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Possible freeze damage help please

C

Chester7569

New member
Hi all. .. new to the forums. I moved to central virgina last year with my new boat... 195hp 4.3 mercruiser sterndrive, alpha one.
Winters here seemed mild, so like an idiot, i did NOT pull the drain plugs prior to winterizing. I just ran it on muffs until Tstat opened, & sucked in 4 gallons plus of RV antifreeze, fogged it & stored with unit lowered fully & bilge plug OUT with a bucket under it. I also skipped replacing the drive oil since i only put 5hrs on it .... & being new boat figured it ok to skip it....
Of course, we had a record cold snap after xmas into the single digits..... .. uh oh... so temps climbed into 50s yesterday & i noticed a 3' diameter blackish wet spot on my concrete floor under my boat.....then today the entire floor is dark from moisture under the boat...... my bilge is clean & the bucket under the bilge plug hole is still empty.... so i assume it's coming out the drive somewhere? How much trouble am i in for? It would take gallons of liquid to wet my floor so much..... my engine oil level is good & clean... my outdrive fluid is down, but still above the "add" line.... the spilled liquid is black & dirty directly under the drive, but most of it has no smell.. and doesn't seem oily.... should i panic yet? Any help is appreciated
 
Considering you left 3 1/2 gallons of water in the system when you introduced the A/F and diluted it there is a very good chance something cracked. To exit the drive it would have to exit the eblow and go down the exaust pipe. Have not known that to happen.
I would remove the drain plugs in the engine and manifolds and see what comes out. If they remained full you didnt crack.
anything , if nothing drains out ,you cracked something. After removing the plugs probe the opening to make sure its open to drain.
 
Bt Doctur said:
Considering you left 3 1/2 gallons of water in the system when you introduced the A/F and diluted it there is a very good chance something cracked. To exit the drive it would have to exit the eblow and go down the exaust pipe. Have not known that to happen.
I would remove the drain plugs in the engine and manifolds and see what comes out. If they remained full you didnt crack.
anything , if nothing drains out ,you cracked something. After removing the plugs probe the opening to make sure its open to drain.
Click to expand...

Thx 4 the info.... will pull plugs but not optimistic.... expensive lesson.
 
Years ago I posted an Amazon review re; the so called “winterizing kits” that are used on the Raw Water Cooled Marine engines!

Here is a link to my review:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R3BD7X6QC3KCFR

Once you read my review, and once the thermostat and bi-pass is understood, it’s likely that you’ll never use one of these kits again.

If you have any questions, by all means ask them!

The companies who sell these kits (with the intended use for a Raw Water Cooled Marine Engine), should be ashamed of themselves!!!!!




.
 
Last edited:
RicardoMarine said:
Years ago I posted an Amazon review re; the so called “winterizing kits” that are used on the Raw Water Cooled Marine engines!

Here is a link to my review:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R3BD7X6QC3KCFR

Once you read my review, and once the thermostat and bi-pass is understood, it’s likely that you’ll never use one of these kits again.

If you have any questions, by all means ask them!

The companies who sell these kits (with the intended use for a Raw Water Cooled Marine Engine), should be ashamed of themselves!!!!!




.... thx... good info.... nothin like a new boat with a cracked block.... feelin pretty stupid....
Click to expand...
 
Bt Doctur said:
Considering you left 3 1/2 gallons of water in the system when you introduced the A/F and diluted it there is a very good chance something cracked. To exit the drive it would have to exit the eblow and go down the exaust pipe. Have not known that to happen.
I would remove the drain plugs in the engine and manifolds and see what comes out. If they remained full you didnt crack.
anything , if nothing drains out ,you cracked something. After removing the plugs probe the opening to make sure its open to drain.
Click to expand...

Found 4 plugs, mercruiser 4.3tks... 1 exhaust front, 2 starboard, 1 port side. Got an equal amount of slightly dirty water from each port... BUT, only about 3 gallons total.... so i think I'm toast..... any advice on how best to choose the right repair shop to inspect/repair would be appreciated.... meanwhile I'll be standing in the corner wearin my dunce hat.... ugh
 
where do you live? the 4.3 will have a drain plug on each side of the block , 1 drain plug in each manifold, may be others in the power steering or fuel cooler
 
Bt Doctur;596136]where do you live? the 4.3 will have a drain plug on each side of the block , 1 drain plug in each manifold, may be others in the power steering or fuel cooler[/QUOTE]

Central Virginia about 1hr northwest of Richmond, 1 hr east of Charlottesville.. .. I'm confident i got all the plugs...
 
I'm confident i got all the plugs...
Click to expand...

Ayuh,.... If ya Did, 'n got 'bout 3 gallons of water, ya Might be Lucky,....

When I pull the drain plugs, I poke the holes with a deckscrew to dislodge the rust, dust, 'n debris that gathers in the cavities there,....
Then I leave everything Dry,....
Air don't freeze,.....
 
bondo said:
Ayuh,.... If ya Did, 'n got 'bout 3 gallons of water, ya Might be Lucky,....

When I pull the drain plugs, I poke the holes with a deckscrew to dislodge the rust, dust, 'n debris that gathers in the cavities there,....
Then I leave everything Dry,....
Air don't freeze,.....
Click to expand...

How might i be lucky? If considerable water ended up on my floor & only 3 gal remained? Not sure I'm gonna be lucky but sure would be nice to have some hope.. ?
 
Of course, we had a record cold snap after xmas into the single digits..... .. uh oh... so temps climbed into 50s yesterday & i noticed a 3' diameter blackish wet spot on my concrete floor under my boat.....then today the entire floor is dark from moisture under the boat...... my bilge is clean & the bucket under the bilge plug hole is still empty.... so i assume it's coming out the drive somewhere?

Re-reading your post it begs the question what got the floor discolored and where did it come from.If you did have a external crack the water would exit the hull drain plug. Even if you did crack the block and manifolds it would not exit thru the drive.
 
Bt Doctur said:
Of course, we had a record cold snap after xmas into the single digits..... .. uh oh... so temps climbed into 50s yesterday & i noticed a 3' diameter blackish wet spot on my concrete floor under my boat.....then today the entire floor is dark from moisture under the boat...... my bilge is clean & the bucket under the bilge plug hole is still empty.... so i assume it's coming out the drive somewhere?

Re-reading your post it begs the question what got the floor discolored and where did it come from.If you did have a external crack the water would exit the hull drain plug. Even if you did crack the block and manifolds it would not exit thru the drive.
Click to expand...

Yes friend, u r absolutely correct... I've since learned that a slow trickle of water out the bilge drain will "wick" toward the bow and drip on the floor... capillary action.... so ? My research indicates that my 4.3L tks has a coolant capacity of 3.75gal... and I'm confident i got at least 2.75gal out the 4 drain plugs.... the floor is now dry, but there's a small area under the drain of black, slightly oily residue... it doesn't really smell like anything? Again, thx 4 taking the time to offer insight... .. guess all i can do now is have it inspected and pray.... makes me wonder what would crack/fail causing loss of 1gal and leaving almost 3 still inside?
 
The only way you will find out is to remove the large hose from the thermostat housing side and fill it with water or A/F and let it sit.
If the block is intact it will hold the level. You do the same for the manifolds, remove the hose from the thermostat housing support it so it is the level of the manifold. and fill it.
 
If there are no cracks in the block outside and there is an internal crack wouldn't the water have to end up in the crankcase? Can't you just look on dipstick or pump out oil and look for water?
 
It is best to fog engine then drain all water from block and manifolds also the circulating pump also any oil and power steering and transmission cooler if there iis nothing in there it can't freeze and crack.
 
I'm hoping mine is good and just tested by opening drain plugs and liquid antifreeze came out. I did run - 75° through it via the outdrive though.
 
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