Draining engine coolant

[Ian_Rob]

The drainage point on the starboard side of the Volvo D1-30B installed in my Dufour 365 is very inaccessible and I am having the greatest difficulty fixing a hose on the drain nipple leg alone get anything on the nipple to turn it on. Unlike the port side, there is no access panel on this side as it here that the master switches and the link-all switch are fixed . Access from the front and back of the engine is restricted by linkages, the oil filter, air ducting etc. I can partially drain down the system using the drain point on the heat exchanger side [I guess about 80%]. Is leaving 20% residual coolant an issue?

 

[Otter]

FWIW the nipple on the Kipper only gets about 90% out anyway. When we removed the whole heat exchanger there was still water in there.

 

[Ruffles]

Put your hand over the filler and blow into the overflow pipe. This greatly accelerates draining. So you can then flush through a couple of times. Though, I agree, much of the gunge is likely to remain in the system.

 

[Ian_Rob]

Regarding flushing, am I right in thinking that the engine block galleries will not be washed unless the thermostat is removed?

 

[nigelmercier]

Regarding flushing, am I right in thinking that the engine block galleries will not be washed unless the thermostat is removed?

I think it depends on the engine, but I flushed mine with Oxalic Acid and ran the engine for 20 minutes, then did the same with water, twice. My chemistry teacher wouldn't like that: "always rinse thrice!"

I have already confessed on here that I failed to allow the engine to cool with the acid, and got a hot acidic shower.

 

[rob2]

My chemistry teacher wouldn't like that: "always rinse thrice!"

That agrees with my Mum teaching me to do the washing. My brother always new better and rinsed twice - the resultant rash finally taught him better.

Although the engine coolant is not my first choice, I'm a great believer in letting it flow through the bilges and then cleaning - it's just an opportunity to clean the bilges which would otherwise be overlooked.

Rob.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Although the engine coolant is not my first choice, I'm a great believer in letting it flow through the bilges and then cleaning - it's just an opportunity to clean the bilges which would otherwise be overlooked.

Rob.

Our engine bilge is separate to the rest of the boat. The drain tap is similarly challenging to get to and I just let it drain into the bilge and mop it up from there.

 

[nigelmercier]

Our engine bilge is separate to the rest of the boat. The drain tap is similarly challenging to get to and I just let it drain into the bilge and mop it up from there.

Ditto, but I bought a cheap 12V bilge pump and connected it to a hose.