3.0 Mercruiser orca cooling questions

[3.0McCracken]

Hi there, new to boating. Just purchased a 2003 bayliner 175 capri with a 3.0 Mercruiser for 2000 bucks. The first owner had installed a orca half cooler. Seems like the answer should be obvious but I’ve been getting some wildly different answers. I want to flush the cooler and refill it but I don’t know what to put in it?! Some sources say distilled water antifreeze 50/50 mix and others say green marine coolant. It seems to be filled with a watery fluid but I want to be very sure as a local Mercruiser dealer told me there is a new type of clear coolant. I can’t really seem to find the green stuff at a reasonable price, and if it is the water mix then does the kind of antifreeze matter? Located in Washington and will use the boat in both salt and freshwater. Thank you in advance for any input

 

[Scott06]

Hi there, new to boating. Just purchased a 2003 bayliner 175 capri with a 3.0 Mercruiser for 2000 bucks. The first owner had installed a orca half cooler. Seems like the answer should be obvious but I’ve been getting some wildly different answers. I want to flush the cooler and refill it but I don’t know what to put in it?! Some sources say distilled water antifreeze 50/50 mix and others say green marine coolant. It seems to be filled with a watery fluid but I want to be very sure as a local Mercruiser dealer told me there is a new type of clear coolant. I can’t really seem to find the green stuff at a reasonable price, and if it is the water mix then does the kind of antifreeze matter? Located in Washington and will use the boat in both salt and freshwater. Thank you in advance for any input

yes green marine coolant is the same thing as AF + distilled water. Any automotive green antifreeze will work fine. Might be worth testing before you just drain it. May have been changed

 

[Scott Danforth]

Call Orca

 

[3.0McCracken]

The lady on the phone just told me to use the manufacturer recommended coolant