Mercruiser help

[chrisheile]

I know this maybe does not belong here and I would not be upset if Phil moved it but I'm a bit worried.  I offered to winterize my neighbor's IO (a 1992 Sea Ray with a MC 4.3L v6).  I drained the block (only saw two drain plugs on the block) the exhaust maniforlds, the the strainer type cooler on the intake like on many of the earlier AS models, removed most of the hoses to drain them.  I attached the intake device over the intakes on the outunit, attached a short hose and it would not suck the antifreeze.  I filled up as much as the block as I could manually, and then the intake hose hoping that priming it would help. Still will not suck it up.  I think it's still good for winter.  Would you agree?  Why won't it pull the antifreeze. 

Thanks for the help.  I know i can trust you guys.

[phil]

Nothing wrong with this post Chris 

I'm sure there are a few people around here who have experience with IO's..

[brandon]

If you just used the "earmuffs" over the intake passages, it more than likely will not seal well enough for the vacuum of the pump to work.  Attach the hose to a bilge pump placed in the bucket of antifreeze, it should give it enough of a boost to help.  If that doesn't work, than the raw water pump is more than likely bad.  It is located between the upper and lower halves of the outdrive.  I have a setup with a 55 gallon drum cut out and I recirculate the antifreeze using a bilge pump with the muffs thru the motor while running untill up to operating temp.  You should be able to run enough antifreeze thru the motor and exhaust to have antifreeze coming out the two ports on the bottom of the transom plate (the part mounted to the boat connecting the outdrive to the hull) and also out the center of the prop.  If I remember correct, it should take about 4 gallons to fill everything up if it is completely drained.

[chrisheile]

Stupid I/O's .  Makes you wonder.....how did we get here.  I mean really......
I can understand outboard motors.  You take them off and replace them.  You can carry them.  But I/O's really seem like they set the boating industry a step backwards.   

[Joel]

My old Sea Ray only had two petcocks for draining water - the block & the exhaust manifold.  I always dropped the outdrive to see if any water would drain out of it and drained the engine.  If you've poured in antifreeze you should have the bases covered - most people just drained the water out of the engine, fogged the carb / cylinders and called it a day.

[brandon]

Make sure water actually comes out the drains.  Many times they will be plugged with sand and won't drain without sticking a wire in them to clean the passage.  If you get all the water out, you will be fine, but there is no way to be sure you got the ENTIRE block drained.  This is why we antifreeze after draining the water (also to help prevent corrosion).  Some people then drain the anti freeze and leave the block empty, while others leave it in over winter and drain in spring.  Kinda a debate of which is right or wrong, (like the leave the fuel tank empty or full), my opinion is if you don't have any freeze damage in the spring you used the correct method.

[chrisheile]

does the 4.3 L Mercruiser take 5 quarts of oil?

[brandon]

With a filter change I believe it is 5 quats of oil.  Just make sure to check on the dipstick in Spring.  Changing that oil filter really makes you appreciate the ease of working on inboard ski boats!

[chrisheile]

Stupid IO.  I used a pond pump and it worked great.

[chrisheile]

Do you think I can use an old fish tank pump to pump oil into the lower unit?

[brandon]

Not sure what you are talking about (fish tank pump).  You can buy a cheap pump from any Merc dealer with the threaded fitting for the bottom of the drive for $10-15.  It screws onto a quart of gearlube and pumps like a hand soap dispenser.  I use a 1 1/2 or 2 gallon poly lawn sprayer bottle with the threaded fitting (from the previous mentioned kit) on the sprayer hose, pump it up with pressure and open the valve, wait until it comes out the top.  I'm sure you know this because you know you have to "pump" the oil into the drive, but make sure the drive is trimmed down and you fill from the bottom untill it comes out the top hole.  Don't forget to fill the resivoir inside the boat if it has one.