More antifreeze talk

[illiniboarder88]

Dog, I'm thinking the same thing. I really think there is a chance the obstruction is in the T-fitting. If I can get that or the knock sensor out, I may not even need the air. I don't think I'm completely blocked on that side bc when I put a wire or a screw driver in there, I get some wet muddish sediment. That to me says there is moisture in there. That is a pretty tight fit in there, so I'm not sure how easy it will be to get an air gun up there.

[dogbert]

It could just be impeller particles. I've had my impeller self-destruct twice on me and I'm still finding pieces of it every time I drain my block.

[lee]

What about using some sort of compressed air back through the fitting? That should stir up any contents that might have settled enough to get the flow going.

Correct.

[illiniboarder88]

Well guys, I was unable to get the knock sensor out, but I did get the drain unclogged. It was a biatch. Now, i just hope I wasn't too late given that we had a 20 degree night a couple weeks ago.

After messing with it last night, I have a slightly better understanding of the cooling system, but I still don't have it all down yet. Does anyone know what fills first, the manifolds or the block? Also, does anyone have any idea what the thermostat is set at?

[lee]

The block fills first and then it flows out into the manifolds then into the exhaust.

[illiniboarder88]

Where does the water go once the block is full if the thermostat is closed?

[noworries]

Where does the water go once the block is full if the thermostat is closed?

The boat engine's water pump, the same one your car has, circulates the water through the block, heads and intake manifold when the thermostat is closed. When it opens in your car, the water goes through the radiator; in the boat it goes back to the lake via the exhaust manifolds. That water is replaced with new cool lake water provided by the sea water pump. The lake is your radiator.

The thermostat is probably a 180 degree one.

[illiniboarder88]

I understand the premise behind it; I'm just trying to figure out how exactly it works. 1.Water from the water pump is pumped in. That I get. 2. Then, the block fills first (per Lee). 3. water is pushed into the manifolds and also out the exhaust? (here I'm not sure how it works. Does water simply fill the block until no more can get pushed in there, and then it simply is pushed into the manifolds and straight out the exhaust?) 4. Engine gets sufficently hot that the thermostat opens and water escapes the block, into the manifolds and out the exhaust.

The reason I ask is that it would seem to me that the only way you would end up with scalding water in the manifolds is if it came from the block. Is this right?

[noworries]

Follow the hoses. The sea water pump supplies continuous water to the exhaust manifolds to keep them cool. This dumps out the exhaust to the lake. The sea water pump also supplies the engine. When the engine gets to operating temperature, the thermostat opens and bleeds engine-heated water also to the exhaust manifolds and thence to the lake.

Any lake bottom sediment you pick up when the engine is hot has a chance of getting into the block and occluding the drains found there.

[illiniboarder88]

I understand how the sediment gets in the drains. I'm just trying to figure out the whole engine cooling process. Here's where I'm confused; In order to get antifreeze in my block, I pulled my thermostat and dumped antifreeze straight down the holes I assume hot water comes out of the block. After a little antifreeze was dumped in, I could hear it dripping into the bilge area. It was coming out of the plug hole in the hose between the pump and the thermostat housing. So, I put the plug in. I then proceeded to keep dumping antifreeze in until it came out the top where the thermostat would be.

No antifreeze came out of my manifolds. I'm assuming this is bc in order to get to the manifolds, fluid is pushed up that hose between the pump and thermostat housing, and the thermostat housing is a little higher than the holes where the antifreeze would come out of the top of the engine block on each side. So, this made me think that fluid must be pushed into the block until it is pushed up against the thermostat (thus, mixing the fluid from the port and starboard sides of the block), and then it is able to be pushed into the manifolds. I'd also assume then that fluid does not stay in the manifolds long bc when they get full, new fluid coming in pushes it out to the exhaust. Am I way off on this?

[lee]

If you follow the hose off the exhaust manifold you will notice that it is one of the smaller hoses that will be connected to the thermostat housing. You do not need antifreeze in your exhaust manifolds. Just drain all of the water from the manifolds.

One question, are you trying to reinvent the wheel or just winterize your boat?

[illiniboarder88]

I'd love to reinvent the wheel. it would be a great winter project. Actually, my boat is winterized. Thank you all for helping me with that process. Now, I'm just curious how the whole system works. It's cold out up here, it gets dark out early, and I'm now looking forward to spring. I had never thought too much about how exactly the cooling system works until I started tracing hoses recently.

[gstauffer]

illiniboader88 Just sent you a PM

[scoot18]

Keep in mind an air lock will also keep water from draining. If air can't replace or fill the space in which the water is evacuating it creates a vacuum and the water will not drain. That could also be why you don't see much draining out, always a good idea to take off the hoses on the top side, at t/stat housing to allow water jackets to vent and drain. After the water has drained out, just pour anti freeze in the large hose that goes to the engine water pump and keep pouring, that will fill the bottom end of the block, also pour coolant to the supply side from impeller, you want that sitting in anti freeze as well, after that your done. No need to run the engine or as someone else said, re-invent the wheel. Sounds like you got it now though.

[Double A]

Is putting the bulb under the engine cover the only you do to winterize your boat? I'm in TX and it really doesn't get and stay too cold.