[C320-list] Antifreeze change

[mike gutshall]

Crosby, you may also want to change out the filler cap and the thermostat.  If you replace the thermostat, also replace the thermostat housing gasket.  This replaces all coolant variables (antifreeze, cap, thermostat) and they are very simple to replace.  If you replace the thermostat it will also set you up to more easily ensure that air within the coolant plumbing is purged and all coolant liquid is replaced. 

Here is the routine.
1. remove the coolant per instructs
2. R&R the cap
3. Remove the thermostat
4. Re-attach the thermostat housing without the thermostat (keep old gasket in play)
5. Go thorough your cycle/cycles of flushing
6. Reload the new coolant
7. Fire up the engine and let run for a minute or two
8. As the engine is running, top off the coolant or shut the engine down and top it off
9. Shut the engine down and let it cool off a bit
10. Remove the thermostat housing
11. Install the new thermostat and the new housing gasket
12. Run the engine up to temp to make sure the thermostat is working and there are no housing leaks.
13. let the engine cool down
14. open the cap for one last inspection of coolant level and possible final topping off.

Just note, that if you try to replace the coolant with a thermostat installed, there is a chance that when you first run the engine the engine will over heat before the thermostat opens and allows the coolant to fill the air voids within the engine cylinder jacketing.  I found the routine above takes all of this out of play.  

Others may have a better way to do this, just my approach.

thx
mike g
Alibi 401



   


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Allan Field<mailto:Allan.Field at comcast.net> 
  To: 'C320-List'<mailto:c320-list at catalina320.com> 
  Sent: Sunday, November 25, 2007 9:23 AM
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Antifreeze change


  Crosby - Following is a note from my archives on changing coolant.  One
  variation I use is that I drain the old coolant into a bucket and before
  properly disposing of the old stuff, mark on the bucket a line that shows
  how much came out.  I then refill the bucket with the same amount of
  pre-mixed coolant and dump that back in.  I don't blow out lines and run a
  fresh water rinse but I do change the coolant each season.  By doing so
  annually, I figure I get enough coolant turnover to keep things clean and,
  since doing it this way, have never had an airlock.  Hope this helps.

  Allan S. Field
  Sea Shadow - #808
  Columbia, MD 21046

  If I remember correctly:
  1.  Take off the filler cap on the heat exchanger.
  2.  There are two drain petcocks, one on each side of the block, that have
  knurled plastic knobs.  When they are opened (CCW) coolant should flow out.
  There is also at least one thingy that looks like a small ball valve (on my
  engine it has a clear drain hose attached to it) but this drains the sea
  water side of the heat exchanger.
  3.  Empty the overflow bottle.
  4.  Detach both hoses that run to the hot water heater and blow out the 
  coolant.

  My experience was that some coolant remains in the block after the initial
  drain. I flushed the engine twice by refilling with plain fresh water,
  running for a few minutes, and draining again. The second flush looked a lot
  cleaner.

  Refilling with fresh coolant (I used the prediluted variety) took somewhat
  over a gallon. I found it helpful to prefill the loop out to the hot water
  heater to cut down on any airlocks. After the initial restart, it will need
  topping off; I then ran it up to temperature to be sure the thermostat had
  opened and the fluid level had stabilized.

  For what it's worth, my engine (1998 Euro model) was filled with regular
  green coolant. I seriously considered changing to the newer long-life orange
  coolant but dropped the idea when the local mechanic at Parker's cautioned
  that you have to remove ALL traces of the green stuff. He said that if any
  remains, it will cause the orange stuff to form a gel. Although newer
  engines are factory filled with orange he recommended staying with green in
  my case.

  David F. Eusden
  C320 #581 "Eiderdown"

  -----Original Message-----
  From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com<mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.org>
  [mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Crosby Roper
  Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2007 6:18 PM
  To: c320-list at catalina320.com<mailto:c320-list at catalina320.com>
  Subject: [C320-list] Antifreeze change

  Hi All,
   
  While everyone in the northeast is tucking their 320's in for the winter,
  I'm hoping someone can give me some direction on changing the antifreeze in
  my Yanmar YM30. It's been about 18 months since it was last done by the
  dealer tech and I don't have any idea where to start. Any help would be
  appreciated.
   
  Thanks
   
  Crosby Roper 
  Tethys # 1054
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