# of drain plugs

[thisuldoit]

I would normally just figure this out myself, but I have to take a quick run to the lake tonight to drain the boat block (going down to 27*), the manual is at the lake not at my house, and I don't want to make any mistakes. I have a 1989 Mercruiser, 4.3L, 202 CID, V6 engine with power steering. How many drain plugs should I have on this boat?

Thank you very much!

 

[mechanix333]

Re: # of drain plugs

Well hopefully someone who has a little more knowledge than I will answer your question but I have same engine and I just drained it yesterday and there was 2 on the block and 1 on each manifold but I also pulled incoming water hose from drive unit and drained it as well. Hope this helps alittle.
I posted a similar question yesterday so if someone answers it I will pass along info

 

[SteveRay]

Re: # of drain plugs

Check for a power steering cooler if equipped with PS......should be inline with the incoming waterline form the drive

 

[Chris1956]

Re: # of drain plugs

Don't forget to stick a thin screwdrive into the drain holes. They ofter clog with stuff. If the boat is out of the water, dump some antifreeze down the raw water hose (Port side hose that runs under the engine), to push the water out of it. You should see the A-F exit from the outdrive water intake holes. You should also do a complete wnterization if you are done for the year.

 

[thisuldoit]

Re: # of drain plugs

Thank you for the info. I do plan on doing a full winterization this Sunday, but I do not want to take the risk of the block freezing tonight. From what I gather here, there should be 5 drainage points?

 

[thisuldoit]

Re: # of drain plugs

ddd

 

[Chris1956]

Re: # of drain plugs

The 4.3L Mercruiser has four drain plugs. Two are on the block near the motor mounts. Two are on the bottom of the manifold. They should be made of solid brass. Make sure you stick a small screwdriver into the hole. Water should drain from each hole. You might pull off the riser hose and the large recirculating hode on the waterpump.

There is no drain plug on the P/S cooler. Water will stay in it, unless you pour some antifreeze down the raw water hose. The A-F will exit from the water intake on the outdrive.

 

[mechanix333]

Re: # of drain plugs

Hey Thisuldoit
You might want to look at the thread I started called "4.3 mercruiser cooling "
It pretty much tells about the same things in this thread but also has a nice diagram of your cooling system submitted by Don S

 

[thisuldoit]

Re: # of drain plugs

Thank you to everyone. I made it down to the lake, pulled the drains/petcocks on the mainfolds and engine block, took the water inlet hose off, took the hoses from the thermostat to the mainfolds off, and the main hose from the thermostat to the reciculating pump off. Water came out of everywhere. Thank you for the tip to put a screwdriver in the holes. Dirt was well packed in the engine block and mainfold holes and almost fooled me into believing that there was no water in them. I rooted around enough, however, and the water starting pouring out. Hopefully since I have disconnected every hose that deals with water and drained every hole that the manual told me to, I should be good to go.

Thanks for the hlep.