Am I in trouble?

[2fast4u_evinrude]

Ok so took my boat out 3 weeks ago for the last cruise for the season. Loaded the boat back onto the trailer. Since I knew it was the last run of the season I removed the brass drain plug on the block and the exhaust manifold. (The water still hot/warm from the engine) Towed it home and had it parked since. Prior to this I ordered a starbrite do it yourself winterizing kit and I received it with missing parts. I called them about it and they say they get me the part asap. 5 weeks later I still dont have the part and I got really Nasty with them! This is the reason why I havent winterize it yet. The temperature went from 9C (48.2F) to -8C (17.6F) within 24 hours and we had a blizzard here in Canada. Tonight it will be -20C (-4F). I am worried that I will crack something. I took the larger rubber hose off (connected to the water pump) and I poured about 2 liter of RV pink anti freeze early this afternoon. I see that the antifreese is coming out of both the block drain and the exhause manifold drain. It suppose to warm up this weekend to 1C (33.8F) by this weekend so I will finish my winterization then. You think I will be ok? Its a 3.0L mercruiser engine.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Am I in trouble?

as long as all the water was drained out. your good.. ya don't even need the anti freeze...
as they say. air don't freeze...

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Am I in trouble?

Sounds like you should be okay in the pinch. You could run a trouble light on an extension cord to the engine bay if you want a little more peace of mind.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Am I in trouble?

Tonight it will be -20C (-4F)

i can't think that a light bulbs gonna do much at that temp... other than be a possible ign. source for some stray fumes if the bulb breaks or some other stray spark occurs...

just food for thought.

the key is ALL the water out of all systems... then you ARE safe from freeze damage..

man 2fast, you sure got it cold up there already... burr...

 

[2fast4u_evinrude]

Re: Am I in trouble?

Yes it is freezing up here, never seen anthing like this where it frooze overnight. Woke up this morning and snow up to my knees. I was also thinking putting a battery blanket/warmer around the engine block. What about the out drive? I never actually had it sitting in the down positsion since I last drove the boat. Could there possibly be a freeze up in there?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Am I in trouble?

I was also thinking putting a battery blanket/warmer around the engine block.

imho, from what i've learned about boats from here and other places.
your putting a possible ign source inside your bilge where fuel fumes can congregate. all they need is a spark...

your boat, your choice.

i've expressed, to the best of my knowledge the way to prevent freeze damage. the removing all water shows up in mercruiser service manuals also. light bulbs and electric blanks i've not read about in the service manuals... good luck with her and stay warm...

What about the out drive? I never actually had it sitting in the down positsion since I last drove the boat. Could there possibly be a freeze up in there?

yes, ya gotta get it down. gravity drains it. if still up. there can still be water in the exhaust system.... if ya can't get it all the way down. it's not to hard to pull the drive and take it inside. that's where mine is right now..

 

[2fast4u_evinrude]

Re: Am I in trouble?

Thanks for all the info and tips guys. That took a load of stress off my back. Crazy weather, need to move somewhere I can boat all year round. This is also my first year boating and Im learning as we go.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Am I in trouble?

A trouble light will help a lot in a pinch. Also seal up any vents so the air does not blow through. Pay close attention and check the oil after you next start it up. Good luck.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Am I in trouble?

I'm with Ziggy- if you got the water out you're okay. If you didn't, the damage has already been done. Temp's been below freezing for hours.

No point in trying to heat anything now. Wasted effort and potentially dangerous. Might as well just forget about it until Spring

My .02

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Am I in trouble?

Mine is still in the water. Suppose to get down to the upper 30s Friday night. Too close for comfort for me. I am going down to the boat with a bucket and let the water drain out of the manifold and block. That's all I ever do. I agree, no need to worry as long as all the water is drained. I should have the boat out of the water by now but it has been very warm here. Nothing like you have. You need to get out of there. That is too cold for my bones LOL

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Am I in trouble?

I had a 3.0 for years. If you removed both the block and manifold plugs, the engine is ok.

That drive worries me though so lower it as far as you can as soon as you can. That will also prevent the bellows from taking a set in the up position and wearing out prematurely.

As others have said, any damage to be done hs been done.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Am I in trouble?

need to move somewhere I can boat all year round.

Oh you need to move alright. -4F and snow to your knees in October? That place isn't fit for humans!

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Am I in trouble?

Get the drive down ASAP and leave it down for the winter.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Am I in trouble?

It sounds like you have sucessfully got the water out of the block and manifold. I put the plugs in and fill the block and manifold with the A-F, but there is tons of debate on that subject. I was always afraid there could be water lurking somewhere.

You still need to dump some A-F down the raw water intake hose and see it emerge from the water intake on the OD. I like to do the same for the exhaust ports on the OD, but the manifold must be filled with A-F for that to work.
Change the gear oil, engine oil and filter. Did you fog the motor? Did you hit the grease fittings? Clean the spark arestor?

 

[DrLugOD]

Re: Am I in trouble?

Not to hijack this thread, but I could only find one drain plug on my 1997 3.0 merc. It was on the block. Where is the manifold drain?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Am I in trouble?

look at this guys thread.. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=447396

he has a pic of the locations in his thread..

 

[2fast4u_evinrude]

Re: Am I in trouble?

It will be 0C (32F) tommorow so first thing I am going to do is hook up water to the outdrive and let the motor run for about 15 min, change the engine & leg oil, fog the engine & then drain the fluids. I already had Fuel stablizer in the tank from my last run. I will have it stored indoors at my friends farm and I think should be set

 

[2fast4u_evinrude]

Re: Am I in trouble?

It got really nice out this afternoon so I decided to winterize my boat. She started right up. I had the muffs on it. Ran solid with no issues for the first ten minutes and temperature was normal. About 15 minutes later the engine started to smoke. I looked at the temp gauge and it was normal. It had a stinky smell like it was overheating. Water was flowing properly as it was coming out of the exhaust. I didnt have the blower on at the time so I turned it on. I took the engine cover off and Noticed that the engine had alot of vibration. Kept it running and fogged the motor. I shut it off and I noticed that one of the spark plug cable came off of the distrubtor. I Didnt start it back up again. Drained the water out and changed the engine oil.

 

[2fast4u_evinrude]

Re: Am I in trouble?

anyone?