Hoping somebody can help me out with this as I have guests arriving to go sailing tomorrow from over a hundred miles away.
When I found the red coolant in the bilge, I immediately pulled the engine cover off (something I have not done since the surveyor pulled it off when I bought the boat) and pulled up the M35 manual on this AWESOME website. The first thing I noticed is that one of the coolant hose clamps was a little loose. l of course tightened it. However I noticed something else that I'm not sure what to make of. The manual says that the overflow coolant hose that is connected just below the radiator cap is supposed to connect to a radiator coolant overflow tank. My engine is missing this overflow tank. Instead, my overflow hose runs straight down the side of the engine and terminates at the very bottom of the engine compartment. Is this a normal alternative setup, or is this probably the culprit behind the red coolant in my bilge?
Further, is it safe to run my engine tomorrow if I replace the coolant that ran into the bilge (I'd say about 2 or 3 cups ran into the bilge)? Should I plug the overflow hose so it doesn't run into the bilge? In the meantime, should I leave the coolant level deliberately low to minimize overflow? Do I need to get a new coolant overflow tank, or is the current setup (hose running down side of engine) a functional alternative? And if I do have to replace the overflow tank, where does it typically go (the manual doesn't show)?
Thanks in advance for any insights/advice?
All the best--Joel S.
Joel Schwartz
s/v Get-A-Grip
1993 Catalina 36 Hull #1259
Newport Beach, California
Joel, my overflow is set up the same. I would keep my eye on the temp gage.
Gary Bain
S/V "Gone With The Wind"
Catalina 36', Hull #: 1056, Year: 1990, Engine: M-35
Standard Rig
Moored: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Home: Auburn, Maine
Will do, Gary. Thanks for your reply. Btw, cool boat boat name, cool movie!
Joel Schwartz
s/v Get-A-Grip
1993 Catalina 36 Hull #1259
Newport Beach, California
Go to a store and buy a small Rubbermaid container, the ones with the tan tops and pour holes. The smaller ones have holes that perfectly fit that hose. Pour some antifreeze into the jar and stick the overflow hose into it.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Thanks Stu, great idea. Do you keep the container below the engine?
Joel Schwartz
s/v Get-A-Grip
1993 Catalina 36 Hull #1259
Newport Beach, California
I hooked mine up about level with the engine with some cable ties screwed into the side of the engine compartment. While the top of the bottle is pretty level with the engine, the top of the fluid level inside is below the manifold cap. As long as the hose goes down into the fluid inside the bottle you'll be fine, you could even lay it on the sole of the engine compartment.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Danger, danger!
Two to three cups is quite a bit to come out over flow.
Check the lines going from the engine to the water heater, they too will dump coolant in the bilge. Sometimes hard to detect as the hoses run under the floorboards, how do I know, I fried my engine due to just such a leak. My over temp alarm was inop and one of these hoses blew.
Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas
Thanks, Steve. That was in the back of my mind as soon as I realized my new Seaward (stainless steel) water heater uses the engine to heat up the water while underway. I say new, because the water heater was just installed when I bought the boat. So what you are saying is that the water heater actually uses engine coolant (instead of a separate water system) to warm up the water??? I will definitely check it out over the upcoming weekend.
Btw, as far as I remember, the only way I can look at the hoses in question is to pull out the drawer assembly under the sink. Is there any easier way?
Also, when they installed the new water heater, they removed the galley sea water foot pump to make room for it (it now sits in my spare parts box). Not sure why they did that. If the sea water pump worked before with the old Seaward water heater, shouldn't it have worked with the new Seaward water heater???
THanks a bunch--Joel S.
Joel Schwartz
s/v Get-A-Grip
1993 Catalina 36 Hull #1259
Newport Beach, California
Joel, our hoses from the engine to the hot water heater are different than yours, but the same concept:
[url]http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,3769.0.html[/url]
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Good stuff, Stu. I hate the idea that I'm going to have to pull out the drawer unit to inspect, as it seems every time I pull screws out of almost anything on the boat, more than a few strip when I go to put them back in, even under what seems like the slightest loads.
Joel Schwartz
s/v Get-A-Grip
1993 Catalina 36 Hull #1259
Newport Beach, California