See full version: How to winterize closed cooling system engine
If you decide to do that, you must fill the raw water lines from the drive to the pump (by pumping it with "muffs' etc and/or siphon). The Bravo raw water pump WILL NOT draw liquid from the drive to the raw water pump and you'll damage the impeller in mere minutes if you try.
I have a full closed 7.4L cooling system. more
I would like to winterize 7.4 L Mercruiser engine (1997 Mercruiser 7.4 L 8 cylinder) with closed cooling system.
You can't run antifreeze through anything with the plugs out.
Raw water does pool in the connecting hoses from the raw water pump to the oil and power steering coolers though and you MUST ensure that they are absolutely clear of raw water, I have disconnected the raw-pump discharge and used a wet-or-dry VAC to suck all the water from there.
Do you have a full or half system? Full system cools exhaust manifolds with AF, half does not. here
Re: Mercruiser 5.7 carbureted hard start
Ok. Is this a TKS carb?? If so, the TKS module controls starting and it could be bad. [links]
May have bad power valve or crap somehow in jets or it is loosing prime. If not prime, here is a suggestion that you are not going to like or at least be wondering what the heck I am talking about. BUT, it works. Get it running at dock or with muffs on and disconnect linkage and breather. Have fire ext. near by. manually rev. up motor while putting your hand over carb throat. Do this a couple of times, raising and lowering RPMs. This action will suck any small particles through it and may scare the crap out of you as the sucking SHOULD be powerful. Yet, I have never had my hand sucked inside the carb. You should be able to see down in throats to manually advance throttel and see if power valve is working. If no stream of fuel, then no fuel in bowl. :Loosing prime somewhere. [links]
My boat is on a lift, out of the water. I only found two drain plugs on the bottom of the engine and removed them both but barely any water came out.
Re: Mercruiser 260 - how to get the water out (winterize engine) [links]
You should also make sure you drain the exaust manifolds, risers and the thermostat housing by pulling plugs and draining hoses. I personally like to use a wet vac to suck any water from the block and exhaust sytem. Finally drain the raw water pump system by removal of hoses and sucking and if necessary drain the water heater circuit. [links]
I would bail on that shop. They are just trying to sell you some big $$ Items. You buy a crate engine and everything is new on it. You dont need eveything new. Hell all you may need are new risers and thats a couple hundred. Even if you do need a new block get a long block. I just bought one for my boat with 2 year warranty about 1600 parts alone. and thats a middle of the road price. You can get them cheaper and you can get them more expensive.. You choose.. BUT I WOULD NOT let them sell you a crate. If you got money to burn go for it. I know I dont. <br /><br />Tallman here
Mechanic just called. He said the leak is internal, but they're not sure where. He suggested a crate engine be dropped in. Motor costing $5000, plus labor. He said that they could try to find the problem, but that it could be that the block is cracked the engine might have to be scrapped anyway so that i should just go with the new engine and save the possible problems. What do you guys think? here
Re: 5.7 Mercruiser water in cylinders here
Re: 5.7 Mercruiser water in cylinders
Re: 5.7 Mercruiser water in cylinders
I do have insurance. I hadn't really thought about that as an option. I guess it doesn't hurt to ask. [links]