Winterize issue..
 

1995 502 efi. open cooling

Tried to get antifreeze thru the block today, the belt driven
sea water pump took a crap and I couldn't get any fluid pick up.
It's late in the year and getting cool.

Looking at the plumbing, I figured I could pull the outlet hose from the w/pump, which goes to the oil cooler, then the thermostat housing and pour fluid in it.
Try as I may, I could not get circulation not matter what
combo of pulling hoses and filling t.stat housing, open hoses etc.


I can replace the seawater pump if need be, but in theory
I should have been able the get some circulation

Wassup, has the engine water pump taken a crap too??..

The other option is simply to drain everything and not use anti-freeze. Not all that hard to do. Need instructions?

sure

Two block drain plugs - one on each side about mid-way back. Make sure to poke a zip-tie or something similar in after you pull the plugs to clear any obstructions out.

Two exhaust manifold drains - bottom of the manifolds. Same deal with a zip-tie.

Pull the large hose on the starboard side of the circulating pump on the front of the engine.

Pull the hoses off the raw water pump as you already have.

Drain the power steering cooler if you have one.

Thanx, that should be simple enough.

Any idea why I have no circulation???

thermostat closed?

I was pouring water in the hose that goes from the pump to the cooler and thru to the thermostat housing, it
wouldn't draw any water, zip. Didn't run thru to the t/stat end out the hose.
There could be some debris from the impellor in the
cooler inlet but you would think it would not be totally blocked.

At this point I just want to be sure the block doesn't
freeze in the winter.
I'll fix the seawater pump in the spring.

Been thinking about...
Without the seawater pump to push fluid, gravity won't
flow water down the hose, up to the cooler and up again to the t/stat.
If I pull the seawater inlet from the t/stat housing and put the garage hose in there, it should get enough waterflow to run out the exhaust and open the t/stat and confirm everything is circulating.
Then I can drain everything and put a/freeze in thru the same inlet.

Just replace the sea pump impeller. Its a 1 hour job.

If you can't get it done in time before its too cold, drain the block, coolers and exhaust.

Are you doing it with a bucket and muffs?... if you are you need to lift the bucket up high to start it, That's if you have not already killed your impeller.