hope I did this ok

[16Pilot]

ok here it is, as some of you knew already I was having issues getting one of my drain plugs from the block. It was stripped beyond repair. We tried bolt outs (didnt work) could not get a drill in there(starter next to it and motor mount above.) Finally said screw it and knocked the front freeze plug out and stuck a pump in there and got all of the water out and filled with antifreeze, then put a new brass freeze plug back in. Is this ok? Don, I know your going to say I probably should not have done this, but It was my last resort after about 4 hours of effort. also the mechanic at the local shop said to run 15-40 weight oil. Any feedback without starting an oil war here? Straight 30 or 15-40?

 

[Lou C]

Re: hope I did this ok

OMC said straight 30W <br />If you pulled the big hose off the water pump on the front of the engine, you may have gotten most of the water out, in combination with the freeze plug. Were you able to get the block drain out on the other side? Did you put in AF that was close to full strength, that way whatever water was in there would mix and you would most likely have enough protection. One way or another you should fix that right in the future though. It is hard to say if it is OK since we don't know just how much water was left or if you put in the AF full strength. 50/50 with the good PG AF gives you about -26, I use about 60% which gives you about -35, and good corrosion protection. Sounds like not a fun job, maybe you need to remove the starter (not fun in itself) and engine mount (have to rig up something to support that side of the engine) to fix it right.

 

[Don S]

Re: hope I did this ok

My guess is the engine, from your discription, is protected from freezing for this year, but what about next year????<br />Perhaps removing the exhaust manifold and starter you could get to the plug to remove it.

 

[16Pilot]

Re: hope I did this ok

it is going to the shop next year. I am pretty decent at working on my automobiles and my boat, but this was beyond me. So the shop can take care of it next year. The other side drained fine after I did what Don said and stuck a screwdriver through the hole. It was plugged up with gunk. I shot antifreeze in that side too with pressure pump and quickly put the plug back in to prevent corrosion. I am pretty sure I got almost all of the water out of the side with screwed up drain plug with the pump. Don I always read your Tag Line and puts things in to perspective.LOL

 

[KaGee]

Re: hope I did this ok

Is the reason why I put petcocks in both sides when I stuck the new engine back in.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: hope I did this ok

Originally posted by Lou C:<br /> If you pulled the big hose off the water pump on the front of the engine, you may have gotten most of the water out, in combination with the freeze plug.

Maybe with the freeze plug Lou, but pulling the pump or hose will still leave plenty of water.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: hope I did this ok

Originally posted by KaGee:<br /> Is the reason why I put petcocks in both sides when I stuck the new engine back in.

you mean they didn't come with petcocks? i've got an '89 4.3L OMC. it had petcocks in both the blocks and manifolds when i bought it from a guy around '94. is it more likely he put them in or that OMC changed in '90?

 

[16Pilot]

Re: hope I did this ok

mine is a 1990 and it does not have petcocks

 

[Lou C]

Re: hope I did this ok

Not petcocks like on the old style radiators, but the brass plugs that have the wingnut style end on them. Petcocks might not be the best in that if you have rust and corrosion they may not come out, and you may need to get them out because of rust blocking the drain, you really want to run a coat hanger wire up there

 

[Don S]

Re: hope I did this ok

Brass plugs are fine, you can remove them and clean the gunk out of the block, something you can't do with petcocks. But those brass plugs don't have to be so tight they can't be removed, that's just a waste of time. The use of plugs with a hex head on them instead of the square head is also a better idea, you can get to them with a ratchet and socket.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: hope I did this ok

Originally posted by Lou C:<br /> Not petcocks like on the old style radiators, but the brass plugs that have the wingnut style end on them. Petcocks might not be the best in that if you have rust and corrosion they may not come out, and you may need to get them out because of rust blocking the drain, you really want to run a coat hanger wire up there

I'm pretty naive w.r.t. boating, so better make sure I'm usig the right terminology. Petcocks are like bolts that are designed with holes in them so that you need only loosen them to drain, rather than take them completely out, right? <br /><br />I'm pretty sure I've got brass petcocks but I've still always completely removed them to drain. Still, learned the hard way years ago about reaming out the drain holes with a wire. Cracked one of the exhaust manifolds on my '89 4.3L Cobra cause of stuff blocking the drain hole. Now I'm a very conscientious reamer (w.r.t. draining my boat, for those of you with minds in the gutter!)<br /><br />But I've never experienced any problem with removing the petcocks. Is there really much of a risk that they'll actually get stuck? (boat run in fresh water only).

 

[trog100]

Re: hope I did this ok

i could be wrong here and i dont want to get into the "better safe than sorry" arguement just to try and get things into perpsective.. <br /><br />for block damage to occur i think a water chamber would have to be full (not half empty) with nowhere for the expanding ice to go to before things get broken.. <br /><br />if anyone is really bothered by the thought of a small amount of water being left in your engine.. squirting some neat antifreeze in the drain plug holes and perhaps other places might help in the peace of mind stakes....<br /><br />and brass threads/plugs should mostly come out without too much trouble.. <br /><br />just a thought..<br /><br />trog100

 

[Lou C]

Re: hope I did this ok

Never had a problem removing mine and it is a salt water cooled motor. I wonder if someone always winterizes by sucking the af up the outdrive method, and doesn't remove the plugs every year, maybe they would get stuck?

 

[Scaaty]

Re: hope I did this ok

Napa sells hex brass plugs..I put a little Teflon tape on them and just snug them up. No pressure, so no need to crank them in with a breaker bar. I personally have no use for petcocks. And also do not leave them off over the winter, as the threads will rust and it will be real witch getting them back in without a tapping job

 

[lakelivin]

Re: hope I did this ok

Originally posted by Don S:<br /> Brass plugs are fine, you can remove them and clean the gunk out of the block, something you can't do with petcocks. But those brass plugs don't have to be so tight they can't be removed, that's just a waste of time. The use of plugs with a hex head on them instead of the square head is also a better idea, you can get to them with a ratchet and socket.

Don, ???<br />My petcocks are brass 'wingnut' style. They come all the way out very easily so I can ream the gunk out while draining. If tight, I just use pliers cause of the wingnut design. There must be different types of petcocks?

 

[Don S]

Re: hope I did this ok

Those basically aren't the petcocks people are talking about, just Mercrusiers method of making drain plugs. Petcocks are small brass shutoff valves. Kind of a wing nut with the drain through the center of the wings. Hard to describe. I'll see if I can't find a picture of one.

 

[Lou C]

Re: hope I did this ok

Don may be referring to the metal petcocks old style car radiators had years back they were a hollow threaded fitting with metal ears on it, and you screwed it into the rad to drain, screwed it out until it stopped, to close the drain. Don't seem em anymore cause cars have rads with plastic tanks, with the plastic drain plugs. You could use them in a boat motor, but the problem is they could rust in place, and if the passage is blocked by rust, you would not be able to get it out easily to drain the waterlike the brass ones. Might be fine on a newer clean motor with closed cooling though. The ones you have were OE on the OMC engines, they are referred to as drain plugs, but some will call them petcocks.

 

[Don S]

Re: hope I did this ok

Here's a picture of one.<br />

 

[KaGee]

Re: hope I did this ok

Originally posted by Don S:<br /> Those basically aren't the petcocks people are talking about, just Mercrusiers method of making drain plugs. Petcocks are small brass shutoff valves. Kind of a wing nut with the drain through the center of the wings. Hard to describe. I'll see if I can't find a picture of one.

That's what I have... It's just a symantic thing I believe we have here.