Starboard engine drain/4.3L

[nola mike]

I forget where the post was, but a few weeks ago someone was commenting that when they drained the 4.3L, the starboard side engine drain was dry. I had noticed that mine was less, uh, runny when I first drained it (last drain pulled). I did it again last weekend, first drain pulled and got a ton of water out of it. In case that helps out the OP on the mystery thread. @Rick Stephens commented on it as well...

 

[Lou C]

I think what it might have been is some of the 4.3s with the old style large direct drive starter/front brace used an additional right angle fitting for that drain because the starter or brace might have been in the way of removing the plug if using the standard plugs. Mine is that way, I'd think newer ones are not because they came standard with the new smaller PMGR starter. Those right angle fittings clog more easily than a straight one. Harder to clean out.
PS I know yours doesn't have that coming from an auto application but some of the older 4.3s do...

 

[Scott Danforth]

shouldnt be dry, however water level drops on the last side to get pulled to the water pump level.

 

[nola mike]

shouldnt be dry, however water level drops on the last side to get pulled to the water pump level.

That's what I figured, so pulled that drain first to confirm

 

[alldodge]

Thanks for verifying

 

[Lou C]

just as an aside, I have seen those 90* drain fittings on older Merc 4.3s as well again probably when they used the bigger starter. I'm guessing the shorter block casting of the 4.3 put the drain right next to the starter vs on the V8 there was more clearance to not need the 90* fitting.
Here's the one on my OMC, you could replace this with a straight fitting if you had chronic clogging when draining since with the smaller starter the 90* fitting is no longer needed.

 

[nola mike]

Hmm, I'll have to check the old block to see if that fitting is there. Almost positive that I moved the whole drain over, which had the petcock but no 90' bend. Old block had the direct drive starter.

 

[Lou C]

Almost seems like the did that to keep the water from draining right on to the starter.

 

[nola mike]

Also got nervous about leaving that intake manifold drain in there. Pulled it again, and once again didn't get a drop of water out. There was a lot of space behind the drain; I can't imagine it holding enough water in there to crack anything. I think I leave it in next year.