I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

[OllieC]

I imagine it's that time of year on iBoats (first year for me) and I'll bet some of these questions are asked ad nauseum in regards to winterizing and cold.

Well I messed up this weekend. It looks like this last weekend was the weekend to winterize at 80 degree's outside. I did however pull the 4 blue plugs to let the water out of the block and risers. I haven't done anything else.

This coming Friday and Saturday we are suppose to have overnight lows below freezing.....am I OK with just pulling the 4 blue plugs (one at bottom of block, one by the thermostat, and two on the water pump)? I still need to do everything else.......

Thanks,
Ollie

 

[Don S]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

Hard to say where all the drain plugs are on the MPI engine, they have so many different setups. BUT, you need to drain the power steering cooler, the fuel cooler, pull the big hose off the circulation pump and empty it (if there isn't a plug at the bottom of the hose).
Do you have the serial number for your engine handy, info is not listed by year.

 

[OllieC]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

S/n 0w037286

There's a fuel cooler too?:facepalm:

 

[Don S]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

This diagram may help. The fuel cooler is that box down behind the port motor mount near the #3 plug in the picture.

 

[OllieC]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

Thanks Don - However I don't think this is my engine diagram. That looks like the older plastic water pump. Mine is bronze and has 2 blue plastic drain plugs on it (incoming and outgoing)....I'm going to have to look at all the others though......

I hope I don't have 8 plugs......

 

[OllieC]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

This is my exact setup but without the "hot water heater". 5.0mpi and Bravo 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bxpqmT1S3c&feature=related

 

[Don S]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

Then you need to post a picture of your engine. Merc has so many drain systems any more it's impossible to tell what you have without actually looking at it. The SN doesn't tell us which cooling system you have.

I am not going to watch that video either.

 

[OllieC]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

Thanks Don.

Got home and pulled out the "Ye Ol' Mercury Mercruiser Operation and Warranty Manual". I have what is called a 3 point manual drain system. I think I'm in the clear so far.
Now, if I can just drain the head (pump out porta potty) before it freezes and I get a blue brick.

 

[Don S]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

Sorry to hear you have that sorry drain system.
So you took that 1 plug out of the distribution housing and all the water came out right? Or was one of the block passages plugged, or a manifold. Happens all the time on engines without that system, that's why you have to clean out the holes with a nail or small screwdriver, or piece of wire to make sure they stay clean when draining.
But you can't do that.

 

[OllieC]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

I just switched to MAC about two weeks ago - trying to get a full size image for you Don....

 

[OllieC]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

I can't get it to friggin' enlarge when open

 

[Don S]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

Your uploading the thumbnail not the image itself.

 

[OllieC]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

Here's where the blue drain plugs are;

Orange tube - Follow from stern along the port side to the front of the motor. The at the three way connector, there is a blue drain plug. I pull that.

Within 30 seconds I am suppose to pull the another Blue drain plug by the Thermostat housing, which by the drawing has 2 clear tubes and one red tube. This is suppose to vent the previous plug.

The last two blue plugs are on the water pump assembly on the starboard side. (Top Left in the drawing)

Long of the short - Lots of water came out of both areas (except the thermostat housing)

 

[Don S]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

I know where the drain plugs are, what I am saying is how do you know the 2 blue hoses actually drained the block? You don't. You need to remove the blue hoses from the block and probe the holes and make sure the holes aren't plugged up. Same with the manifold.
All you know is water came out, not if there is one section that didn't drain.

 

[OllieC]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

I hope I can get at it. It's pretty tight in there.

So blue and green hoses. I'll start tonight.......


Thanks for the information Don.

 

[Don S]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

I changed the picture with the colored hoses above, might want to take a look at it. Your raw water pump should have 2 plugs in it. Make sure you get both.

 

[OllieC]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

yup - already pulled.

 

[OllieC]

Re: I have a 5.0 MPI, Bravo 3 and it's getting COLD!!!!

Don,

Thanks again for the info. I got in there last night to change the impeller and was able to reach the hose that connects to the block on the starboard side. The "nipple" or connector was green (must be brass). I stuck a small screwdriver in there and a little crud came out - not much but some. Everything else was easy enough to access. I am now officially a contortionist.

Anyway, I would have never thought of the hose connections if you didn't bring it up - thank you.

Ps. - should I send the $2K I potentially would have spent on a cracked block too you?