Winterizing a Merc A1-G1 Block Question Antifreeze

[Pmt133]

Which engine do you have? In-line 4, V6 or V8?
The block drain on the 4 is on the side under the manifold
On the V engines there is one drain on both sides of the block, in front of the starter on the starboard side & in front of the oil filter mount on the port side. For the manifolds it can be on the underside or on the end it all depends on the brand of manifold. Don’t forget in addition to that you have to disconnect the bottom end of the big hose in front between the front circulating pump & the thermostat housing that holds a fair amount of water….probe the holes with a pick or small screwdriver…

FYI, some hoses have a drain plug and fitting on the circulating pump hose as well. Found that out when reassembling the cooling system with new parts.

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

Which engine do you have? In-line 4, V6 or V8?
The block drain on the 4 is on the side under the manifold
On the V engines there is one drain on both sides of the block, in front of the starter on the starboard side & in front of the oil filter mount on the port side. For the manifolds it can be on the underside or on the end it all depends on the brand of manifold. Don’t forget in addition to that you have to disconnect the bottom end of the big hose in front between the front circulating pump & the thermostat housing that holds a fair amount of water….probe the holes with a pick or small screwdriver…

1985 Merc A1-G1 140 HP

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

I'm wondering if I have drain plugs on both sides of my engine now. Anyone?

1985 Mercruiser A1-G1 3.0 140hp.

 

[Pmt133]

There should be a drain petcock on the block on the exhaust side and then one toward the rear underside of the manifold. Picture half a small block....

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

There should be a drain petcock on the block on the exhaust side and then one toward the rear underside of the manifold. Picture half a small block....

Yes, but the peacock drain seems like it was sealed shut. Could the factory have done that or the owner prior... I tried using a probe but to no avail. It's sealed shut inside. The valve too. Looks Ike someone used a jb weld inside the block and inside the peacock stem.
.

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

Also when I tried putting antifreeze in, it all drained out to the rear transom exhaust, outside of the boat.

 

[Lou C]

You’re taking about the block drain, correct?
When you fill with AF for the block you disconnect the big hose between the circ pump & stat housing at the top end (this is after draining from the bottom) till the AF comes out the neck on the stat housing for the big hose. You have to get the block to drain! Post up pix of what you have there…

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

You’re taking about the block drain, correct?
When you fill with AF for the block you disconnect the big hose between the circ pump & stat housing at the top end (this is after draining from the bottom) till the AF comes out the neck on the stat housing for the big hose. You have to get the block to drain! Post up pix of what you have there…

Thanks, I'll check it tomorrow

 

[Scott Danforth]

I'm wondering if I have drain plugs on both sides of my engine now. Anyone?

1985 Mercruiser A1-G1 3.0 140hp.

Not on a 3 liter

 

[Scott06]

I'm wondering if I have drain plugs on both sides of my engine now. Anyone?

1985 Mercruiser A1-G1 3.0 140hp.

No only one block drain and a manifold drain. Other Side of the block has the lifter galley no drains. I had a 3.0 for 20 years, Makes it very easy to winterize.
if your drain is plugged on that side get the peacock out and figure out a way to open it so it drains otherwise you will be looking for an engine in the spring

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

No only one block drain and a manifold drain. Other Side of the block has the lifter galley no drains. I had a 3.0 for 20 years, Makes it very easy to winterize.
if your drain is plugged on that side get the peacock out and figure out a way to open it so it drains otherwise you will be looking for an engine in the spring

I'm gonna open the thermostat housing today to see if there's any water in it, if so I'll dump some antifreeze in there too.

 

[Scott06]

I'm gonna open the thermostat housing today to see if there's any water in it, if so I'll dump some antifreeze in there too.

you need to get the water out first That is why when you poured AF in it came out the exhaust- you block is still full.

Did you completely remove the petcock from the block ? there are two core [lugs on that side of the block if you cant drain it. they can be knocked in with a drift and janked out sideways with channel locks. worst case you can clean out the debris and either put a new core plug in or use a rubber expansion plug. Either way you need to get the water out and clear the debris otherwise you risk freeze cracking the block

 

[nola mike]

You can though it might be mixed in with some dingy bilge water and motor oil drips lol.
Might try it next spring. clean bilge out, drain then put plug in drain af, then remove plug and put AF back in containers.

I mean you're always looking for corrosion inhibition right? Nothing better than running it the next season with a thin coat of oil going through the cooling passages.

 

[Lou C]

I wouldn’t doubt that people have done that with old cast iron engines for storage. Meanwhile who’s got the record for the most years on a raw water cooled in salt block? I’m at about 20 seasons….

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

I removed the thermostat housing and it was dry, I also discovered there wasn't a thermostat. I then filled up the thermostat bellows channel area with Antifreeze, and filled it to the top of the housing, then put the thermostat housing back on... No AF came out anywhere as it stayed in the block I'm assuming. I hope I'm good now. Your thoughts.

 

[Lou C]

The thing we don't know is if there was water left in the block!

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

The thing we don't know is if there was water left in the block!

I had drained the block on the exhaust manifold side. A lot of water came out of the block by opening the lower bolt nearest the riser.

 

[Scott06]

I removed the thermostat housing and it was dry, I also discovered there wasn't a thermostat. I then filled up the thermostat bellows channel area with Antifreeze, and filled it to the top of the housing, then put the thermostat housing back on... No AF came out anywhere as it stayed in the block I'm assuming. I hope I'm good now. Your thoughts.

If the block was originally emptied via the drain plug just above the oil pan rail then yes you are good. was that the plug that you could not clear or was it the one under the manifold that was clogged?

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

If the block was originally emptied via the drain plug just above the oil pan rail then yes you are good. was that the plug that you could not clear or was it the one under the manifold that was clogged?

There's two plugs on the exhaust manifold. One has a peacock, that seemed like it was sealed permanently shut by either the manufacturer or the owner prior. The other drain plug i took off and a lot of block water poured out. I think I'm in the clear now being I filled up the whole thermostat housing with AF.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Did you pull the block drain which is 3/4 " above the oil pan flange ? Yes or no?