How much water sits in manifolds?

[skydiveD30571]

VP 5.0 GL-H

Ran the engine up to operating temp, fogged the engine thru the carb. Then pulled the two block drain plugs. Water trickled out so I used a small screwdriver to prod the holes and warm steamy water came pouring out. Drained out of the port hole for a solid 3-4 minutes, and out of the starboard hole for about 2 minutes. I then pulled the drain plugs for the manifolds and very little water came out of either. I used both a screwdriver and about 8 inches of heavy wire to poke in there with no difference. Does this sound normal? Boat was on the trailer and hooked to the truck, but looked very level. It seems like if dirt was in the manifold holes it would have been cleared out with 8 inches of wire. My plan is to pour antifreeze into the two hoses from the thermo housing and see what comes out. I also unhooked hoses to raw water pump and circulation pump, so I'm confident the plumbing and block are free of water. Thanks for any comments, this is my first winterizing job.

 

[Don S]

Re: How much water sits in manifolds?

Remove the hose from the front fitting and if nothing comes out there, hook your garden hose to the manifold fitting and fill the manifold with the plug from the other end removed. if water drains out it's empty, if nothing comes out and it goes out the exhaust, then something is plugged up inside the manifold.

 

[skydiveD30571]

Re: How much water sits in manifolds?

Thanks Don. I poured antifreeze through the manifold hoses and it immediately poured out the back of the manifold so I assume they are empty. I reinstalled the plugs and put about half a gallon of AF in each manifold just so I can sleep better at night. Plan is to pull the thermo housing and do the same with the block (which I'm confident is drained) but obviously that thing has never come off before...I'm going to need a rubber mallet to knock it loose.

I couldn't get AF to backflow through the water intake hose towards the drive. Is that necessary if all hoses are disconnected from pump/thermo housings and the drive is down?

 

[skydiveD30571]

Re: How much water sits in manifolds?

Even a rubber mallet with some force couldn't budge that thermostat housing off. So instead, I pulled the hose from circulation pump, hooked it to the thermostat housing and poured AF into it that way. Knowing the thermo was closed meant it would flow into the block. Sure enough it did without hesitation so I reinstalled the drain plugs and put a little over a gallon in the block for peace of mind. My first winterization project is complete! Took about 4-5 hours total, not counting the +/-8 hours to replace the gimbal/seal and new bellows.

As for the power steering pump cooler, I have no clue where it is or what I need to do with it. I read in another thread that on the 5.0GL, removing the raw water pump hoses and cranking the engine a couple revolutions will drain the cooler. Not sure if its the same for my 5.0gl-h.