It looks like winter is slowly leaving and the temperatures are starting to rise to the point where I can finally start getting the boat ready to go in the water. Two weekends ago we went down to the boat and removed the remains of the shreadded blue tarp and got inside to put some gear onboard. While checking things out down below, I removed the engine covers and to my horror discovered about a quart of antifreeze in the engine bilge. My first thought was that the antifreeze was not strong enough (major damage) for the cold weather we had this past winter. I know I checked it, didn't I? The boat is a 2000, H340, fresh water cooled and has the antifreeze from the factory. I went home and pondered the situation (worried) and took an antifreeze tester with me when I went to the boat this past Saturday. To my relief the antifreeze in the engine and the engine bilge tested good to -40f. Now the question becomes, where did the antifreze come from? What is in the engine bilge amounts to the contents of the expansion bottle. I got a flashlight and went over the entire engine looking for any antifreeze residue left anywhere, but couldn't find any. All the drains are closed and there are no signs of leaks around any of the hose connections, heat exchanger or water pump, the expansion bottle is dry on the outside and dosen't apear to be cracked, in fact there is about a 1/4" to 1/2" of antifreeze still in it. Does anyone out there have any idea where the antifreeze could have come from? Short of dumping the bottle into the engine bilge I can't figure out how it got there and I know that is not the case because I was the last person onboard in the fall. The boat was loaked and tightly covered for most of the winter, until the tarp got shredded. Any and all ideas on how to solve this wystery would be appreciated.
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Larry Jackel
Same thing in my 340
I saw the same condition in my 1999 340 when I checked the engine this weekend.
I saw the same condition in my 1999 340 when I checked the engine this weekend.
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Steve O.
need more info
What color was the anti-freeze? Assuming it was green/yelow, it had to come from the fresh water cooling system, unless someone winterized the boat with the wrong stuff. Did you winterize yourself or did you have a yard winterize? If it is pink (non-toxic) and its in the bilge, it's common practice to pour some anti-freeze into the bilge to keep any water that collects there from freezing.
What color was the anti-freeze? Assuming it was green/yelow, it had to come from the fresh water cooling system, unless someone winterized the boat with the wrong stuff. Did you winterize yourself or did you have a yard winterize? If it is pink (non-toxic) and its in the bilge, it's common practice to pour some anti-freeze into the bilge to keep any water that collects there from freezing.
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Mike D
Worry Second
Tim and Larry, I would keep an eye on things for a while. However, I think the key lies in whether or not the engine antifreeze level remained at full. If it was full when you removed the radiator cap, my guess is that it came from the resevoir. The holding tank is normally marked full, at about 3/4, if my memory serves me. Is there is a clamp on the hose from the holding tank to the engine? You may want to see if it is loose or add one if appropriate. As Steve O. pointed out, the internal, fresh water cooled side of the engine is only ½ of the equation. More info is necessary depending on what is in place. If your raw water side had a leak in it, you would notice (usually pink) antifreeze. Have you checked with Hunter or the dealer? Sounds like good chance it is common. Good Luck, Mike D s/v Serenity Tolchester Beach p.s. to Tim, Stop by and say hello anytime.
Tim and Larry, I would keep an eye on things for a while. However, I think the key lies in whether or not the engine antifreeze level remained at full. If it was full when you removed the radiator cap, my guess is that it came from the resevoir. The holding tank is normally marked full, at about 3/4, if my memory serves me. Is there is a clamp on the hose from the holding tank to the engine? You may want to see if it is loose or add one if appropriate. As Steve O. pointed out, the internal, fresh water cooled side of the engine is only ½ of the equation. More info is necessary depending on what is in place. If your raw water side had a leak in it, you would notice (usually pink) antifreeze. Have you checked with Hunter or the dealer? Sounds like good chance it is common. Good Luck, Mike D s/v Serenity Tolchester Beach p.s. to Tim, Stop by and say hello anytime.
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Kevin
Hot Water Heater
I pump anti-freeze through my fresh water system (different type and color than engine) and leave the drain valve open on the hot water heater. As the winter goes by the anti-freeze slowly drains out of the fresh water heater into the bilge. I know it is fresh water system anti-freeze because of the color. Can you get a clue from the color of antifreeze in your bilge?
I pump anti-freeze through my fresh water system (different type and color than engine) and leave the drain valve open on the hot water heater. As the winter goes by the anti-freeze slowly drains out of the fresh water heater into the bilge. I know it is fresh water system anti-freeze because of the color. Can you get a clue from the color of antifreeze in your bilge?
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Tim Bowers
Antifreeze Mystery II
Additional information requested. The liquid in question is from the fresh water side, its yellow. I winterized the boat myself and have done it several times with other boats. I have nothing in the bilge area (the one with the pump.) The area with the antifreeze in it is the bilge area under the engine with no drain or pump. The engine if full of antifreeze and with the exception of the expansion tank being empty (the tank was about 1/2 full when I winterized the boat last fall)everything else seems normal.
Additional information requested. The liquid in question is from the fresh water side, its yellow. I winterized the boat myself and have done it several times with other boats. I have nothing in the bilge area (the one with the pump.) The area with the antifreeze in it is the bilge area under the engine with no drain or pump. The engine if full of antifreeze and with the exception of the expansion tank being empty (the tank was about 1/2 full when I winterized the boat last fall)everything else seems normal.
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Mike Dawson
Same thing
Tim, had the same thing happen to my 1999 H340 last year. A least 12 ounces of antifreeeze in the bottom of the engine compartment. No apparent lack of antifreeze in the cooling system either. My engine ran fine last season. Don't know where it came from either.
Tim, had the same thing happen to my 1999 H340 last year. A least 12 ounces of antifreeeze in the bottom of the engine compartment. No apparent lack of antifreeze in the cooling system either. My engine ran fine last season. Don't know where it came from either.
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Carl Dupre
I'm Going to Take a Guess.....
....at this one. The common theme (there is yet another post on this same thing on a H28.5) is anti-freeze in the engine bilge and an almost-empty expansion tank. Question; is there a plastic tube running from a plastic expansion tank down to the engine with a metal hose clamp holding the tubing to a stem on the plastic expansion tank? Plastics grow (heated) and shrink (cooled) much more than metal in cold temperatures. Guess; in the cold weather the stem on the plastic tank shrinks, loosening the clamp and allowing the expansion tank contents to slowly ooze out. Other than that, I would guess Colonel Mustard in the engine compartment with an adjustable wrench! Carl
....at this one. The common theme (there is yet another post on this same thing on a H28.5) is anti-freeze in the engine bilge and an almost-empty expansion tank. Question; is there a plastic tube running from a plastic expansion tank down to the engine with a metal hose clamp holding the tubing to a stem on the plastic expansion tank? Plastics grow (heated) and shrink (cooled) much more than metal in cold temperatures. Guess; in the cold weather the stem on the plastic tank shrinks, loosening the clamp and allowing the expansion tank contents to slowly ooze out. Other than that, I would guess Colonel Mustard in the engine compartment with an adjustable wrench! Carl
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Doug Kornreich
I have same problem
I have the same problem (see the description in the Hunter mid-sized boats forum) "Engine antifreeze problem" . Please let me know if you find anything out. I'll do the same for you. My e-mail is kornreich@hotmail.com . Thanks. >>>>> Doug Kornreich <<<<<
I have the same problem (see the description in the Hunter mid-sized boats forum) "Engine antifreeze problem" . Please let me know if you find anything out. I'll do the same for you. My e-mail is kornreich@hotmail.com . Thanks. >>>>> Doug Kornreich <<<<<
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Dick Hall
water pump
If you winterize by sucking antifreeze into the salt water side by using the engine driven water pump, you will have some antifreeze in the heat exchanged at a level above the pump. Provided the impellor is not perfectly tight in the pump, the antifreeze may leak past it. No problem - the only purpose of putting antifreeze in was to displace the existing water.
If you winterize by sucking antifreeze into the salt water side by using the engine driven water pump, you will have some antifreeze in the heat exchanged at a level above the pump. Provided the impellor is not perfectly tight in the pump, the antifreeze may leak past it. No problem - the only purpose of putting antifreeze in was to displace the existing water.
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Larry Jackel
Spoke to Mack Boring
I spoke to a service rep at Mack Boring. He suspected loose hose clamps on the fresh water system (The system that has yellow-green anti-freeze.)
I spoke to a service rep at Mack Boring. He suspected loose hose clamps on the fresh water system (The system that has yellow-green anti-freeze.)
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