Need Help 3.0L Mercruiser

[whozleft]

Hi all,

This weekend we were out in the boat. It's a 1998 Sea Ray 180. We started taking on water. Managed to get to the ramp and get the boat home. I put the muffs on and started motor. It is leaking from a small plug(valve maybe) on the left (port) side about half way down on the block and located towards the rear of the boat. I pulled it out. It's a brass fitting and looks like it had some sort of plastic insert in it that has blown out or broken off allowing the water to leak out of the block.

Any idea what this plug is for? Anything else I need to check? It was running great until it started spewing water into the engine compartment. Luckily the bilge kept up with the flow.

I'd appreciate any ideas you all may have.

Thanks in advance.
Gary Hosfelt
Pataskala, OH

 

[Don S]

Re: Need Help 3.0L Mercruiser

Sounds like the block drains for draining the engine block during winterization.

 

[Jmunk]

Re: Need Help 3.0L Mercruiser

I have the same boat and two weeks ago the head of the plastic plug broke off. The plug is hollow I had to insert a screw into the hollow part of the plug to get it back to the ramp. I got a brass 1/4" npt plug and removed the fitting that threads into the block and put the new plug in.

 

[whozleft]

Thanks

Thanks

The two who replied are correct. That's exactly what happened. The plastic fitting is broken off and I will attempt to find one at the dealer down the street. I did go buy a 1/4"npt fitting to use tomorrow night after work. I want to check to make sure that there is no water in the oil and then take out the plugs and make sure none got in there.

I really appreciate the help since I am new to the inboard boating thing this year and don't know a whole lot about the engine yet.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Thanks

Re: Thanks

In my opinion the plastic inert plug is trouble waiting to happen! stick with the brass npt and the variable of a miss-hap is gone.