Power Steering cooler and winterization?

[Dirty Dawg]

Hello all, first time winterizing the boat and have a question. It is a 2000 5.0L mercrusier with a Alphaone Gen II drive.

I pulled the plug drains for the block and manifold hose and disconnected the hoses as well. After a little fiddling with a wire, water drained out of all off them. Then pulled the hose that leaves the power steering cooler and goes to the thermostat, and no water came out from it at all. When I poured some antifreeze down all the hoses, the one connected to the power steering cooler just drained out of the outdrive.

I want to make sure that is correct. if I understand the manual the hose that the power steering cooler is connected to the outdrive's impeller, supplying raw water to the thermostat/pump to distribute. If so why would you need to pull the hose to the cooler? Why would water collect there? Would gravity not drain it either toward the impeller or thru the hose once disconnected?

Thanks Ike

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Power Steering cooler and winterization?

Sounds like you did it right.
Water pooles at the lowest point, sometime that hose ends up lower than the pump and water accumilates there.IT's mainly so you don't have to replace an oil cooler when you start-up in the spring.Jerry

 

[Dirty Dawg]

Re: Power Steering cooler and winterization?

Jerry , thanks for the reply. Just checking that I did not miss anything. If I a understand it, the cooler can only trap water if it's position is at a point were water would collect, a low point otherwise gravity would keep the water out.

To add to this one of the blocks drains were blocked up with some kind off junk. It was definitely not sand and cannot say it was rust as well. Mostly black in color and flat like paint flakes. Was that scale? Any significance? Don't think I saw it anywhere else in the other drains.

Thanks Ike

 

[Bondo]

Re: Power Steering cooler and winterization?

Any significance?

Ayuh,...
As long as you cleared it out so it could drain,... Nope....

 

[Dirty Dawg]

Re: Power Steering cooler and winterization?

Jerry and Bond-o thanks again. I just love this forum. Great info, great help!!!

Ike