How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

jeep2001

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Aug 26, 2011
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I was just wondering if any one has a diagram on draining the water out and putting in antifreeze in 1994 4.3 mercruiser? I use to do my old boat which had a 350 mercruiser but that was 20 years ago. Are there and vidios or books on this?
Thanks Mike
 

svxtech

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Re: How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

same as on the mercurycruiser but the starbord side drain is right behind the fuel pump.
 

Bondo

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Re: How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

Ayuh,.... Drain it, 'n ya don't need antifreeze...
 

jeep2001

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Re: How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

Should I remove any of the hoses to pour some anti freeze into the block or water pump to make sure all water is out? Is there a drain plug on the exhaust or is that self draining?
Thanks Mike
 

jmarty10

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Re: How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

Go on you tube and check out the videos by Long Island Boaters. The guy shows you how to winterize by draining everything and then pouring antifreeze into the block and manifolds
 

Bondo

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Re: How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

Should I remove any of the hoses to pour some anti freeze into the block or water pump to make sure all water is out? Is there a drain plug on the exhaust or is that self draining?
Thanks Mike

Ayuh,... On yer vintage 4.3l, there's a drain on the bottom of the block, just above the oil pan, on both sides, 'bout mid-way it's length...
There's drains on the bottoms of the manifolds, just above the block drains...
The risers may, or may not have their own drains, aft outside lower corners...
(I've never found water behind 1, after drainin' the manifolds, but their there)
Ya should pull the Big hose end off the circulating waterpump, it hides 'bout a Qt. or 2...
If ya have power steerin',...
The Cooler needs drainin',... It lives on the 1" water line from the transom, to the T-stat housing, usually under the motor..
Then leave the drive full down, or as near so possible, or Off the boat...

No antifreeze necessary, at All,...
Air, just Don't Freeze...

Btw,...
I use a 3" SSteel deckscrew that I leave layin' on the intake manifold to pick, 'n prod the crud outa the drain holes...

No busted blocks in the last 40 years or so...
 

Dakota47

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May 22, 2007
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Re: How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

i do it the same.. air dont freeze.
 

svxtech

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Re: How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

not to nitpick, but just to be clear, yall don't run any freeze through the motor... when we flush- (hook muffs up to a bucket of anti freeze and run the motor to draw it through) the first few seconds of liquid that comes out the plugs (leave them out during the flush untill pink comes out) is water... maybe just not enough to expand and crack? just curious
 

wire2

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Re: How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

True, air don't freeze. But there always a bit of water left in the block and heads after a drain, (no, not enough to expand and cause a crack), and it makes for a great humidity chamber all winter. After 12-15 seasons the cooling passages will look like this;
DSC00026.jpg
 

fibersport

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Re: How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

I agree on the humidity level, although I have never put antifreeze in any of my boats in 30 years. Mercruiser explains how to winterize their blocks, basically drain the water, put the plugs back in (to prevent the threads from rusting up), and pour antifreeze into the engine through the thermostat housing. I know others will put the antifreeze in a bucket and draw it into the engine while it's running and **** it off when it drains out the exhaust pipes - for inboards that is.
 

jeep2001

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Re: How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

Thanks everone, I not sure how to run the antifreeze into the ear muffs? Do you have a hose in the bottom of the bucket going to the ear muffs?
Mike
 

Bondo

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Re: How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

True, air don't freeze. But there always a bit of water left in the block and heads after a drain, (no, not enough to expand and cause a crack), and it makes for a great humidity chamber all winter. After 12-15 seasons the cooling passages will look like this;
DSC00026.jpg

Ayuh,... That's deceptive...
I don't see any boogered up water passages,...
The head gaskets are restrictive at the ports, 'n the build up is caused by the gaskets...
In other words, BS...
That's the head Gasket, not the block...
I not sure how to run the antifreeze into the ear muffs? Do you have a hose in the bottom of the bucket going to the ear muffs?

I see a cracked block in yer future...
 

svxtech

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Re: How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

Ayuh,... That's deceptive...
I don't see any boogered up water passages,...
The head gaskets are restrictive at the ports, 'n the build up is caused by the gaskets...
In other words, BS...
That's the head Gasket, not the block...


agreed, the cylinder walls look corroded too. and you didn't mark the connecting rods to be replaced in order either:facepalm: :D
 

fibersport

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Re: How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

Those are push rods, connecting rods go on the pistons.

And just what does Ayuh mean? Some type of greeting?
 

Bondo

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Re: How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

Those are push rods, connecting rods go on the pistons.

And just what does Ayuh mean? Some type of greeting?

Ayuh,... Google it,... ;) :D
 

thumpar

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Jun 21, 2007
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Re: How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

Yea sure looks like the head gasket failed and caused the issues with that motor. My engine is an 83' and air has never frozen in it.
 

svxtech

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Messages
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Re: How to drain the water out and put in anti freeze on a 1994 4.3

yes pushrods, you are correct thats what i meant :facepalm:
 
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