Freeze protection for 2000 Mercruiser 4.3L

[lou23]

First time winterizing an older 4.3L. After running and flushing with garden hose and muffs, I removed all blue drains...both exhaust manifold elbows, both block lower drains and single drain on lower hose to circulating pump. All drained well, good flow and no blockage. After letting sit for a couple of hours I went back and reinstalled all the plugs and removed the 4 hoses going to the thermostat housing. I poured antifreeze into each hose until it began coming out of drive and then reinstalled them. Is this sufficient to protect from freezing or should I have removed the thermostat to fill the block. Was considering just leaving all the plugs out and reinstall in spring before running on muffs to verify all is good before launching.

 

[Scott Danforth]

you probed each drain?

did you do the power steering cooler?

you drained the gear case and re-filled with gear lube?

changed oil and filter?

if so, your good to go (assuming -100F RV antifreeze) however you could have skipped the AF as Air doesnt freeze until -361 F

 

[Starcraft5834]

" Is this sufficient to protect from freezing" ???

the only thing that will freeze is water... leave it empty and re-install the plugs... Air dont freeze... your block will sleep well empty..

 

[Bt Doctur]

If you removed all the plugs and verified that all did drain then install the plugs you good.
If by removing the large hose at the T housing and pouring A/F in untill it came out the T housing, your good.
If by removing the hoses that go to the bottom of the manifolds from the T housing and poured atleast a 1.2 gallon into each your good'
Now ,the water inlet hose to the T housing. If if comes from the top of the motor your good.If it comes up from the bottom of the motor it may contain water.
Removing the PS cooler hose will drain it or removing the drive and blowing air thru the hose to clear it

 

[lou23]

I did use Stabil in the gas tank, changed oil and filter and also drained and refilled stern drive. I can see the power steering pump but did not see a cooler. The manual only indicates the 5 drains. Is it possible I don't have a power steering cooler ? It,s a 2000 Princecraft Vacanza...20' deck boat.

 

[Bt Doctur]

follow the water inlet hose from the transom. might be a tube at the rear of the motor and not under the port side engine mount

 

[Bondo]

Is it possible I don't have a power steering cooler ?

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,.... If ya got power steerin', there's a cooler in the line comin' in from the outdrive,....

 

[mt2006]

I am no expert, but I thought if the inlet hose goes on top of the motor it passes through the steering cooler on its way to the t-stat. If the OP had antifreeze run out of the drive when pouring it in the hoses disconnected from the t-stat housing would the cooler not have been "flushed" with AF? Again, I am a novice but thought that was the case. Of course, if the inlet hose goes gravity might not be your friend in this regard??