what are chances of a cracked block?

[iron21]

Hi, last fall i winterized my 3.0 by opening the cooling hoses and simply pouring coolant in to flow through cooling ports. I did not not run the coolant through! was this a big mistake? I heard recently some one say that my method may besafe for the manifolds, but not flow through the block efficiently.is this true. and if so, what are the chances of destroying the engine due to a cracked block? I'm just paranoid now. I would appreciate any info ...<br /> Jamie

 

[Don S]

Re: what are chances of a cracked block?

You may have a problem Jamie. With the water still in the block and manifolds, there is no way for the antifreeze to mix with the water.<br />Actually, just draining the block and manifolds would have prevented freezing---No antifreeze necessary.<br />Or drain the system and then refill it with antifreeze. That way you have it through out the system.

 

[iron21]

Re: what are chances of a cracked block?

ok, thanks Don. One more quick question.If indeed the block is cracked, would it be easily visible to the eye? Would it even start. If not, how would you even know if you had a cracked block?<br />i'm New to boats and have never seen it....

 

[KaGee]

Re: what are chances of a cracked block?

I can answer that one real quick.... NO! or MAYBE!<br /><br />The only real way to know for sure is to pressurize the block and watch for loss of pressure.<br /><br />In my case, the pressurization caused the water to seep out externally where I then found the crack. Water was leaking into the crankcase internally as well. Without the pressure test I would not have seen the crack as it was located behind the starter. How in the world it cracked there and never pushed out a freeze plug I'll never know.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: what are chances of a cracked block?

Jaime,open the block drains and sit in the engine compartment for an hour with a ceramic heater.Get some warmth on the motor and you may get lucky.after the temps in January,I am starting to feel sorry for you already.Dont leave a heater unattended and make sure there are no fuel fumes before you start.Charlie

 

[Scaaty]

Re: what are chances of a cracked block?

Originally posted by crazy charlie:<br /> Jaime,open the block drains and sit in the engine compartment for an hour with a ceramic heater.Get some warmth on the motor and you may get luckyCharlie

I fail to see how a frozen block will cure it self by not being froze anymore. If it froze and cracked, well...toast. If ya lucked out, well the cold temps should be over anyway. Best bet to do is wait until spring, fresh oil, run it (on trailer) and keep checking the oil for "whitish/milky" color, external leaking, steam out the exhaust. Wish ya luck. By the way, you never said what type of engine, where it is stored, does it have a closed cooling system (which means block ok, but heat exchanger might be cracked. But my biggest question in an investment this large, is do you have a manual, and if you did, did you read it? And if you don't, spanketh thyself. Cheapest $60 ever spent. Post back with what you find.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: what are chances of a cracked block?

Robby,if YOU did not know if YOUR block was cracked by ice or not ,would you wait and leave it to crack for sure?? or would you try to defrost and drain it and at least give the block a chance to be protected.To correct you ,a frozen block CAN be cured,its called defrosting it!!Now a cracked block is different.But we dont know if it is cracked or not. So do we wait or do we do what we can now???? I act NOW to prevent any possibility of further damage.And if there is damage we get started with the repair process now before boating season while we can get a mechanic with time for the repair.Charlie

 

[iron21]

Re: what are chances of a cracked block?

well, this has been on my mind all day long, so i just went out and gave it a quick look. BTW, i have the boat stored in my garage, but unheated, so the garage doent really help any. <br />Anyway, i located one of the drain plugs(near rear of engine;about 8 inches under manifold) and removed. It poured out antifreeze which was a good sign. I should be ok then right? Since it was kinda dark, i only found that one plug though. Are there others that should be checked ?

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: what are chances of a cracked block?

Thats great news!!!!! if that was a block drain that you opened that is.Being in the garage is still a help,better than being outside.Are you sure that it was not a lower drain on a manifold that you opened??Charlie

 

[iron21]

Re: what are chances of a cracked block?

the thing is i'm not 100% sure on that. I unscrewed the plug from the BLOCK itself, but it wasnt located at the very bottom of the block.It was somehere right in the middle, but towards the rear. Sorry i am not very good at explaining this.<br /> i would think a drain would would be at the very bottom of the engine or block? let me know what ya think, i will go take another look..

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: what are chances of a cracked block?

What engine do you have?? The drain wont be at the bottom,the oil pan will be at the very bottom.It should be between the plugs and the oil pan,below the manifolds.Charlie

 

[Bondo]

Re: what are chances of a cracked block?

Jamie, I don't know the year of your 3.0l,... there could be 2 drains, or possibly 3......<br />The newer 3ls have the 1 on the block that you found,+ another 1 on the bottom of the Manifold, just above,+ a little to the stern of the 1 you found......<br />Older 3ls have another 1 on the back/rear/portside of the exhaust Riser.... These are the old Squareish looking risers.......<br />You should Also remove the Big Hose off the engine mounted Waterpump.... That also holds a good amount of water........<br /><br />Oh Ya,...... The drain you found Is at the bottom of the Waterjacket....Bottom of the Block is dry, with Oil on the other side.......<br /><br />Good Luck.....

 

[iron21]

Re: what are chances of a cracked block?

Well, it looks like i may have lucked out. I cant belive i was so careless when i winterized it. <br />sorry, i forget to mention it is 1989 mercruiser. It only has 264 hours on it, so i would have been pretty upset if i destroyed it..<br />Thanks guys for all the input, you were a big help! <br /> Jamie

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: what are chances of a cracked block?

Glad to hear you were lucky!!I am sure you will be a lot more careful next year. Charlie

 

[Scaaty]

Re: what are chances of a cracked block?

Originally posted by crazy charlie:<br />[QB] Robby,if YOU did not know if YOUR block was cracked by ice or not <br /><br />We aint talking about me. YOU didn't even know ANY of the specifics of where Jamie lived, stored , or much else, and you have him running around with a heater. Ice freezes once, does not get any bigger the second time around, and most people know how to melt ice. I asked for specifics from him, not argument from others

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: what are chances of a cracked block?

Robbie,if you cant stand the heat...get out of the kitchen!!You should not make a practice out of bashing the advice given by others here.Especially with the type of advice you gave here

Originally posted by Robbie;"Best bet to do is wait until Spring" Duhhh, Great advice pal!! Im sure that really helped Jamie out. Gimme a break!