WHAT: I am winterizing my 6.2 L MPI MX Mercruiser for the first time. It has 3 blue plastic, wing nut style, drain plugs and 1 blue plastic vent plug up top near the thermostat. Of the 3 drain plugs; one is easy to access and is centrally located on the lower front or fore side of the motor. The other two are close to each other, down low on the starboard side.
PROBLEM:, I can only see those two with the help of a mirror. While I can contour my arm to touch one of them by hand, I don't have the leverage to spin it off. The other one I simply cannot reach. I entertained getting an extension tool to try reach them, however, my:
MY CONCERN arose when I tried to remove the upper vent plug it broke off, leaving the threads inside. The engine heat and metal, over time, seemed to fuse the materials together. Because this plug was easy to access, I was able to clear out threads enough to replace the plug, however, it took over an hour.
MY FEAR, if I broke one off one of these lower plugs where I couldn't access it I would have to pull the motor to fix it.
QUESTION: If I flush the block with non-toxic anti-freeze and can't pull all three drain plugs after doing so, am I in danger of damaging the block or is this sufficient as a replacement to pulling all the drain plugs? I live in Michigan and it gets cold.
Also, I have read somewhere that fogging this motor is not recommended, it this true?
Any help would be appreciated.
PROBLEM:, I can only see those two with the help of a mirror. While I can contour my arm to touch one of them by hand, I don't have the leverage to spin it off. The other one I simply cannot reach. I entertained getting an extension tool to try reach them, however, my:
MY CONCERN arose when I tried to remove the upper vent plug it broke off, leaving the threads inside. The engine heat and metal, over time, seemed to fuse the materials together. Because this plug was easy to access, I was able to clear out threads enough to replace the plug, however, it took over an hour.
MY FEAR, if I broke one off one of these lower plugs where I couldn't access it I would have to pull the motor to fix it.
QUESTION: If I flush the block with non-toxic anti-freeze and can't pull all three drain plugs after doing so, am I in danger of damaging the block or is this sufficient as a replacement to pulling all the drain plugs? I live in Michigan and it gets cold.
Also, I have read somewhere that fogging this motor is not recommended, it this true?
Any help would be appreciated.
Last edited: