Where are my blue drain plugs?

[burgessm84]

D*mn - had the whole question typed and lost it somehow.

The short of it.
Can someone please describe to me exactly where I'd find the drain plugs on a 4.3 Merc Carb? Engine serial #OW364371 (2006). I can't get to the boat, so I will have to email my son (14) and give him instructions for finding them. I removed 3 last weekend, but now realize I missed some. I didn't have the manual, but remembered it was a 3-point drain - unfortunately I'm thinking the manual should really call it a 5-point drain system since they don't even mention the exhaust drains (which I counted).

The user manual maintenance section seems to conflict with the 3 I've already removed: I got 1 from the front (low and towards the starboard side), and 1 each from the bottom of the port/starboard rectangular exhaust pieces (?risers or manifold?). These exhaust drains aren't even mentioned in my user manual!!, so that means I missed two.
Wierd thing is the one I got from the engine doesn't seem to match where they say the should.

I'm also wondering why the manual's 'boat in the water' draining instructions says I need to vent the cooling system by removing another plug from the thermostat housing, but they don't mention it in the 'boat out of the water' draining instructions? The 'in water' diagram doesn't show the same type of 'butterfly' plug either - just a round circle...


Many thanks for your help - we're not at freezing yet, but it would give me some piece of mind to get the plugs out.


Thanks,
Mike

 

[ralphy670]

Re: Where are my blue drain plugs?

There are five plugs in all. 2 on the eshaust manifolds, 1 on the water pump and 2 on the block. You have to reach on both sides of the engine near the bottom of the block. They are near center of the block. Kind of a pain to get at but you need to get them out.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Where are my blue drain plugs?

Tell him to watch loosing the small rubber gaskets that fall off and under the engine when you remove them. The water pump one is on the front left side of the motor, oriented towards the bow of the boat.

Also, be sure and tell him to stick a screw driver in each opening. I sure needed to.

 

[burgessm84]

Re: Where are my blue drain plugs?

Anyone else want to chime in? I don't understand how my manual shows 1 plug "lower front, port side", and then two close together "front, starboard side". Their drawings match their descriptions - but not the one plug I've already removed, and not ralphy670's description, nor the last reference I can find: http://www.crowleymarine.com/mercury_parts/11812/180.cfm This diagram shows the one plug I removed (front, starboard side, below the circ pump), but then only *one* other on the port side, towards the front.

Also wondering why my manual says the two plugs close together are from the seawater pickup pump - I thought all I had was the impeller in the outdrive, and the circulation pump.

If someone knew which link I should follow for my engine (I don't see an obvious match) from that list of on-line service manuals, maybe I could get better pictures/info.

FYI - I found the diagram at http://www.crowleymarine.com/parts.cfm, search by model & serial #, Mercruiser, the only 4.3 listed that gives a range of serial numbers that matches mine is the ?4.3 carb alpha/bravo?.


Thanks again,
Mike

And yes - first plug out I lost the o-ring