wheres my antifreeze

[badkins50]

Had a great boating season last year and at the end of last season I winterized according to the manual. Looking over everything yesterday everything looked good, untill I looked in the antifreeze resevior on top of the motor. It was almost completely dry. No signs of it draining anywhere. The reserve tank still at the same leave I left it at last year. I know the question and I regret saying it = it is a 1984 470. I am fearing the worse but still have hope :facepalm:.

 

[Bondo]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

Had a great boating season last year and at the end of last season I winterized according to the manual. Looking over everything yesterday everything looked good, untill I looked in the antifreeze resevior on top of the motor. It was almost completely dry. No signs of it draining anywhere. The reserve tank still at the same leave I left it at last year. I know the question and I regret saying it = it is a 1984 470. I am fearing the worse but still have hope :facepalm:.

Ayuh,... What's the oil Level lookin' like,..??

What did the antifreeze Test out at, temperature wise,..??

 

[badkins50]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

Well the oil dip stick was showing above normal. I dont know temperature test because i did not try to start it yet because we are still freezing at nite.

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

I would look to drain at least some of the oil and see what it looks like before starting it.

 

[Don S]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

I dont know temperature test because i did not try to start it yet because we are still freezing at nite.

He wasn't referring to how hot the engine was running, he was asking what the freeze protection of your antifreeze is.
Many people have a tendency to just look and see what color it is and assume that if it's green it's ok. Many times green can mean 25? ABOVE 0, and will freeze just like water.

 

[badkins50]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

Oh ok don. I just looked at the antifreeze container and I went with a 50/50 mixture so if my math is correct it would be equal to -21degrees. And it is green made by Star Brite" special premium formula" "even for aluminum engines".

 

[Bondo]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

Oh ok don. I just looked at the antifreeze container and I went with a 50/50 mixture so if my math is correct it would be equal to -21degrees. And it is green made by Star Brite" special premium formula" "even for aluminum engines".

Ayuh,... A Hydrometer will Tell you if yer math is correct....

If the oil level is High,..
Drain off the bottom, 'n Look for yer antifreeze...

 

[Don S]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

Don't forget, it's a 470 and that cam seal is a know cause of antifreeze in the coolant.

 

[Bondo]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

Don't forget, it's a 470 and that cam seal is a know cause of antifreeze in the coolant.

Ayuh,... Antifreeze in the coolant tank is what I thought is a Good thing,...

 

[Speakrdude]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

I had that problem once and it was due to the cheap green block off gaskets in the risers. When they fail, the antifreeze goes out the exhaust pipe.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

Does not seem logical to get antifreeze in the oil (LOL) just sitting there, any antifreeze getting past the outer cam seal should just leak out of the waterpump weep hole, rather than past the second seal into the crankcase (unless the weep hole is plugged). could possibly be the riser gasket. Check to see if there is coolant in the cylinders. Could be a leak in the heat exchanger, check to see if there is antifreeze in the seawater side of the exchanger. Could be a head gasket, do a compression test when you get a chance. Also a cooling system pressure check. You can borrow the tools for both from Autozone. Let us know how the oil looks. Good luck.

 

[badkins50]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

Just a little update. Pressure tested coolant system at 17psi for 10 minutes and no change. Stayed right at 17psi the whole time. I also drained the oil and it was fine too. I also checked the weep hole and it was not clogged or leaking or anything. Im going to take a look at the heat exchanger tomorrow and if nothing then ill try a compression test.

 

[natemoore]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

Just a little update. Pressure tested coolant system at 17psi for 10 minutes and no change. Stayed right at 17psi the whole time. I also drained the oil and it was fine too. I also checked the weep hole and it was not clogged or leaking or anything. Im going to take a look at the heat exchanger tomorrow and if nothing then ill try a compression test.

That's interesting. I've got a 470 that I completely rebuilt last summer using all OEM gaskets. I noticed that my coolant was a little low, maybe an inch down from the top. I did an oil change using one of those vacuum pump fluid extractors; not a drop of liquid in the oil. No smell of coolant in the exhaust (unlike before I rebuilt it where it reeked of coolant). I ran the engine every week or two during the winter. Took it out Sunday. It performed great. Just a little puzzling to me.

 

[badkins50]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

That's interesting. I've got a 470 that I completely rebuilt last summer using all OEM gaskets. I noticed that my coolant was a little low, maybe an inch down from the top. I did an oil change using one of those vacuum pump fluid extractors; not a drop of liquid in the oil. No smell of coolant in the exhaust (unlike before I rebuilt it where it reeked of coolant). I ran the engine every week or two during the winter. Took it out Sunday. It performed great. Just a little puzzling to me.

Man your telling me its puzzling. I'm just wondering and wondering where it has gone. I always start it in the driveway before launching and I check all the fluids before, and after cruisen and have never noticed any change until now. I still have to look at the heat exchanger and do a compression test, if my 4month old son will ever let me. Maybe this weekend. I'll let you know what happens.

On a different note I thought that my system was suppose to take 2 gallons of antifreeze? I know when I drained it and replaced it back in 2009, it only took 1-1/2 gallons. I do have the 4" exchanger as well. When I just now topped it off to do the pressure test it only took about a quart or so.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

On a different note I thought that my system was suppose to take 2 gallons of antifreeze? I know when I drained it and replaced it back in 2009, it only took 1-1/2 gallons. I do have the 4" exchanger as well. When I just now topped it off to do the pressure test it only took about a quart or so.

The book says 11 quarts. There are three drain plugs. Exchanger, block and one on the front of the engine pump housing. If you have a very small leak in one of the exchanger tubes, it might hold pressure, but leak out some over the winter. Just a guess.

 

[badkins50]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

Thanks. I did notice on the hose that goes from the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold, on the exhaust manifold neck, so signs on corrosion and possible leaking. I'll take it off and clean up the neck and inspect it further. Maybe a cleaning and tightening will cure it. I just thought that I would have noticed coolant in the pit if I had an external leak. After I perform some other things and get it running, I'll pay close attention to this hose. Thanks again.

 

[okiefarmr]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

Any updates?

 

[badkins50]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

Any updates?

None yet. I check the heat exchanger and it's fine. I still have some things to do before I get to check the compression. I'm still leaning towards the hose of the exhaust manifold. I did check the coolant level again yesterday and it is staying exactly the same from when I topped it off for the pressure test. Will let you know. It is getting close to "dewinterizing" it.

 

[Cuyose]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

Not that this is your issue, but I had something similar happening with my mercruiser 230. I noticed there was a hole that had developed on the overflow tube leading from the heat exchanger to the resivior. Apperantly what was happening is when the engine warmed up, some of the antifreeze mixture would expand to go into the resivior, and just leak out the hole on the way, then when cooling back down instead of returning coolant from the overflow tank, it just sucked back in air which dropped the level. Replaced the hose and dont have the issue anymore.

Just something to check.

 

[badkins50]

Re: wheres my antifreeze

Just an update. I was able to get it running last night after everything was check, pressure good, compression great. The leak was coming from the neck on the exhaust manifold. It must have just evaporated from the bilge over winter or something. Thanks for all the help. Can't wait to get out for a splash now.