steel caps on side of mercruiser 4.3 engine...

[duhawk49]

i was hooking up muffs to my engine ran the hose and started the engine.. everything was fine then water started pouring in the engine compartment. i noticed 2 caps lying under the engine and water was coming out of these 1.5 inch holes on each side of the engine. i assume these caps came from these holes, but my question is why did they come off? and what purpose do they serve? any help appreciated... thanks

 

[achris]

Re: steel caps on side of mercruiser 4.3 engine...

They are called 'core plugs'. They are there from the casting process of manufacture. The reason (most likely) they are now out of the engine is that water was left in the engine over winter. It expanded on freezing and forced the core plugs out... Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it's most likely you also have a cracked engine block, and possibly exhaust manifolds too...

Chris.....

 

[Bondo]

Re: steel caps on side of mercruiser 4.3 engine...

i was hooking up muffs to my engine ran the hose and started the engine.. everything was fine then water started pouring in the engine compartment. i noticed 2 caps lying under the engine and water was coming out of these 1.5 inch holes on each side of the engine. i assume these caps came from these holes, but my question is why did they come off? and what purpose do they serve? any help appreciated... thanks

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,..... I believe you'll find they're 1, 5/8",...
'n if they're original, they're Brass...

Ice, pushed 'em outa the block, from a failed, or non-existent Winterization...

Like Chris says,... Odds are the Block is Cracked...

Are You gonna be doin' the labor, or hirin' it out,..??

 

[duhawk49]

Re: steel caps on side of mercruiser 4.3 engine...

i drain the water every year and never had this before. i put the plugs back in and it seems fine. runs fine.. just wondered why they popped out after the engine ran for about 5 minutes

 

[Bondo]

Re: steel caps on side of mercruiser 4.3 engine...

i drain the water every year and never had this before. i put the plugs back in and it seems fine. runs fine.. just wondered why they popped out after the engine ran for about 5 minutes

Ayuh,... If it were drained dry, it wouldn't have pushed the core plugs out...

Did ya dig the crud outa the drain holes,..??
Or just remove the drain plugs, 'n move on,..??

Air don't freeze,... it Couldn't have been drained...

 

[duhawk49]

Re: steel caps on side of mercruiser 4.3 engine...

i do the same every year. i drain all the blue plugs until it stops pouring out then screw them back in. was wondering if the water pressure coming out of the muffs might have been too much.. this winter was especially mild also. i doubt the place i had it stored ever got below freezing. if something was cracked wouldnt it run erratic or be leaking somewhere after i put them back in and started it up again?

 

[Bondo]

Re: steel caps on side of mercruiser 4.3 engine...

i do the same every year. i drain all the blue plugs until it stops pouring out then screw them back in. was wondering if the water pressure coming out of the muffs might have been too much.. this winter was especially mild also. i doubt the place i had it stored ever got below freezing. if something was cracked wouldnt it run erratic or be leaking somewhere after i put them back in and started it up again?

Ayuh,... But you don't poke, 'n prod the crud that builds up, outa the way....

No, hose pressure could No way push out the core plugs, their Hammer driven in...

Obviously, it Did freeze where it was stored, as the core plugs are pushed out...
'n No, a cracked block generally has no effect on runability, other than leakin' badly...

Replace the core plugs, 'n Try it....
If it don't dump water into the oil,.... you may have dodged the bullet....

'n Remember,... Poke the drains Clean next fall...
You should also pull the Big hose off the circulating water pump, it hides 'bout another quart...
'n make sure the P/S Cooler is drained...

 

[SeadawgVB]

Re: steel caps on side of mercruiser 4.3 engine...

There's a little bit more to winterizing than just the blue plugs.

 

[duhawk49]

Re: steel caps on side of mercruiser 4.3 engine...

taking it out on the river tomorrow so we will see.. will let you know how it goes.. thanks

 

[achris]

Re: steel caps on side of mercruiser 4.3 engine...

...
'n Remember,... Poke the drains Clean next fall...
You should also pull the Big hose off the circulating water pump, it hides 'bout another quart...
'n make sure the P/S Cooler is drained...

And DON'T put the plugs back in until Spring....

The winter storage section in the service manual is about 10 pages worth... I wonder why.. (no, I really do, I don't winterize... Never gets that cold here... I use my boat 12 months a year... )

Chris........

 

[duhawk49]

Re: steel caps on side of mercruiser 4.3 engine...

well i had it running around 2 hours today on the river. i had normal oil pressure and normal operating temp.. checked the oil when i was done and oil looked normal and wasnt milky.. hopefully im ok but im going to take it to get checked out and have them install the cap i had problems getting in all the way under the motor mount.. will let you know how it turns out.. thanks

 

[achris]

Re: steel caps on side of mercruiser 4.3 engine...

You got really,REALLY lucky.... I wouldn't risk it a second time.... When you winterize next time, take the plugs out, clear the holes with a bit wire and leave the plugs out... I know some people like to put antifreeze in, but that just increases the risk.... Remember 'air don't freeze'....

Chris..........