Winterizing question

[JJJ]

I have 2 questions really.
One is the power steering cooler really needed, I had one boat with it, one without, same make, same year, same engine -4.3 (one is early 96, one is late 96 - so they have different heads)? It is a pain to get the hoses off to drain the heat exchanger.

Two - I went to a full closed system due to keep corrosion down. I only use the boat 1 to 2 weeks a year and in salt water - good full flush after - but interior engine rust was just out of hand. So back to the question
My heat exchanger outlets are slightly above the riser inlets, should I add a little antifreeze to the risers - or are they fully self draining?
Bow is slightly down, any chance of antifreeze going into the engine if I do add it? If so I can raise it after I take the drive off for winter.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Winterizing question

Most risers are not self draining if the manifold has antifreeze thru them.Look at the risers and see if they have a drain plug on the side.Some do some don't.
Try to blow them out and put anti freeze in them.
The cooler is there leave it. The only way for the antifreeze to go thru the riser is if the riser is bad and it leaks into the valve train.Jerry

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterizing question

What do you have? OMC, Volvo, Mercruiser??, what year?

If you have power steering, Yes, you need a cooler.

You also have to drain the raw water side of the heat exchanger, and the raw water hoses to the pump.

 

[JJJ]

Re: Winterizing question

Sorry yea info would help.
I have a 96 Cobalt with a 4.3 merc w/aftermarket closed system.

I had another 96 Cobalt but with the newer 4.3 vortec - mid year change - it did NOT have a PS cooler but this one does. What is the difference? The boats were identical except one was a 19' the other is a 20' and of course the mid year engine difference - though that wouldn't matter with the cooler.

I pulled the hose at the PS cooler and drained it, that should also drain the heat exchanger - I would think.
I also pulled a hose off of the riser and blew threw it - the riser was empty, at least where the hose goes in and above (hose goes into the front lower port - where the big allen plug is) - which makes me think they are self draining to the exhaust. Is that the case?

No other pump than what is in the Alpha 1 outdrive.

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterizing question

it did NOT have a PS cooler but this one does. What is the difference?

Proibably one had power steering and one didn't. Without the cooler, the powersteering pump wouldn't last very long.

How high above the gasket surface is the bottom of the hose fitting. That is how much water is in the riser. There should be a brass plug on the back of the risers if the fitting is very far above the gasket surface.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Winterizing question

Post a pic of your riser and closed cooling system.Jerry

 

[JJJ]

Re: Winterizing question

The bottom of the fitting to the manifold/riser gasket is about 1/2" or so, maybe 3/4" max.

If you need I can take a pic tomorrow.

Do the PS coolers ever fail due to corrosion?
Both had power steering, one used a v belt the other a serpentine belt.


thanks

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Winterizing question

Does it have saltwater going thru it?

You know the outcome anything saltwater kisses will rust. If it's metal.

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterizing question

Do the PS coolers ever fail due to corrosion?

Sure do. Usually causes milky oil in the PS reservoir.

If they both had power steering, then they both had coolers. You might not have noticed it tucked up under the port front motor mount, but it was there. Or, the previous owner removed it. I've seen stranger things happen.

 

[JJJ]

Re: Winterizing question

Don S now that is possible that it was removed, if so they also changed out those because it was one piece.

Have you ever seen or do you think it would work, using a air type PS cooler? Type used on cars. I realize there isn't much air flow, but on cars the PS isn't usually in the air stream either.

If you haven't noticed, I'm trying to stop most of the places of corrosion due to saltwater and low usage

 

[JJJ]

Re: Winterizing question

I meant changed out the hose. DUH I know I didn't miss it as I looked for it specifically.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Winterizing question

or do you think it would work, using a air type PS cooler? Type used on cars.

Ayuh,...

Either you have to use the P/S Cooler like you have Now,....
Or,..
You'll be replacing the P/S Pump, probably Annually....

The Air cooled cooler used on cars will do Nothing on a boat....