Did I fill the motor with antifreeze....

[89BFN]

Just recently winterized my 89' BFN PCM 454. Drained the manifolds, block and tranny oil cooler line and hoses. Removed the raw water pump hose and filled the motor with 50/50 antifreeeze & water and noticed antifreeze dripping out the exhaust ports. Did I fill the engine with antifreeze thru the exhaust manifolds??? :shock:

[skinautique]

back off each plug to be sure. I would recommend using straight antifreeze though. That way you are covered if it gets really cold.

[89BFN]

back off each plug to be sure. I would recommend using straight antifreeze though. That way you are covered if it gets really cold.

Thanks...I checked the plugs and no signs of antifreeze. I feel better now...

[skinautique]

Rick,
That is not a good sign. There should be antifreeze there. More than likely, your thermostat didn't open up to allow it to flow into the block and manifolds. Did anything come out of there?

[89BFN]

Rick,
That is not a good sign. There should be antifreeze there. More than likely, your thermostat didn't open up to allow it to flow into the block and manifolds. Did anything come out of there?

Yes. I pulled the drain plug out of the manifolds and drained the antifreeze. In your first reply, I thought you meant the spark plugs. I guess I'm not sure about the design of the manifolds........how does the water stay out of the cylinder head? Must be an inner portion just for exhaust gas and the raw water flows around it. First time owning a boat, trying to learn. Thanks, Rick

[tryan]

you need to check the manifold casting/drain plugs if you can get them loose.

don't hurt yourself or break anything. if they do come out put never-sieze on the threads. if they don't come out, don't worry about it.

water will tend to puddle in the back of the exhaust manifiolds depending on the angle of the engine/boat. when you drain the block, there is a possibility of water being left in the bottom if you don't take each hose off and point the bow of the boat downhill.

a antifreeze /water mix can also seperate out, so that is why it is best to use antifreeze straight up (or would that be neat in bartender terms)

[89BFN]

you need to check the manifold casting/drain plugs if you can get them loose.

don't hurt yourself or break anything. if they do come out put never-sieze on the threads. if they don't come out, don't worry about it.

water will tend to puddle in the back of the exhaust manifiolds depending on the angle of the engine/boat. when you drain the block, there is a possibility of water being left in the bottom if you don't take each hose off and point the bow of the boat downhill.

a antifreeze /water mix can also seperate out, so that is why it is best to use antifreeze straight up (or would that be neat in bartender terms)

Thank you. My 89' CC manual says 50/50.....I'll change my method next season. Rick

[skinautique]

You are correct, I was not referring to the spark plugs. I am not technical enough to answer the question about the water staying out of the cylinder head but maybe someone else can answer that (all i can tell you is that it stays out of there when the motor is functioning properly!). With your engine, I would recommend running antifreeze through again (non diluted) because the engine sits on an angle and sometimes water can get trapped in the block. I have put antifreeze into those engines before and had to add more antifreeze to get all of the water out. Hope this helps!

[Onthewater]

Thank you. My 89' CC manual says 50/50.....I'll change my method next season. Rick

Indy? keep it 50/50

[tryan]

50/50 is good to -20 or so but my old bones tell me this is going to be a tough winter.

i drive around the block a couple times with the drains open and get at least a couple extra cups of lake water in the bilge. that is why i use straight antifreeze.

i am blessed and get to keep the rides in an unheated garage. i use antifreeze to keep the block from rusting and use the same stuff year after year.

[skinautique]

just go straight and it is one less step. you also don't have to worry about it if it turns even colder in the middle of the winter. that is my take. i don't want to spend any extra time mixing things if i don't need to.

[skiinxs]

If you are worried about it getting really cold, don't use straight anti-freeze. I think somewhere around 70% anti-freeze gives you the lowest freezing point. Pure anti-freeze will freeze at a much higher temp than 50/50.
Dave

[dirtweed]

50/50 is the way to go. 100% antifreeze is a bad idea in ANY engine. The instructions on the bottle will tell you the same thing.

Water and antifreeze will never ever seperate and there is no chance that you got antifreeze in the cylinders by filling through the water pump hose. If you drained the block completely first then filled with Antifreeze, you're fine.

[tryan]

dirt and ski are correct

[skiinxs]

Not an issue for a winterized engine, but if you consider running straight anit-freeze in a car or truck, there is also considerably less heat transfer tban with a mix (or even straignt water for that matter).
Dave