is therea certain way to change coolant???

[littlechubby]

What a great forum. I just purchased a 2007 180c with five official hours on it and got a killer deal. The hours are legit as this rich guy bought it and never used it/ He bought it in 2008 as a leftover. It was a loss for him and a lucky break for me. Started right up an purred so pretty...definitely counting my blessings today.

I plan to change the oil and filter and check hoses and such due to the inactivity. I would also like to change the coolant to be on the safe side and was just wondering if there was any secret someone might have learned along the way that would help me out.

I crank wrenches on cars, am not certified just a shade tree guy that learned in a gas station growing up but am a newbie with the boat engine.

Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated

 

[devonte007]

changing coolant is very easy and best to have a second person to help. You may want to download the shop manual for your boat and read over the detailed instructions (click 'manuals' at the top of this forum), but I'll summarize below.

Remove the drain screw at the back of the heat exchanger, I believe it is a stainless steel hex screw. Remove coolant reservoir cap and coolant will drain out. Next mix up a batch of coolant (50/50) and have a friend start pouring it in the reservoir. When it comes out the back as a nice clean stream with no air bubbles simply reinsert the drain screw (keep the reservoir full at all times), then just fill it up the the line in the reservoir.

There will still be air in the system that won't work it self out until the engine reaches operating temperature, so take it out to the lake and run it for 15 minutes or so and check the level in the reservoir, it will drop as the air bubbles work out. Top off coolant as necessary until its full and does not drop any more.

Not sure if your boat has 2 engines, but the procedure would be the same for each engine. Hope this helps!

 

[littlechubby]

Wow...you did a really good job of explaining it to me. It is very helpful and will post back with the results of my maiden coolant change.

Thank you very much.

El Richie