Winterizing help

[timharper89]

Hi. I'm going through the list on how to winterize your sterndrive posted by Don s. 1989 185v6 4.3 mercruiser alpha one s/n B459735. I'm having a terrible time trying to get the hous of the power steering cooler. Service manual says to disconnect the aft hose. Any tricks to get that drained? I have the clamps loosened ,but the house is just stuck on and won't budge. I tired both the fore and aft sides of it with no luck .

 

[alldodge]

Use a hose pic or screw driver under the hose to break the seal

https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-80380-Hose-Remover-Set/dp/B0079GPYR2

 

[wellcraft-classic210]

I have had good luck pouring antifreeze into the water supply hose at the t-stat housing -- allowing it to drain several times for added insurance on dilution.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Personally, I'd drain it rather than hoping enough AF gets in there to keep it from freezing and bursting.

Getting the hose off the cooler can be a real pain, especially since access is tight on many boats. It's my least favorite part of winterizing, so much so that I'm installing a drain plug fitting in the PS cooler line this year, so I can just unscrew a plug next year.

For you, get a hose pick or just keep working the hose back and forth until you can get it off. You just have to be careful not to pull too hard on the PS cooler itself. On really sticky hose connections, I've injected soapy water between the hose and the fitting, using a hypodermic needle. That worked pretty well. Just make sure the needle doesn't puncture the hose itself.

 

[timharper89]

Thanks, guys. After some working with a screwdriver and some contorting (?) I got it off. Thus is my fist winter with a boat..hopefully I get everything...took out 4 drain plugs (port and starboard exhaust and block plugs) and all the houses I can find. I'm a bit nervous about it though

 

[alldodge]

all the houses I can find

Looking at your motor from serial number (thanks) I do believe you should be good

 

[Scott06]

Pull the hose but check to see if there is water. I pulled mine for years Never any water in there, stopped pulling it and back chased with half a gallon of af, never an issue. This in upstate ny where it's pretty cold.

 

[harringtondav]

After 22 winterizations my PS hose gives it up easily. After 22 winterizations my lower circulating pump hose still wants to fight. Small price to pay for a solid engine in the spring.

 

[achris]

Thanks, guys. After some working with a screwdriver and some contorting (?) I got it off. Thus is my fist winter with a boat..hopefully I get everything...took out 4 drain plugs (port and starboard exhaust and block plugs) and all the houses I can find. I'm a bit nervous about it though

You probed the holes the plugs came out of?
And removed the drive?

 

[timharper89]

You probed the holes the plugs came out of?
And removed the drive?

Yes. I am glad I did. The drain holes on the bottom of the block had a lot of water come out after I probed them on both sides. I ended up with 6 drain plugs pulled. There was one on each side below the exhaust manifold (not the exhaust drain plugs. I got almost no water from them despite shoving the hanger up them both for a while (got about 2"into the hole with the hanger) before I gave up. Should I be concerned about this? I can take a picture tomorrow if that would help.

Also removed the drive and changed the impeller. I followed the "how to winterize" post in the adults only section the best I could.

 

[alldodge]

No issue if there was next to no water coming out of the exhaust manifolds so long as the bottom hose was removed from it. The exhaust will drain back toward the block and empty out through its drains.

 

[timharper89]

Ok good to hear. I definitely got the hoses disconnected at the bottom. I've linked a picture to what I'm talking about. The top plug drained a little water, but the bottom one in the picture had nearly nothing come out of it. The one in the engine block (even lower) had a lot come out when I probed it with a hanger. https://photos.app.goo.gl/ooDBSMW6hf5dZtj29

 

[Scott Danforth]

Holy need new manifolds batman.

if you removed the hose, similar to removing the drain.

 

[alldodge]

Where did that thing come from, I see painted over bondo on it, or at least that's what it looks like

 

[timharper89]

My first boat just bought this summer. I don't know what they are supposed to look like. I just thought it was insulated to keep from burning up in the engine compartment

 

[alldodge]

More like this

 

[alldodge]

Not counting the area circled, this would be a plug, but looks like someone has patched the whole manifold where the red line is

 

[achris]

Previous freeze crack?

 

[timharper89]

Sooo...what does that mean for me? Seems to run fine. Sounds good and quiet. No leaks. No water in oil.

 

[alldodge]

For me it means your rolling the dice. It may never have an issue, but could also crack again in same spot or even inside. The manifold cracked due to not draining. The manifold may not be leaking inside (no water in oil), but the leak may be so small currently its not noticed. Just something to remember if other issues show up later. Suggest keep you eye on the look out for another set