Changing cooling fluid

[Jon W.]

I need help! Has anyone successfully changed the engine’s fresh water antifreeze/coolant mixture?I just spent a couple of hours trying. I drained the engine block, and the heat exchanger at the petcock. I got exactly one gallon. I refilled and started it up. I opened the heat exchanger at the petcock, and the one on the thermostat housing until I saw coolant come out.. But the temperature rises rapidly past 180 and climbing. I shut it down, let it cool, and then retried a couple of times. No luck. There must be air in the system. Maybe the water heater lines? Does anyone have a suggestion besides hiring someone competent?

 

[Dean Bachelor]

yup been there

Hey Jon, I let my coolant tank (out in the storage locker) run low and got an air bubble in the system, I filled the tank to the level shown and had to keep reading the service manual and proper bleeding-burping process, it took a few burps and engine revs. but it finally workded. The only way to check is just what you did, let it run and watch the guage.I am a do it myselfer, so check other people's opinions too.Good luckDean www.blowinganddrifting@yahoo.com

 

[Jon W.]

Success!

Success! After going through some more archives for tips, I went back down to the boat.1. I disconnected the water heater hose at the engine thermostat and poured in some coolant until it ran out the thermostat side.2. I started the engine and revved it up to 2500 rpm a couple of times.3. I bled air out the thermostat petcock again.Temp is stable at 165 degrees. What a relief! So now I'm finished with the coolant change, oil and filter change, and fuel filter(s) change. Time to go sailing.