www.iFourWinns.com

To whoever selected the location of the drain plugs on the 5.0 Volvo Pentas....really? They may be somewhat easy to access on a single engine boat, but on a twin where you can't see the outside side of the engines...really? I got them all but what a PITA to get those outside plugs on the engine block. Those plugs were done 100% by feel and praying that I didn't drop one while taking them off or putting them back on. And unlike Merc plugs which can be done by hand, these require tools to remove and reinstall. And judging by the amount of crap in there, I have a feeling the previous owner winterized via the muffs method. Anyway, engines are done. Yeah me!

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'01 Vista 298

Yeah its a pain, but keep in mind the Merc ones can break off in the engine (they're plastic) think of what a good day you would have then?


Actually Volvo did not select the location, its some GM engineers, long ago who designed the original small block. I use an inspection mirror to help with difficult jobs like that.

If you think that's difficult, well wait till you get to change a starter. Under the rear of the engine, all the way back, you are holding up a starter that weights at least 15 lbs, trying to get one of the 9/16ths bolts started in to you don't have to keep holding it up, then you have to get the front support lined up...fun...fun... I have done it twice now so I have swap one out in about 20 minutes....

My ancient OMC has the brass colored petcocks, you need to use a small adjustable wrench to loosen them, no problem because my access is good.

I like to put some OMC gasket sealer on them to make sure they don't leak salt water in the bilge. One leaked a little salt water some years back right on the terminals on the starter solenoid (ex manifold drain is right above it) and made a rusted mess out of the solenoid and wiring. I wound up replacing starter and re-terminating all the wires on the starter.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

believe it or not the new VP dealer service manuals say dont even pull the block plugs, they say if you pull the big J-hose off the water pump and the manifold plugs thats the only ones you have to pull. i was just reading up on that the other day.

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Brian Borchik
The Winds of Cold Springs Harbor Marina
Baldwinsville, NY

Brian...is that just for the newer engines? Mine are 2001. I understand the new Mercs have a single plug that drains the entire engine. Maybe that's Volvo's answer to the Merc solution.

FYI - my Volvo manual outlines winter lay-up procedures and it says to remove the thermostat, flush the engine with fresh water for a few minutes, and then run anti-freeze through the system. Doesn't say a word about draining the engine for the winter. I was going to follow the manual until I did some research and asked around. Now my engines are drained and filled with anti-freeze through the hoses vs. using muffs. I feel pretty good about it....I know my engine is drained and I know it's filled anti-freeze.

One question though....how do you ensure the water intake hose running between the pick-up in the drive and water pump is empty? I pulled it off the pump housing and laid it as low as it would go but is there a way to verify (peace of mind) that all of the water is out?

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'01 Vista 298

Thats in the manual for the 2007 and up however the blocks dont have any internal changes. Frankly if it was mine I would want to pull them all if I was doing it that way. I still believe in the anti-freeze while running method as long as it is done properly.

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Brian Borchik
The Winds of Cold Springs Harbor Marina
Baldwinsville, NY

What you did is fine, I do the same with mine, I hold it down in the bilge to drain, the out drive end is self draining (if all the way down), I also pour some antifreeze in the hose till it comes out the water intakes on the drive and that would push out any residual water.

When I have drained my engine, I do find the majority of the water seems to come out when I pull the bottom end of the circulating hose off, but water does come out the block drains too. I am actually surprised to hear the Volvo does not recommend removing the block drains, maybe they think that there is not enough water left to crack the block. I'd still pull em anyway.....get an inspection mirror and set it up so you can see what you are doing that way, might make it easier...

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

If you pull the big hose off the water pump the water will still be in the block up the water pump holes which is quite a bit of water. You still have to get the water out of the sea water pump as well..

The new (2008+) Volvos have blue plastic plugs that are easy to take out and they are tethered so you cant drop them on the bilge. Way better than the old brass pipe plugs, if you can feel them you can take them out easily.

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2006 Vista 248 5.7DP - SOLD
2011 Crownline E6 - SOLD
2007 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer