Time to winterize again...

[bashr52]

I got my boat all winterized again last weekend, and I got to thinking. The block drain on the port side is a HUGE pain to get to with the alternator, power steering pump, exhaust manifold, etc right in the way. The starboard one is a piece of cake. I usually pull the circulation hose off the thermostat housing and blow out the block to make sure all the water is out, and then fill the system with RV antifreeze until it runs out the thermostat housing. Would it be possible to just pull the starboard plug, and blow out the system so all the water comes out the one block drain? I would still backfill the system with antifreeze. Just thinking of way to make it easier on myself next year.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Whatcha workin' on,..??

 

[Lou C]

While disconnecting the big hose on the bottom end drains a lot of water, there is usually still a good bit that drains on each block drain, so I'd still try to get that one out....
​On my engine more seems to drain from the port than the starboard side....

 

[Scott Danforth]

I got my boat all winterized again last weekend, and I got to thinking. The block drain on the port side is a HUGE pain to get to with the alternator, power steering pump, exhaust manifold, etc right in the way. The starboard one is a piece of cake. I usually pull the circulation hose off the thermostat housing and blow out the block to make sure all the water is out, and then fill the system with RV antifreeze until it runs out the thermostat housing. Would it be possible to just pull the starboard plug, and blow out the system so all the water comes out the one block drain? I would still backfill the system with antifreeze. Just thinking of way to make it easier on myself next year.

NO.... let me rephase that. WTH are you thinking. if you have a block drain on both sides, you have a V-motor. if you have a V-motor, both sides must be drained separately as there is no cross-over in the water jackets. what you are proposing is about as effective as blowing air over a bucket and expecting the bucket to empty.

if you do what you think you are doing, you WILL be replacing your motor in spring because the left side of the motor will never have been drained and it will bust out.

Change your engine oil and filter, then after you refill the oil, and run it for a few seconds, you pull your 4-5 plugs, prod every hole, remove the large water pump hose and drain, remove the drain from the power steering cooler. then pull your outdrive and inspect the gimbal, u-joints and bellows. then change gear lube.

NO shortcuts

 

[bashr52]

Sorry, details left out. This is a 1994 4.3L Mercruiser. I always thought the systems were separate, but when I finally got port side plug out and drained and reinstalled, I had only installed 3 of the 4 plugs reinstalled (both exhaust and one block) when I started to fill the system with antifreeze. Right about the time I had the realization I did not reinstall the starboard block drain, antifreeze started to run out that side. I thought perhaps both sides were connected and it had filled the port side of the block and started toward the starboard when it was running out. I realize now it splits and fills both sides separately. Block is fully drained and filled, power steering lines all drained. Bell housing, gimbal bearing, and bellows all new this season, drive is being stored in the down position to not put stress on the boots and crack. I will have to find out something different for getting to that Port plug out for next year.