Winterizing Power Steering Cooler

[zellerj]

I find the 1.5 inch hoses on my Power Steering cooler on my 1988 5.7 L Mercruisers very difficult to remove. When trying to get the rear hose end off I cracked the PS fluid hose barb. This was on the starboard engine that does not use the PS unit so I have not yet replaced it. But when I removed the 1.5 inch hose, no water came out. It appears that the raw water cooling self-drained and the hose was empty.
When winterizing, I pull the raw water input hose from the thermostat housing and poor antifreeze through the hose leading to the outdrive. I find antifreeze exiting the outdrive.

My question is why do forum members advise to remove the hose to the PS cooler when it self drains anyway. Is pouring antifreeze through the input hose sufficient for winterization? Are my outdrives "leaky" and for some reason don't hold back water?

 

[icyb]

Bought a nice Formula f3 off a widow. The boat was garaged from day one. I kept finding power steering fluid mixed with water in the bilge. Never alot but annoying. The hoses were on there but the hose clamps were loose. Tighten them up and that fixed that.Had a heck of a time tightening them up. For winterizing I pull the hose at the thermostat and blow air and push the water out. Then I pore a cup of antifreeze down that hose, when I here it in my catch pan that's it. Unless them hoses need replaced I don't see the need to pull them hoses off the power steering cooler. Or if some vanes from the impeller get cought there .

 

[Scott Danforth]

Not all PS coolers are self draining

 

[Lou C]

It depends on how they are mounted on the engine and how the hoses are plumbed. The ones on OMCs and some Volvo’s are mounted on an angle to help it be self draining. I put the outdrive down and then pour -100 marine AF in the raw water intake hose. This pushes out the water in the cooler and hose. Doing it this way it’s never frozen on me. If the cooler is mounted horizontally it might not self drain. They are often in a tough spot to reach

 

[JASinIL2006]

Mine was not self-draining. I installed a drain valve in the hose so I wouldn’t have to pull the hose to drain it.