Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winterizing

[wareagle1]

Just purchased a 2004 Sea Ray 185 Sport with a 4.3L Mercriuser engine. Boat is in mint condition and has 51 hours. Purchased in early February and it is now mid March.

I have no experience with winterizing a boat so I paid Sea Ray to winterize. I am however no mechanical dummy but I did not have time to figure it out since the weather was pretty cold. The person I purchased the boat from did not winterize since he kept in a garage with a heater. I could not fit in my garage so I had to get it winterized immediately.

Got a little curious today so I took out the drain plugs in the block and the manifold. There may be more, but I found 2 on each side (1 in the manifold and 1 in the side of the block).

Since I had it winterized and they told me they drained the water, I expected to see very little water or water that appeared to have antifreeze. Instead, brown muddy water came out of each manifold and black water came out of the block. Not very happy unless I don't know what I am looking at.

Hard for me to believe the brown was from rust since I only had it done about a month ago. It also had the smell of muddy lake water. No smell of antifreeze.

I am getting pretty pissed thinking about it but I would like some thoughts before I go off on a Sea Ray. Maybe I am wrong.​

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

There usually are two block drains (one on each side) and at least one drain on the bottom of each exhaust manifold. Even though water came out, stick a piece of wire into the drain holes to ensure that a piece of rust or junk isn't preventing the remaining water evacuating.

If the engine were professionally winterized there should be antifreeze - not water coming out of these drains!

Also, there is probably an oil cooler on the Stb side of the engine that needs the plug removed. Just follow the raw water hose from the transom assembly and you will find the cooler with two steel oil lines attached. If there isn't a small drain plug, you'll have to remove one of the water hoses using a screwdriver and lots of WD-40. Without draining this low point, you could crack the cooler.

Good luck!

 

[jitts3]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

Its a 4.3 liter and will have a drain each side on the block and on each manifold same as Jimmy Bout said. If it was done right it should have antifreeze it it. As for the black water...that's scary. I haven't winterized one ion a while but off memory you remove the hose to the water pump at the top side of the hose and fill with antifreeze. Then remove the hose coming from the sterndrive and fill til antifreeze come out of the drive. Its been a while so I could be forgetting something.

 

[paulswagelock]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

Just purchased a 2004 Sea Ray 185 Sport with a 4.3L Mercriuser engine. Boat is in mint condition and has 51 hours. Purchased in early February and it is now mid March.

I have no experience with winterizing a boat so I paid Sea Ray to winterize. I am however no mechanical dummy but I did not have time to figure it out since the weather was pretty cold. The person I purchased the boat from did not winterize since he kept in a garage with a heater. I could not fit in my garage so I had to get it winterized immediately.

Got a little curious today so I took out the drain plugs in the block and the manifold. There may be more, but I found 2 on each side (1 in the manifold and 1 in the side of the block).

Since I had it winterized and they told me they drained the water, I expected to see very little water or water that appeared to have antifreeze. Instead, brown muddy water came out of each manifold and black water came out of the block. Not very happy unless I don't know what I am looking at.

Hard for me to believe the brown was from rust since I only had it done about a month ago. It also had the smell of muddy lake water. No smell of antifreeze.

I am getting pretty pissed thinking about it but I would like some thoughts before I go off on a Sea Ray. Maybe I am wrong.​

I winterized my own. When I pull the drain plugs in the spring, clean antifreeze pours out. No rusty or muddy water. Clear antifreeze. I think you are onto something and would really check for a cracked block or risers/manifolds. Call the shop asap and list your complaint.

Good luck.

 

[OldSkool]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

I winterize mine also. Should be no clear water there at all. Sounds like someone skipped your boat while sitting on the repair line.
Make sure you notify the dealer (I think you will since they took your money and did nothing) in case you have block or manifold issue later in the season. Have them completely flush the block and start it for you.

If the block is cracked being pi$$ed would only be the tip of the iceburg for me.

 

[Old Vet]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

"Hard for me to believe the brown was from rust since I only had it done about a month ago. It also had the smell of muddy lake water. No smell of antifreeze."

Yup...that sure doesn't sound kosher to me either. Be nice if you caught some of that crud in a jug of some sort and had it to take to whoever "winterized" for you to show them. I think I would have trouble NOT raising a stink about it.

Did you have any cold enough weather down there to do any serious freezing?

Before taking it anywhere I'd be putting the muffs on it and running it up and checking very closely for any water that may be leaking out of any cracks/splits as a result of possible freezing.

Good luck.

 

[wareagle1]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

Well like a dummy I did not collect what came out. So my word against theirs if there is a problem. Went back and looked at the actual temperatures from Feb and we did go down as low as 26 for a few nights. Since then we have been above freezing.

 

[Nehalennia]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

yeah. I agree with the others. You didn't get winterized. How cold did it get there since then?

 

[OldSkool]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

Do not start/run the engine until the dealer sees it!! It's not your word against theirs as the rust can be noted by any half competent mechanic as raw water. Take pictures of the rusty areas.

3 seasons ago I did not catch one drain on the block on my 5.0. It did freeze and thank God for freeze plugs as I found 2 in the bilge. Not easy to replace but a lot cheaper than a block. Check to see if anything is lying under the engine. The freeze plug will be a small cupped shaped piece of metal.

Good Luck.

 

[wareagle1]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

Well again, dummy me in my hast after I found this, cranked up the engine and wanted to see how much water would come out after running (connected to the muffs and waterhose) vs what came out from when I pulled the plugs yesterday. I would say about the same amount came out of the manifolds and maybe a little less came out last night from the block. Regardless a lot of water came out. After running up to temperature and letting it run for 10-15 minutes the water is clean. Maybe a little black popps out when I 1st take out the plug but then it goes away very quickly. Hopefully this is not a problem. I can find no signs of a cracked block and I see no black or white smoke. I think I am ok, but I still have the issue of the work being not done or not being done properly.

So basically I have flushed away all of the evidence of no antifreeze.

Wish me luck.

 

[OldSkool]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

You're on your own from here mate. Hope it works out.

 

[Anothersearay]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

if you have had it running for 10 - 15 minutes, you apparently have no damage...
you are not getting what you paid for but, the big picture is the motor is working.


Were you using a hose and muffs to run it that long, did it come up to tempurature and idle correctly? Id chalk it up as a learning experience.

 

[wareagle1]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

Yes, using a water hose and muffs. Temperature got up to about 180 and settled out. Cranked and idled fine so hopefully no problems.

 

[Nehalennia]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

....you lucked out.

 

[Rono007]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

I think we're wondering why you cleaned up the crime scene before talking to the place that did the work? if you had found a problem after you started the engine, you would have been left to pay for the damages yourself.

Glad it seems to have worked out.

 

[wareagle1]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

Well in the fury of finding this problem I did not think until after the fact. It was kind of like I can't believe this and I just kept going until I had pulled all of the plugs. Of course they could always say that I put it in the lake and dispute my word anyway. I will speak to the dealer tomorrow and maybe we can come to a conclusion.

 

[jitts3]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

Don't feel so bad. I lucked out in almost the same manner. I bought 2 cars and a truck from Washington state. The cars from Seattle area and the truck from Spokane. The one I am referring to is a 92 CamaroRS I bought for my girlfriend. (I buy from out there since there is no road salt and no body cancer). I just loaded them up and headed to my shop on Wisconsin. Well it got quite cold in Montana Wyoming and south Dakota. The coolant in the Camaro froze. When I started it the water pump wouldn't turn and I fried the belt. I thawed her out and filled her with antifreeze. To my surprise no leaks. And I know I trucked thru snow and 10 degree weather with her.

Here is a pic of the thawing process.

 

[comsnark]

Re: Winterizing Question - I know it's in the wrong area but no traffic under Winteri

"Better lucky than good".

On the plus side: Now you have another entry on the "Do not get my boat serviced at" list.