Draining The Engine For Winter

[baileyjd1]

2004 Mercruiser 5.0 SN42KBZVV2242000137

Bravo 1 Drive

After reading several different posts and various articicles on winterizing one would get the opinion there are several plugs to remove to properly drain an engine for the winter. One post in particular stresses obtaining and reading a service manual. Best I can tell from the manual, I have an air actuated single point drain system that does not require removing several plugs to properly drain the engine. I have performed the draining method as described in the service manual and the amount of water drained using this method was not near the amount I was expecting.

Is the air actuated single point drain method sufficient for winter?

 

[Don S]

Re: Draining The Engine For Winter

Is the air actuated single point drain method sufficient for winter?

No, but it is good for, uhhhhh give me a minute. I'm thinking. Nope, nothing. It's really not good for anything than a sales tool. Makes people think it't a good thing to buy, then they find out it will also cost you and engine or manifolds when they break because you didn't know something was plugged up and didn't drain completely.

PS, that number you posted is NOT a serial number. A merc number is a 0 then a letter, then 6 numbers. Here's an example 0W123456

Personally, I would pull the whole air system off the engine and install brass pipe plugs in the drain areas. But that is also not an easy process on that air system.

Is your engine closed cooled or do you have a raw water cooled system.

 

[baileyjd1]

Re: Draining The Engine For Winter

Got on the wrong line SN OM648883

Raw water cooled system.

 

[jackd1023]

Re: Draining The Engine For Winter

Just as a test on a new to me engine(that had the air system). I went ahead and "drained the water out of the system" per intructions. I then Pulled the system off and to my suprise...LOTS if water was left in the engine. I ended up putting regular plugs on the engine.