Ever cracked your block?

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

So my boat is outside, winterized, the block filled with anti-freeze by the dealer and the garden-type looking hose that comes out of the exhause manifolds disconnected, but it has gone from 50 to 24 this week.

I am pretty sure I'll be OK, but I was curious, has anyone cracked a block ever due to cold weather/improper winterizing?

Leggester · Posted: Mar 17, 2004 10:25 am Post subject:

Yep, sure have. Beaucoup $ to replace.

You should be fine though. Mine's been out there and we've had -25 degree nights this year. I'm not worried.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

I don't trust people, so I opened up the garden-hose type fitting between the manifolds, and a bunch of fluid came out, i tasted a small sample from my finger, so I will assume it's anti-freeze, but I like to frequently worry about things that are irrational and/or I have no controll over.

Is your engine drained or filled with anti-freeze, legge?

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794

Yep...I missed one drain plug and then water came pouring out the crack the following first spring run. The marina fixed it with some type of liquid metal compound after prepping the crack for about $500. I was skeptical about the 'bubble gum' patch, but the engine went for another 6-7 years and hasn't leaked since.

Leggester · Posted: Mar 17, 2004 10:57 am Post subject:

Drained, then filled with 50/50 antifreeze CB. Just like a car, but I did use the pink anti freeze ( eco terrorist that I am )

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

How do you pump the anti-freeze in?

Leggester · Posted: Mar 17, 2004 11:31 am Post subject:

I remove the hoses and with the plugs out start filling until I see the stuff come out hte block and then the manifolds.

Just pour down the hoses. There's a ton of other ways too though. I'd check with the 'bu site swass gave you.

tommyadrian5 · Addict Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 907

best way to ensure cold weather safety is to drain the block and manifolds completely, fill a bucket with 6 or 7 gallons of antifreeze, take the hose off the raw water pump side of the tranny cooler, put it in the bucket of antifreeze and start it up, the raw water pump will suck the antifreeze from the bucket and fill all the passages/cavities/low flow areas with at least a mixture of antifreeze (which is fine assuming you don't live in siberia...or canada Very Happy

)

tryan · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 257

i do tommys method when the engine is already hot (or take the stat out). by-pass type systems would just dump the antifreeze into the exhaust and not the block if the engine is not hot . i start it and fog her until she pisses green out the exhaust.

tryan · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 257

i have the patent on the 'idea' of water cracking the block. everyone owes me 8% of the cost of their replacement motor. Cool

tommyadrian5 · Addict Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 907

i have a question, once the boat is hot (up to operating temperature) does the thermostat remain open, or does it open and close regulating temperature?

vette74 · Posted: Mar 17, 2004 2:31 pm Post subject:

tommyadrian5,
It remains open until it goes below the theromstat temperature. Once it opens again then gets a surge of cool water and the cycle starts over again.

tryan · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 257

the bypass hole in the thermostat housing on a pcm allows the unused water (which is all of it when the engine is cold) to bypass the block and get pumped straight out the exhaust manifold. the stat will start to close when you drain the block, but stats are pretty slow if you watch them on the stove. even if it just open a little, it will allow the winter mix to flow into the block.

your covered because you drain the block first. if you didn't the raw water pump would pump most of the antifreeze out the exhaust.

the holman motor in the 69 is a different story. NO water hits the exhaust until the thermostat opens. not a very well thought out set up. i need to replumb with pcm parts.