Re: checking antifreeze level Mercruiser 165
if the engine is fwc, the heat exchanger would be below the manifold on the port side. the hose from the tstat housing would go to the heat exchanger, and a hose from the circulating pump would go to the heat exchanger.
the water hose from the stern drive would go to the heat exchanger and a a hose would be going from the heat exchanger to the manifold.
my nineteen don't have fwc. it's rwc.
the long hose coming from the stern drive goes to the tstat housing, a hose goes from the tstat housing to the manifold. a large hose goes from the tstat housing to the circulating pump.
this is the typical set up i've seen for most 165hp.
did ya ever get a service manual. ya gotta have one to be able to work on yer stuff.. there's pics of what i just described in the service manual....
I haven't run it yet, was afraid the impeller would come apart and clog up things.
ya might as well R&R the impeller in the drive now. it's a yearly inspection item. i replace mine ever year as i feel they take zero abuse. if they(the sea water impeller) disintegrate from abuse, the ramifications aren't very good.
So you are saying it
cools with raw water, no antifreeze.
most likely, but we can't see it to be sure. that's the way mine is.. no anti freeze..
The chevy 250 has a water pump too, does it have 2 pumps, one in the foot and the engine one too?
yes, the sea water pick up impeller is in the lower part of the drive. the circulation pump is on the ft. of the engine. the circulation pump generally don't have issues.
After running in water do you need to put in antifreeze if the weather goes below freezing?
ya don't have to, but. ya do have to drain the water out of the cooling system. ALL OF THE WATER. ya can't leave any inside the engine or the manifold or the drive. the drive will self drain by gravity if you lower the drive all the way in/down. you have to manually drain the water out of the block and manifold. my block has a t valve to drain. the manifold has a plug. if ya got a plug. after ya remove it. stick a wire probe in the hole and be sure it's a free and clear hole that really has drained all the water out of it.
fwiw. i drain into a folgers coffee can. 27.8oz can. i get one full coffee can of water out of my manifold . i get three full cans out of the block. this is typical for my rig. yours sounds similar. you'll have to decide whats right for you though. for freezing temps, the key is. ALL THE WATER OUT OF THE COOLING SYSTEM.
ya can do anti freeze if ya want. i did anti freeze the last 2 years. this year i'm going with air.. no anti freeze
mercruiser 165, 6 cyl was not factory closed cooled
are ya sure. there's reference to fwc system in s/m 2 that i use for my 165hp.. i was looking at the pic for a 165hp in s/m 2 for my description that i just gave the op..