only serves that purpose if you LEAVE it in the engine and manifolds. Draining it is a waste of money.

If people just followed what we advise with no hair brained short cuts there would be no problem with freeze ups.

You leave the AF in to keep out air. Air+ Iron = iron oxide = rust. Same reason why you paint cast iron and same reason why if you run straight water in a vehicle where it never freezes you will get corrosion. AF has corrosion inhibitors ( the kind for engines).

 

[thumpar]

Re: mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

So, What do people do in the spring that use AF for winterization? Do you drain it all out of the motor,lines/hoses and manifolds?
Or do you just drop it in the lake and crank it up, and pollute all of our water?

Most people that use AV use the pink RV type that is non-toxic.

 

[Bullrider]

Re: mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

In my region I think draining would be fine too.
I am asking now how does the water get back in through the closed temp. gauge...when the air in the block super heats to open it and splash cold water on a hot block? What am I missing here? Or do I pop the gauge out and pour in water to "de winterize"?

 

[thumpar]

Re: mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

In my region I think draining would be fine too.
I am asking now how does the water get back in through the closed temp. gauge...when the air in the block super heats to open it and splash cold water on a hot block? What am I missing here? Or do I pop the gauge out and pour in water to "de winterize"?

The block will not be hot at start up. It fills from below the thermostat and the air escapes easily. I did it for 7 years on my 120 and just did it on my 5.7l.

 

[bigdirty]

Re: mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

... I don't know why people think they know more than engineers.

Because sometimes they do, or the common knowledge NOW is more advanced than the 20 year old engineering.. :laugh: Engineers can be wrong, and don't 'magically know everything' in all cases.. and the best engineers are/were usually something else before they became one... not fresh out of school with some papers and ZERO real world experience..

I got into a discussion with some of the rocket scientists at West Marine... I am amazed (but I should not be) at the lack of mechanical common sense present in most people that work in service industries today.

well ya, similar reason to what i said above, regarding engineers.. (no offense intended to any of them btw) most west marine employees i have had dealings with are not any more knowledgeable than the burger flipper or cashier at wall-mart.. its just their 'job' but usually there is that ONE GUY (or girl) who knows their stuff, you gota find them, and only talk to them when you go in.. :lol:

When I became a driveway mechanic, I learned most from reading shop manuals. There was no internet, and there was less bad advice being spread around. Now no one reads those manuals except some of us and real mechanics. So to all you beginners, you have heard the right way to learn, its up to you to learn that way. The universe is not explained on You Tube LOL....

Yup, the interweeb was in its infancy when I started working on my first car(s), I bought a book or two, talked to people, got my hands dirty and figured it out... Ive owned dozens of cars, and always bought a manual for every one. I'm currently looking for a shop manual for my OMC 460/king cobra, and the 99 arctic cat that i picked up, cause i feel its just 'required' ..despite the internet and google at my fingertips..


Food for thought on the winterizing; My marina ALWAYS drains everything. I asked about their thoughts on fushing then filling with antifreeze then leave it, or drain it; they will not do it. Too much liability. They have never had a freeze up or cracked anything that was drained properly, but several over the years from antifreeze 'attempts'

 

[Bullrider]

Re: mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

"The block will not be hot at start up. It fills from below the thermostat and the air escapes easily. I did it for 7 years on my 120 and just did it on my 5.7l. "

Spokane gets to a billion below zero so I have to believe you!

 

[stonyloam]

Re: mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

Seems to be a lot of misunderstanding of the basic principals involved here. If you fill a container (eg block) with water and it freezes it will EXPAND and the force generated will crack the container. If you fill a container with RV antifreeze (propylene glycol) and lower the temperature it will freeze solid, but when it does it CONTRACTS (as most liquids) and no force is generated so the container will not crack. The label says -50 burst protection, not that it will not freeze.

for example, Glycerine freezes at about 16 F, so at 0 F it would freeze solid in a engine block, but never cause damage, because it does not expand when it freezes.

 

[thumpar]

Re: mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

Seems to be a lot of misunderstanding of the basic principals involved here. If you fill a container (eg block) with water and it freezes it will EXPAND and the force generated will crack the container. If you fill a container with RV antifreeze (propylene glycol) and lower the temperature it will freeze solid, but when it does it CONTRACTS (as most liquids) and no force is generated so the container will not crack. The label says -50 burst protection, not that it will not freeze.

But that is only if ALL the water is taken out first. A lot of people end up getting a mix of 50/50 at best using some of the systems that suck it up through the muffs.

 

[JimS123]

Re: mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

But that is only if ALL the water is taken out first. A lot of people end up getting a mix of 50/50 at best using some of the systems that suck it up through the muffs.

The -50 antifreeze is actually only 30% propylene glycol. Its 70% water!

 

[thumpar]

Re: mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

The -50 antifreeze is actually only 30% propylene glycol. Its 70% water!

And when you get a 50/50 mix it is even more diluted.

 

[Bondo]

Re: mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

"The block will not be hot at start up. It fills from below the thermostat and the air escapes easily. I did it for 7 years on my 120 and just did it on my 5.7l. "

Spokane gets to a billion below zero so I have to believe you!

Ayuh,..... A Drained block fills from the bottom, Up,...

Air is purged through the t-stat,....
Some t-stats still have a tiny hole with a rivet in it for that reason,...
Some t-stats have just a tiny hole in 'em,....(some folks still drill that hole if it ain't there)
Some t-stats just allow air to pass the seat,...

All of 'em create enough resistance to stop or severely restrict the water flow, enough to maintain block temps,.....

My experiences are in Downeast Maine, 'n North Country Ny,...
Both are noted for winter time temps to drop to -30? or Colder for days, or sometimes weeks,....
Never once have I seen a drained block full of air, Freeze, 'n Crack,...

'n I've never seen a block rust out because of it,...

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

air dont freeze. 'nuff said

 

[thumpar]

Re: mercruiser 3.0 freeze plug blew out

air dont freeze. 'nuff said

It does at around -350f. :boink: Hopefully we don't have to worry about that though.