Winterizing 2008 4.3L

1

13crazyhorse

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 4, 2010
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147
I have winterized quite a few boats. My son in law recently brought his newly aquired 2008 4.3 to help him winterize it. I checked his manual as a precaution and found it confusing because it covered so many options and different engines. We ran 4 gals of antifreeze through the motor and after fogging took out all the blue colored drain plugs we could find. This consisted of one on left front by the water pump housing, one in the bottom of each manifold and one on each side of the engine block for a total of five. We searched all over with the aid of a mirror and found no more blue plugs. Does anybody have any experience with this year 4.3 and can tell me if I missed anything? I'm 99% sure we did a good job but of course I would like to be absolutely sure. Thanks for any input.
 
D

dubs283

Vice Admiral
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Jul 27, 2005
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5,343
Re: Winterizing 2008 4.3L

check for a power steering cooler in-line with the water intake hose (between transom and t-stat housing) if you find it and there is no plug - no worries, it will gravity drain out the drive pick-up

also, some 4.3 intake manifolds have a 9/16" square head drain plug on the front (below the t-stat housing)
 
1

13crazyhorse

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Apr 4, 2010
Messages
147
Re: Winterizing 2008 4.3L

Alpheus said:
So you ran antifreeze through it and then drained it out?

What manual are you reading that told you to do that?

I think 5 plugs is all there is on your engine. (Asymmetrical)

Read this...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=178695
Click to expand...

The manual didn't say run antifreeze and then drain, but I always do that to be extra safe. Sometimes in just draining it there could be pockets of water remaining for one reason or another. Better to be safe than sorry in these cases.
 
R

ralphy670

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jan 29, 2008
Messages
244
Re: Winterizing 2008 4.3L

There are five plugs on my 2007 4.3l. I think you got them all. If you ran af through and then drained, you should be fine.
 
jmarty10

jmarty10

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Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
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Re: Winterizing 2008 4.3L

I have the same engine. You have 5 blue drain plugs. I called mercury marine and they verified it with me. The manual is confusing. The tech there said to pull the plugs and then crank engine without starting to blow all the water out and then run A/F through t-stat housing.
 
Subliminal

Subliminal

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Oct 21, 2009
Messages
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Re: Winterizing 2008 4.3L

My engine is a Volvo 2008 4.3L, which I winterized yesterday...but I only found 4 blue plugs and then the square one on the block in the intake manifold.

I guess I need to go home today and look for that 5th blue plug! DoH!
 
Subliminal

Subliminal

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Oct 21, 2009
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Re: Winterizing 2008 4.3L

...and I just looked and couldn't find a 5th blue plug. Hmmm...
 
0

07FourWinns

Cadet
Joined
Oct 11, 2010
Messages
13
Re: Winterizing 2008 4.3L

Our 07 GL-G Volvo has 5 plugs. One on each side of the block, one for each manifold, and one in the intake manifold.

I also like to remove all of the hoses to drain them.
 
Subliminal

Subliminal

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Oct 21, 2009
Messages
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Re: Winterizing 2008 4.3L

07FourWinns said:
Our 07 GL-G Volvo has 5 plugs. One on each side of the block, one for each manifold, and one in the intake manifold.

I also like to remove all of the hoses to drain them.
Click to expand...

4 are blue and one is a square brass plug, right?
 
Subliminal

Subliminal

Chief Petty Officer
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Oct 21, 2009
Messages
555
Re: Winterizing 2008 4.3L

Roger that. Mine is a Volvo as well. I've 4 blue plastic plugs, 2 on each manifold, 2 on the block, and then a square headed, painted red, plug on the front of the intake manifold, behind the belt tensioner.

Just want to make sure I'm not missing anything. Mine is a 4.3GL-J, and the manual I have is for the older A/B/C/D.
 
Subliminal

Subliminal

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Joined
Oct 21, 2009
Messages
555
Re: Winterizing 2008 4.3L

Done and done! I hadn't seen the operator's manuals before. I thought they'd be a ridiculous little pamphlet about where the gas goes and how to turn the key. Not so...good reading. Thanks!
 
Subliminal

Subliminal

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 21, 2009
Messages
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Re: Winterizing 2008 4.3L

PS - I did remove all the hoses and dumped antifreeze through them...just in case. My first time winterizing...I don't want to get it wrong.
 
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