New member question. Leaking Coolant

[batchje]

New member here. Here is my first question. I just bought a 1988 18' Dixie. It has a 165 HP mercruser. It has a closed heating system. The boat has been in storage for about 4 years.
i took it out for the first time sat. It ran fine for a while then started to overheat. I shut it down and towed it in. When I got home and checked the coolant the tank was empty. I refilled it and came back out later to crank it up and noticed the tank was empty again. It was leaking out of a small hole in the stern drive. Could this be a bad heat exchanger? It is the 4" exchanger. Could it be something else? Please advise. Thanks.

Jeff

 

[Don S]

Re: New member question. Leaking Coolant

Block off the heat exchanger from the antifreeze system and see if the leak continues. Personally, I would pressure test the heat exchanger. But if you don't have the tools to do it, removing it from the system will tell the story.

 

[batchje]

Re: New member question. Leaking Coolant

Block off the heat exchanger from the antifreeze system and see if the leak continues. Personally, I would pressure test the heat exchanger. But if you don't have the tools to do it, removing it from the system will tell the story.

What is the easiest way to block off the heat exchanger? I did pull the larger front hose off of the exchanger and it is full of coolant and startred running out. Could the filler tank to manifold gasket be leaking?

Jeff