Winterization

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ericcarr

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I know I’m gonna get some flack about this but here goes. I got my 1990 sea ray sundancer back up and running after a 5 year hibernation… I am at the point of winterization, it’s a 7.4 big block motor, I removed the bravo 3 drive. Where are all the points I need to drain the water from the motor? Are there fittings on the sides of the motor that need to be taken out.
 
Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

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Remove the plugs from the sides of the block and the manifold. 4 total

Poke and prod the openings to clear debris

Remove the PS hose and the large J hose and drain
 
Bondo

Bondo

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ericcarr said:
I know I’m gonna get some flack about this but here goes. I got my 1990 sea ray sundancer back up and running after a 5 year hibernation… I am at the point of winterization, it’s a 7.4 big block motor, I removed the bravo 3 drive. Where are all the points I need to drain the water from the motor? Are there fittings on the sides of the motor that need to be taken out.
Click to expand...
Ayuh,...... 4 plugs, 2 on the block, one each manifold,..... if hex plugs, a 9/ 16" wrench is the ticket,......
If the blue plugs, fingers, or pliers,.....

Pull the bottom of the Big hose off the water pump,.....
'n drain the p/s - oil cooler in the in-comin' water line from the drive,....
 
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ericcarr

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Ok, how many plugs are there on each side, 1 or 2? Also why do I need to remove the power steering hose and where is this k hose located at?
 
Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

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ericcarr said:
Ok, how many plugs are there on each side, 1 or 2? Also why do I need to remove the power steering hose and where is this k hose located at?
Click to expand...
4 plugs total. One on each side of the block. One on each manifold as stated

You remove the hose to drain the raw water from the PS cooler yo keep it from freezing and bursting
 
tpenfield

tpenfield

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Is the 7.4 Merc original to the boat? I'm not sure if the older motors had all the convenience of the 'blue plugs' back then. (I had a 1991 7.4 Merc quite some time ago :unsure: )

Anyway, as the others have said . . .

1,2) bottom of each exhaust manifold (either detach the hose or remove the plug, if it has one)
3,4) Base of engine block, just above the oil pan on both sides. There will be a drain fitting. Open the fitting and poke a wire (or something) to loosen any sediment inside the engine block that may be preventing full draining
5) Lower hose on the recirculating pump
6,7) Both hoses on the sea water pump (take a photo of how the hoses are connected before removing them)
 
Scott06

Scott06

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One note on the PS cooler - on both my '90 3.0 and my current '04 5.0 the removing the ps cooler hose never drained any water, so now I just take the hose from it off the thermostat housing and back flush with 1/2 gal of AF in case there is any residual - it comes out the drive holes... really depends on how your hoses to the ps cooler run and if there are any low points to hang up water
 
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icyb

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Can you use an air nozzle on the power steering hose and push any remaining water out the leg, and if you don't have air compressor can you pour full strength antifreeze down the hose till the clear water is pushed out and you see antifreeze? Thanks guys
 
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icyb

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Sorry if you guys thought I was giving advice to the op,I was asking the pros about blowing out the water out of the power steering hose or pore some antifreeze down the hose. When I bought this boat kept finding water and red oil in the bilge, found the hose just pushed on the steering cooler and the hose clamps loose and inches away. Tightened that all up that was a bear to get . So my question is can I pore straight antifreeze at the top of that hose until it comes out the outdrive?
 
JASinIL2006

JASinIL2006

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I'm not 100% certain, but I don't think water will flow in reverse through that house and out the outdrive; I think the impeller in the outdrive will prevent water from exiting that way.

I installed a fitting with a nipple on both the PS cooler hose (between the PS cooler and the outdrive) and the water circulating pump J-hose. It allows me to drain both by just unscrewing a blue plug like those on the engine block. Much easier than removing the hoses to drain, and much more foolproof (in my opinion) than hoping I get enough antifreeze in the hoses to protect those areas from freezing.
 
TPSK

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IMG20221007100854.jpg07.10. 2022г. регламент для катера ниже ватерлинии. ( 1/5 лет) пресная вода.
 
Scott06

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JASinIL2006 said:
I'm not 100% certain, but I don't think water will flow in reverse through that house and out the outdrive; I think the impeller in the outdrive will prevent water from exiting that way.
Click to expand...
It will flow backwards , I do it every year and see AF coming out the drive to the ground. In my case these hoses are empty just extra precaution to rinse with AF no pushing water out with AF
 
Bondo

Bondo

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icyb said:
Sorry if you guys thought I was giving advice to the op,I was asking the pros about blowing out the water out of the power steering hose or pore some antifreeze down the hose. When I bought this boat kept finding water and red oil in the bilge, found the hose just pushed on the steering cooler and the hose clamps loose and inches away. Tightened that all up that was a bear to get . So my question is can I pore straight antifreeze at the top of that hose until it comes out the outdrive?
Click to expand...
Ayuh,..... That'll work,......
 
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Drcoffee

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The best laid plans. Took my time to winterize the boat few weeks back and got it all done. I drained it all down, then back filled with AF (green stuff Prestone). Just on a hunch, I decided to test the protection level of the coolant. It was somewhere between -10 and -15 on the scale. Very disappointing. So uncovered the transom And just pulled all the plugs completely draining the engine in a catch basin. Air doesnt freeze. I Should have checked before using the AF. Live and learn. Up here near Chicago IL it can get to -20 in a bad winter.
 
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ROY WILLIAMS

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Drcoffee said:
The best laid plans. Took my time to winterize the boat few weeks back and got it all done. I drained it all down, then back filled with AF (green stuff Prestone). Just on a hunch, I decided to test the protection level of the coolant. It was somewhere between -10 and -15 on the scale. Very disappointing. So uncovered the transom And just pulled all the plugs completely draining the engine in a catch basin. Air doesnt freeze. I Should have checked before using the AF. Live and learn. Up here near Chicago IL it can get to -20 in a bad winter.
Click to expand...
I did my engine coolants 65% and 35% distilled water ....-55 F...also all my vehicles ..has no leaks and the system is very clean no corrosion ..
 
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Lou C

Lou C

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get one of these refractometers, they work on both PG and EG, easy to use. antifreeze & refractometer.jpg
 
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