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Winterizing Question on 43L IO

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briangross

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What is the most simple way to

What is the most simple way to drain the manifolds and the raw water side of my semi closed cooling system on a 2004 merc 4.3L engine? I use my boat all year but the location that I store it can and does drop below freezing for a few hours a day. I have a closed cooling system with raw water manifolds. I would like to be able to perform this relatively easily because I never no when I will take the boat out and then put it back for a week or a month. Thanks for the help.
 
"There should be drain plugs r

"There should be drain plugs right at the T fitting where your cooling water from your exchanger feeds into the bottom of the exhaust manifolds.
Drain them there.

There should also be a drain plug on the end bottom side of your exchanger. It will drain the exchanger.

There may also be a low point drain in the inlet water hose down low on the port side front, just before it turns up to the exchanger inlet.

That's it.

Rod"
 
"Is there a way to back flush

"Is there a way to back flush anti freez into the system so it gets the raw water side of the heat exchanger, the manifolds, the risers and the power stearing cooler, so I do not have to take these plugs in and out each time?"
 
"You can flush it thru with pi

"You can flush it thru with pink RV antifreeze; but even so its better if you first drain all the water out first.
This is so as to not dilute the antifreeze. There is a lot of water held up in the manifolds/risers and exchanger body.

Is it that tough to get to the drain plugs?
They are likely to be the blue plastic plugs that are easily removed by hand. No tools required.
Just remember to tighten them ever so gently with two fingers, or they will crack and fail.
The exchanger plug will likley require a socket, or a box end wrench.

Rod"
 
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