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To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 10:09 am
by Moosemeat
I am having a crack on my exhaust manifold repaired this winter, so flushing the block and filling with antifreeze was not an option. So I have drained everywhere the water might hide. Most came out of the manifold.
My question is, why not do this every winter? Is there a reason to trust the antifreeze instead?
BTW, I have removed the manifold myself and it was not as difficult as expected. I had the 'torque amplifier' (an old pipe) standing by, but it was not needed. It was almost too easy. I fear some sort of karma payback is looming.

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 11:28 am
by Captain Nemo
I just drained the water out for years. The main thing to do is take a piece of wire and run it into the plugs and petcocks to dislodge any rust or gunk that may be holding back any water.

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 4:55 pm
by jim g
Antifreeze became more popular as engine got more stuff mounted on them. some of the engines today you can't even get to the drain plugs.

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 7:57 pm
by mbigpops
It might help to identify your engine.

I just drained my K temporarily and most of the water came out of the block drain behind the distributor.

Mark

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 8:13 pm
by mfine
Two reasons alluded above.

1) Rust, silt or other debris can keep all the water from draining.
2) In some engines there are places that don't drain reliably. Chris Craft Q intake manifolds for example.

I start by draining, then fill with antifreeze to protect against any water left behind.

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 9:04 am
by drrot
$20 for some anti-Freez now is a lot cheaper than needing a manifold or block in the spring and loosing part of your boating season. It also slows internal rust.
mfine wrote:Two reasons alluded above.

1) Rust, silt or other debris can keep all the water from draining.
2) In some engines there are places that don't drain reliably. Chris Craft Q intake manifolds for example.

I start by draining, then fill with antifreeze to protect against any water left behind.

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:36 am
by Moosemeat
My engine is a KFL. I have pulled the plug that is to the left of the water pump, the bottom grease cup of the water pump, any hoses in the rear of the engine, and of course the manifold. Have I missed any hiding places? I have vacuumed up about 3/4 of a gallon of water from the bilge.

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 12:18 pm
by dreed
For future reference, I will post from the owners manual for KL, KBL, and KLC Engines.

Pg. 10
TO DRAIN THE WATER SYSTEM
Open drain cock on side of cylinder block behind the water pump. Remove plug at bottom of water pump and plug in water line tee in bottom of exhaust manifold. Remove plug in intake manifold water jacket. (KL & KLC models only)

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 7:59 pm
by mbigpops
If you have them on your engine there is one on the base of the oil cooler and one on the bottom of the thermostat.

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 10:01 pm
by charlesquimby
Question: What are the experiences with interaction between neoprene impellers and ethylene glycol antifreeze? In prep for the Winter of '14/'15 I ran 50/50 mixture through the engine, then drained the block, exhaust and intake manifolds. The mixture tested to -25 F. ( I log all my maintenance). Brought the engine into service this Spring, but only logged 5 hrs. Engine ran cool the whole time used. Went to winterize this month and found the impellers had swollen and softened to the point that the pump could not be turned by hand. I'm surprised the pump functioned at all. These were new impellers installed in 2013. This is a dual pocket Sherwood with Sherwood impellers, 426 Mopar. CQ

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2015 8:34 am
by tkhersom
The MCL in Yorktown has just been drained for decades. Three plugs on each side and the hose that goes into the exhaust manifold. I agree with mfine and drrot though that antifreeze is cheap insurance and well worth using. Drain first than run with antifreeze is the best way of all.

When I winterized American Beauty last year I first ran the engines with "Salt Away", flushed with fresh water, drained, than ran on "Ban Frost 2000". This stuff is good to -100 and has a rust inhibitor in it. It's a little more expensive but I think it is worth it.

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2015 9:30 am
by MikeM
Sooo, for the people in the back of the room....we're draining the block first to release water and hopefully expel any "gunk" in the cooling system and then filling with anti freeze to protect the block and components, right? I used to do that but found myself getting less interested and less good at capturing the anti freeze every spring....and then what do you do with it? Jug after jug of diluted anti freeze.....now I just drain the blocks, with a wire and a wet vac. Also, keep in mind, in Oregon we don't get too cold for too long so the threat of a deep freeze doesn't exist.

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2015 9:50 am
by tkhersom
Mike good to hear from you!

I use non-tox so I don't have to worry about capturing the antifreeze in the spring. :D

Ya and here in the ANE we get a deep, Deep, DEEP freeze.

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2015 4:32 pm
by mfine
As a former Western New Yorker, I would imagine Mike knows a thing or two about real winters. He has just gone soft in his old age.

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2015 2:03 pm
by MikeM
MFine......an interesting and unexpected reply. I fugured you'd say something like "Century owners don't have to winterized because most of them reside at the bottom of the lake where the temperature only reaches (insert scientific, fact based spew here)." Happy thanksgiving, everyone. Even Mfine!!

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2015 5:03 pm
by mfine
LoL,

Yeah, there is a pressure/minimum density thing that keeps the deep water from freezing, but I thought you were selling the Century.

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 8:49 am
by North Woody
I’m reviving this old thread as I have a newbie question for my first winterization of our 1936 19’ Runabout .... I’ve got a 1952 ML engine in my ‘36, and I pulled the four drain plugs to thoroughly drain everything for Lake Girl’s long winter slumber up in Northern Wisconsin. The drain plugs look a little worse for wear, so I’m hoping you guys can tell me where I can source some replacements. I’ve dropped in a picture of the four plugs that I pulled last month (which are currently zip-tied to my steering wheel so I don’t forget where I put them come Spring!). Can you guys point me in the right direction to find replacements and a few spares to keep on hand? Thanks as always for the help :)

E64D6F0A-A984-4486-89B0-2256431F7E39.jpeg

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 11:17 am
by tkhersom
I would start at finewoodboats.com. Jim (AKA drrot) has just about everything or knows where to get it.

Check for plugs in the intake manifold (above the carb) and disconnect any low hoses (usually the lowest one is at he stern of the engine going into the exhaust manifold). Also, don't forget the plug in the bottom of the water pump.

Re: To Flush, or Pull the Plug

Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2020 9:51 pm
by rgmxk22
Here's another source for drains/petcocks. https://www.mcmaster.com/petcocks