Freeze-proofing 4.3, 195 Sport

Arminius said:
Last year, Bt Doctor pointed out that the Blue Handle on the 5.0 relied on 2 small block drains that would have to be observed and potentially rodded out to ensure complete drainage. Does the 4.3 also include the 2 small block drains?
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"both sides of the block and both manifolds fully drained? What if one of the drain hoses is plugged?"

Yes.
 
Located between "f" and "g":
Untitled-csjpg.jpg
 
I didn't see the octupus fitting to the left of item "e" on the 4.3. I saw a blue petcock under "e" and could feel a handle under each of the exhaust manifolds, presumably blue. Are you saying there are additional 3/8" drain points? EZ access with the V-6, I could look again.
 
I can't see any drawings to know what "e" is.

Follow the (4) lines off the aft side of the lower water distribution manifold (to block and exhaust manifold). It will make sense once you look at it.
 
YouTube says there are 5 blue plugs to be removed including those at sides of block.
Not too bad and I like direct action. Thank you.
 
So... do you or don't you have the easy drain system? So far, the impression is that you DO have it. If you don't have it, well, then the answers we give will change. Clarity when asking for help is important.

If you have the standard drain setup, then you may have up to 7 blue plugs. But I still don't know exactly what version of the V6 you have. Again, clarity.
 
Well, this is a short term relationship as I had to buy the 4.3 to get the mooring where my 5.0 is now. I'm selling the 4.3 and will keep dropping price till I become stubborn. In selling or keeping, ease and certainty of winterization are considerations. The you tube video shows nice big drains on the sides of the block, 5/8" maybe. Easy enough to open or trace to a combined drain. On the 5.0, the issue raised last year was the 3/8" block drains getting clogged with sand. Looks like Mercruiser addressed this potential problem.
 
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The blue handled drain is actually a newer setup and is still used. But not all engines use that feature and often could be had both ways.

You can still get clogs in the block/manifolds with the blue drain plugs. That is ALWAYS a concern.

The issue with the easy drain thing is more about the hoses that I talked about, but given the smaller diameter of the fitting (like in your picture), it can, of course, clog "easier" than the larger opening when a blue drain plug is removed.

If your 5.0 had that fitting, then you should have had the hoses connecting to the water manifold I mentioned.
 
GypsmJim said:
On a similar topic, all this crap about Sta-Bil and ethanol is simply fake news by the youngins and the manufacturer of the product. My 1952 Evinrude manual, and my 1941 Mercury manual recommended stabilizing the fuel even way back then.
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I just filled the 5 gallon plastic tank for the lawn mower at the gas station. It was 3 years old, mower fired up every time, no issues. I believe less and less in Stabil.
 
The more volatile components of gasoline evaporate first and they seem most useful in starting a carbureted engine. Honda always demanded I get new fuel after they sold me a bad mower (eventually replaced the carb.) The stabilizers put a film on the gas in tank to prevent evaporation. Real evaporated fuel smells like shellac. I don't worry about it with an injected engine.
 
The generator I have at my house sits for 1 to 2 years sometimes, no Stabil. When the power does go out and I need to start it, it always starts right up. I do drain the carburetor every time I use it though when I shut it down.
 
I think the gas going bad "thing" is kind of hit or miss. I've come across bad gas on plenty of times, as well. Just recently a customer brought his bought in for starting/running issues. Boat had sat unused for about a year with the gas in it about 1-1/2 years old. It was totally skunked - looked like twice-brewed iced tea and smelled like potent shellac.

One quick note about the pink AF... some types do not have corrosion inhibitors in it while some do. The key is the ingredients. You want the kind with propylene glycol, not ethylene glycol. EG is for water systems ONLY while PG can be used in water systems and engines.
 
mrsrobinson said:
Note the Pink stuff doesn't have anti corrosion stuff in it. I used to think it did as well, it doesn't.
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There are 2 versions. One is for water systems and the other is for engines. The latter is more expensive.

What confounds people is the even the cheap version shows pictures of boats on the label. Its for the fresh water tank and toilet.

Gotta read the directions.
 
Lazy Daze said:
You want the kind with propylene glycol, not ethylene glycol. EG is for water systems ONLY while PG can be used in water systems and engines.
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Please check that last statement to make sure I'm reading it correctly. When you say "EG is for water systems only...", do you mean drinking water systems? Ethylene glycol is the sweet tasting stuff that fries your brain and trashes your kidneys. Drinking water systems should only use propylene glycol.
 
The 5.0s may also have blue thumbscrew plugs on the block. My 2003 single point with one blue knob was observed to have small 3/8" inch block quick release drains hosed into a knob served octopus. This more recent YouTube shows blue thumbscrews. Even if still small, the mechanic will see if they drain when he removes them. Mercruiser was probably sued repeatedly after the hoses clogged with sand. https://www.google.com/search?q=win...e&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=_7fkuY8TXBbTK9AOX4qWQBw_18
 
Nater Potater said:
Please check that last statement to make sure I'm reading it correctly. When you say "EG is for water systems only...", do you mean drinking water systems? Ethylene glycol is the sweet tasting stuff that fries your brain and trashes your kidneys. Drinking water systems should only use propylene glycol.
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Yes, I meant Ethanol, not ethylene glycol. Ethanol-based AF is ONLY for fresh water systems.
 
mrsrobinson said:
I just filled the 5 gallon plastic tank for the lawn mower at the gas station. It was 3 years old, mower fired up every time, no issues. I believe less and less in Stabil.
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Grandpa didn't believe in all that snake oil. If the gas smelled ok, he used it and stored it for long periods.

Dad understood about bad gas, but he was too thrifty to spend extra money so he simply drained everything for winter.

I simply read the owner's manuals and have been adding a gas stabilizer for 50+ years.

The funny thing was that none of us ever had fuel related problems.

I personally believe that storage conditions are the key. We all kept our stuff in a nice dry garage. People that I have known that had phase separation or running problems have all kept their junk outside, some not even covered.

Maybe stabil IS snake oil, but i'll continue using it because its so cheap, even if its only for piece of mind.
 
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