Engine Freezing

[MarieK]

If the water in the engine was to freeze due to the temperatures we are getting at present, what is the likely damage? The boat is on the hard so went to check today and found a pool of water in the usually dry bilge. The water is clear so its not coolant or anything. Didnt check to see if it was salt or freshwater.

How might I trace where it came from engine is a KAD300?

Ryan

 

[Greg2]

If you drain the raw water side there should be no problems assuming that the anti-freeze is okay on the sealed side.
We have KAD 42's so basically the same block and raw water drains are on the bottom of the charge cooler, a hose to the oil cooler (there are two hoses - on has coolant and is the sealed side drain and the other raw water) and then take the pipe off the system below the impeller and hold it down to drain - not the one that goes to the intake on the transom shield but the one that goes under the flywheel). if the boat is out of the water it is important to do this as it will be colder in the engine bay than when in the water)

Re the water in your bilge worth a 'taste test' - may be nothing more than rainwater/snow melt that has found it's way in. If it is salt I guess in theory it could have frozen (bit obviously needs to be very cold for salt water to freeze) in which case check round the raw water system (hoses, charge cooler, heat exchanger).

Hole this helps

 

[volvopaul]

The closed system should have antifreeze mix in so should not freeze.

However if you have not winterised the engine , the intercooler will have sea water in, so will the oil cooler and heat exchanger with all the associated pipes that make the circuit, the power steering cooler will too and the feed pipe to the raw water pump.

You will find varoius drain points on the engine, the main one is a rubber tube cable tied below the supercharger there are 2 together, undo the clip and pull out the brass plug, you may be unlucky and pull out the closed circuit one, hence it will be the other one.

There is also a drain plug at the bottom of the intercooler.

Boats tend to freeze up out of the water far easier than when they are left in as the water under the boat helps to warm up the hull surrounded by it.

The water in the bilge could be from anywhere maybe the fresh water domestic system has a burst pipe.

 

[kashurst]

If you ran an antifreeze mixture through the engine, or drained the raw water system down before the winter then not a lot . water in the bildge could be a leak from superstructure or a leak in drinking water system. not too much of an issue. with temperatures so low at present sea water freezes @ -2 degrees, you may be at risk. if water freezes in the intercoolers then you could have a problem in the spring with sea water in the antifreeze mix (not a disaster but will need sorting). Or worse water getting into the engine via the air/water intercooler (if you have them) - this is a big issue and could wreck the engine. chances are nothing will happen but check in the spring

 

[Greg2]

The closed system should have antifreeze mix in so should not freeze.

However if you have not winterised the engine , the intercooler will have sea water in, so will the oil cooler and heat exchanger with all the associated pipes that make the circuit, the power steering cooler will too and the feed pipe to the raw water pump.

You will find varoius drain points on the engine, the main one is a rubber tube cable tied below the supercharger there are 2 together, undo the clip and pull out the brass plug, you may be unlucky and pull out the closed circuit one, hence it will be the other one.

There is also a drain plug at the bottom of the intercooler.

Boats tend to freeze up out of the water far easier than when they are left in as the water under the boat helps to warm up the hull surrounded by it.

The water in the bilge could be from anywhere maybe the fresh water domestic system has a burst pipe.

Obviously type quicker than me!! Also probably much more knowledgeable...I only play at it.