Winterizing engine. Do Antifreeze turns colorless (after 2 days) inside the manifold?

[diver94]

Hello,

I have a 2003 Regal with twin Mercuirsers 4.3 MPI bravo III. I recently contracted the marina mechanic to winterize both engines. Two days after they completed the work, I noticed a leak coming from the bottom right side of the engine (by the drain plug). I removed the plug to replace the 0 ring (I though that was the cause of the leak). I noticed that the fluid coming out was completely colorless (maybe traces of color). I made a video with my phone of the liquid coming out of the engine and sent it to the marina. The marina service dept told me that it was normal for the antifreeze to change color inside the manifold.

I asked another marine mechanic and he informed me that (most likely) the person who winterized the engine did not allow the engine to warm up enough for the thermostat to kick in (some of the water was not replaced by antifreeze).

I took a sample of the liquid that initially came out of the engine and took it to the marina mechanic. He said it tested at -20 degrees.

I took another sample and put it in my freezer. It froze (not hard ice, but it feels like packed snow).

I live in NJ (it gets pretty cold in the winter here). Please let me have your thoughts.
Thanks,

Lui

 

[Watermann]

That's watered down AF and I would not leave my motor like that, what else is in there? Why have those guys charge you for that kind of shoddy work when you can do it right yourself for free?

 

[diver94]

Watermann. Thanks for the input. You are right! But Im active duty military, I just don't have the time to do it myself now.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Most pink is -50 and the blue is -100 so where did -20 come from?

 

[diver94]

You are right. They said they used pink AF. I wanted to get all that waterdown AF out my engines. I have been trying to find all the drain plugs (the other 2 are hard to find...2003 4.3 MPI Mercruiser)

 

[Bt Doctur]

Typically, 1 on each side of the block, 1 in each manifold, 1 maybe in the large hose to the T stat, 1 in the cool fuel unit or ps cooler
Got an engine serial number? Your location?

 

[diver94]

Bt Doctur. I am at Fort Dix, NJ. I am having a hard time finding the engine serial number. I will use my phone later today to take pics...that will help me locate them plugs (space is limited and the bilge area set up does not help..hard to reach under the engines)

 

[Bt Doctur]

well within my range, sending a cell

 

[tpenfield]

Looks like water . . . That color change is a good one, I'll have to remember that.

Time to get a different shop to do your winterization. . . or DIY.

 

[Scott Danforth]

the place you paid to winterize your block didnt winterize it. to winterize, you must drain first. (that is how the mercruiser service manual is written)..

find another mechanic.

• drain all the plugs (1 on each side of the block, 1 in each manifold, one at bottom of large hose, and potentially one in intake manifold). dont forget the power steering cooler.
• poke around in all the holes to make sure they drain
• change engine oil and filter
• change fuel filter
• change gear oil

your now winterized

fill with AF from the thermostat housing if you want.

 

[Scott06]

Most likely they screwed it up, but if you buy propelyne glycol from an industrial chemical supply house it comes clear. I work at a brewery where we use PG for chilled water refrigeration and it comes in 55 gal drums clear. We add a dye so we can see leaks in the plant. I would go back and ask if it went in clear or pink. If it went in clear they are probably ok, if it went in pink find another mechanic.

Also there are a few u tube videos of -50 getting solid at much higher temps, I think it solidifies but doesn't expand like water hence the term burst protection is used. https://youtu.be/h3d2DGIPEAQ

I think somebody said air don't freeze...

 

[Bondo]

I asked another marine mechanic and he informed me that (most likely) the person who winterized the engine did not allow the engine to warm up enough for the thermostat to kick in (some of the water was not replaced by antifreeze).

Ayuh,..... Sounds like you ain't found a real boat mechanic, yet,.....

The 1st step of any, 'n all winterizations is Drain the block, 'n manifolds,....

Once Drained, the coolin' system fills from the bottom up, if yer pumpin' in antifreeze,....
Countin' on the t-stat be open is a fool's chase to a frozen busted block,....
The manifolds would probably survive, as any water, or antifreeze the block don't take, by-passes out the manifolds,...

Or, you can just Quit after step #1,..... No antifreeze,... Air don't freeze,......

 

[hemi rt]

RV antifreeze will freeze solid but it does NOT expand like water thus it won't split/break anything.

 

[bruceb58]

This picture from an AG site shows the bottom of the frozen AF bottle ballooned out at the bottom. probably not as much as plain water but definitely some expansion.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Air doesn't freeze

 

[diver94]

Thank you all for your help! I will try to get the marina to refund me what they charged me for winterizing the engines.

 

[Pete104]

Most likely they screwed it up, but if you buy propelyne glycol from an industrial chemical supply house it comes clear. I work at a brewery where we use PG for chilled water refrigeration and it comes in 55 gal drums clear. We add a dye so we can see leaks in the plant. I would go back and ask if it went in clear or pink. If it went in clear they are probably ok, if it went in pink find another mechanic.

Also there are a few u tube videos of -50 getting solid at much higher temps, I think it solidifies but doesn't expand like water hence the term burst protection is used. https://youtu.be/h3d2DGIPEAQ

I think somebody said air don't freeze...

That can be bought in any color you want. Clear is the cheapest.

Frankly, they did what you hired them for. Anything goes south, it's on them.
You can't tell someone how to run their business. If they go with "air don't freeze" good for them. But this place, whoever it is, is gonna get rocked because they use ANTI-FREEZE!

And, you DO NOT have to drain an engine before using A/F!

 

[Scott Danforth]

And, you DO NOT have to drain an engine before using A/F!

Actually you do.

 

[Baylinerchuck]

Actually you do.

+1 per my mercruiser owners manual. Specific instructions on cold weather storage include draining the block of all water. Long term storage/ layup is recommended to add anti-corrosion anti freeze via t-stat housing. No mention anywhere of other methods.

 

[wrvond]

I am somewhat surprised concerning the frozen anti freeze. I've left gallon jugs of it sitting out in the carport many times over the years and never had any freeze (pink RV anti freeze).