Where did my antifreeze go?
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=41000
Printed Date: November-16-2024 at 3:36am
Topic: Where did my antifreeze go?
Posted By: h2o.nhk
Subject: Where did my antifreeze go?
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 9:25am
|
Hello, New to the this forum but have read some of the posts and articles here over the years. I have been around boats my entire life and have had a couple Malibu's, a Mastercraft, and I currently found my self going back to my roots with a 2007 SN 196 (couldn't be happier!) I have always performed all of the maintenance on my boats and feel very comfortable working around them. This fall after I winterized my block i noticed i was getting a small amount of antifreeze in the bottom of the bilge. I figured it was just some residual from the winterization process so I wiped it up and the bilge was dry. Few days later there was antifreeze in the bilge again. I wiped it up again and checked every hose, elbow, freeze plug, connection, etc that I could think of. I placed several new shop towels down in the bilge and checked the next day only to find a small amount in the bilge again. It almost seemed like it was coming from an area where the transmission bolts up to the block but I couldn't get a mirror or anything to see down in there. This spring when I pulled the boat from storage I pulled out one of the knock sensors and only got a few drips of antifreeze out. It appears most of it had drained out over the winter and ran out the drain plug. Note that when I winterize i drain the complete block, hoses, elbows, manifolds, etc, and leave the port and starboard knock sensors out while I pour in antifreeze through the thermostat housing. Once i see antifeeze come out of the block on each side I put the knock sensors back in and add another 1/2 gallon or so. I also add antifreeze to elbows, manifolds, etc and I'm very confident I have properly laid up the engine block. We put almost 100hrs on the PCM 330 Excalibur last summer and I never noticed any water in the bilge other than a very small amount from the packing gland. Any ideas where my antifreeze leak is coming from? Is there reason for concern? I'm stumped! Thanks! |
Replies:
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 10:42am
|
Nate, Welcome to CCfan. You didn't mention draining the trans cooler when winterizing? If not, check it for splits from freezing. Other than that, you must have a loose hose or plug that you missed. |
Posted By: quinner
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 12:31pm
|
Was thinking the trans cooler also however I don't think that much or any fluid would get past the impeller so that does not explain the block drain. Does the boat have a heater or shower? If so be sure shower head is off and heater core is ok. Draining down to that low block plug/knock sensor is weird. I would clean the bilge completely and lay paper towels down to isolate where the drip is occurring. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1143" rel="nofollow - Mi Bowt |
Posted By: GottaSki
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 12:45pm
|
Both banks are empty or just one? ------------- "There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worthwhile as messing around with boats...simply messing." River Rat to Mole |
Posted By: h2o.nhk
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 1:25pm
|
Thanks for the quick feedback. Trans cooler was drained and properly winterized. No heater or shower to worry about. And both banks were almost empty. Last fall I did the dry paper towel test after cleaning out the bilge completely. The leak "appeared" to originate back where the transmission bolts up, but again I couldn't verify exactly where it was coming from. Boat is dewinterized and waiting for a break in the weather to get back on the water. Just a little nervous that i never found the problem. I guess it should also be noted that it was a very slow leak. |
Posted By: h2o.nhk
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 1:37pm
I guess I could post a pic of the boat too  
|
Posted By: quinner
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 2:04pm
|
Considering this is a raw water cooled motor the title is a little deceiving, you are leaking whatever coolant is running through or residing in the motor, are you seeing water gathering in the bilge after using the boat?? ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1143" rel="nofollow - Mi Bowt |
Posted By: h2o.nhk
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 3:54pm
| quinner, we put almost 100hrs on it this summer. very little water in the bilge. What little there was most likely came from packing......i think |
Posted By: quinner
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 4:54pm
|
Which would lead one to believe there is no leak?? Is it possible the a/f you are seeing is residual drips from your backfill process of over pouring?? If there is no sign of water in the bilge or high running temps during normal use I would change up my backfill method next fall, keep the block plugs/knock sensors in and backfill using the same amount of a/f as you typically add. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1143" rel="nofollow - Mi Bowt |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 5:09pm
|
Since you have a small block chevy, you have 2 freeze plugs in the back of the engine cleverly hidden from sight by the bellhousing and the flywheel. If you think the leak is from the bellhousing, it's possible one or both are leaking slightly. The only way to access them is to have the transmission, bellhousing and flywheel off so there's some work involved. It sounds like you had maybe one gallon of antifreeze in the engine and don't know how long it took to drain out other than over the winter months. I'd run it on the trailer or launch it and while sitting still with the engine running look to see if anything is leaking out the bottom of the bellhousing and quantify the amount. Based on your description of last year's use it sounds very minor if there is any and you could decide if you want to live with it for the season. It would take a leak on both plugs back there to empty both sides of the block so this may or may not be your issue but if you let it idle and look for leaks/drips like I mentioned earlier you should find something somewhere you would think, |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 5:19pm
|
Here's a picture stolen from the internet of their location. They may be a little high up to cause your engine to be drained like you experienced but if you run it and look for leaks, like I said in the previous post you should find something somewhere  And by the way Pete, no need to jump in and call them core plugs or tell why they're really there 
|
Posted By: h2o.nhk
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 5:21pm
|
that makes sense. I'll plan to inspect for leaks when we drop in the first time this season. |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 5:24pm
|
Sounds like a plan
|
Posted By: quinner
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 5:38pm
|
Ken, You know what I want to say about your reference to the round things you described, lmao!! ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1143" rel="nofollow - Mi Bowt |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 5:42pm
What round things? ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
quinner wrote:Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 6:06pm
Yup, I think I do |
Posted By: James T Brockma
Date Posted: May-02-2017 at 10:05pm
|
Just a thought... I was getting a small amount of antifreeze in the bilge of my 2006 216 over the winter for two years in a row. I checked everything. I also noticed a small amount of water in the bilge after use in the summer. I am very anal about my boat and even have fashioned a small plastic bowl under the snuffing box to catch the drips to keep my bilge dry. The antifreeze and water was leaking from a small hole in the bottom of the muffler. The hole wore through from rubbing on the hull. Easy repair but a pain to get the muffler out. Just a thought... ------------- Jim '06 216 '98 SN 176 |
Posted By: quinner
Date Posted: May-03-2017 at 12:06am
------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1143" rel="nofollow - Mi Bowt |
Posted By: h2o.nhk
Date Posted: May-03-2017 at 9:06am
| James, I'm the same way about my boat. Meticulous about everything all while putting as many hours as possible on the water during the season. I'll take a peak in that area as well. I checked all the hose clamps on the exhaust but didn't think about a pin hole in the housing. Thanks for the feedback. |
Posted By: h2o.nhk
Date Posted: May-25-2017 at 9:00am
|
Bump..... well I have good news, and bad news. Good news - ran the boat and skied the other day. small amount of water in the bilge when finished. i need to check the shaft seal again while underway to make sure the packing is set right. Parked on trailer in the garage and wiped the bilge dry after we were finished. Checked 2 days later and it was still bone dry. No more leak? very strange that the antifreeze ran out but the water didn't. Maybe a seal warmed up somewhere? Bad news - my last post was from May 2nd! It took 3 weeks to actually get a break in the rain/wind/high water weather....Northwest Ohio weather has been crap this spring |
Posted By: fanofccfan
Date Posted: May-25-2017 at 4:36pm
Don't feel like the Lone Ranger on the CRAP weather. It's been cold rainy and record high water on our little lake as well. Oh and I forgot to mention windy!  ------------- 2004 196 LE Ski 1969 Marauder 19 1978 Ski |
Posted By: MrMcD
Date Posted: May-25-2017 at 5:04pm
|
Water will evaporate much faster than a spill of anti freeze. If the block drained you have a leak somewhere as you already determined. Since it does not affect using the boat and the bilge is mostly clean I would enjoy the boat and not worry. Your winterize program is keeping the block from freezing and that is the main concern. What fluid is left after the leak drains you down will have anti freeze in it so no worry about a frozen block or attachments. The odds of both rear plugs leaking are really slim but it is a lot of work to pull the bell housing and find out. I would leave it unless it gets so bad you have cooling issues. Nice Boat. ------------- |
Posted By: tbender
Date Posted: July-21-2017 at 5:28am
| James - you mentioned a hole in the bottom of your muffler that was repaired. I recently changed my oil and noticed a significant amount of water in the bilge while the engine was running. I discovered a hole in the bottom of my muffler, about an inch long. Curious as to how you fixed yours. I would prefer to do that rather than replace the entire muffler obviously. Anyone else who has experience with muffler repairs feel free to chime in. Thank you! |
Posted By: Duane in Indy
Date Posted: July-21-2017 at 6:57am
Treat it as you would any other f-glass repair. Grind or at least scuff up the adjacent area with 80 grit or so. Acetone clean it and lay it up with cloth or matt and resin it in. Build up to desired thickness and let it cure. Easy fix. ------------- Keep it as original as YOU want it 1978 Mustang (modified) |