Winterize question

[sebas54]

Yesterday I started to winterize my boat. When I started draining the block, one of the drain plugs was stripped so I couldn?t drain one side. So, I opened the thermostat housing and pour a gallon of anti freeze in it. Will this be ok for the winter or should I just by one of the anti freeze flush kits? Thankyou.

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Winterize question

That wont do anything,, you need to get that drain plug OUT.. pull the whole plug out.. it needs to drain or you will have a cracked block in the spring..

 

[sebas54]

Re: Winterize question

Can I use a kit like this one to flush?
'http://www.boatersworld.com/product/178050035.htm

It is almost imposible for me to pull the drain plug withou removing the engine. It's stripped and wont come lose.

I really hope that this kit will work otherwise I don't know what I will do.

Thank you.

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: Winterize question

Can I use a kit like this one to flush?
'http://www.boatersworld.com/product/178050035.htm

It is almost imposible for me to pull the drain plug withou removing the engine. It's stripped and wont come lose.

I really hope that this kit will work otherwise I don't know what I will do.

Thank you.

Drill it and tap it if you have to.

 

[sebas54]

Re: Winterize question

There is no room to drill or tap it. So, I am guessing that this kit will not work??? Why not??

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: Winterize question

If your plug is the petcock type, unscrew the whole thing and poke the crud blocking the hole. I'm not sure if you could blow pressurized air in to remove all the water, but I know someone doing just that every year.

It is almost imposible for me to pull the drain plug without removing the engine.

Try vice-grips, usually the plugs/petcocks are made of brass.
Removing the engine for a cracked block (or petcock) the work is the same but, much more expensive.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Winterize question

If you can't get to the plug to remove it (drilling, tapping, whatever) the kit you referenced in post #3 will work. You need to get it warm enough for the thermostat to open BEFORE you switch over from the hose to the flushing kit. Or it would be even better to completely remove the thermostat before running the antifreeze through it to ensure that it doesn't close up. Then, as you said earlier, remove the thermostat housing and dump some more antifreeze in it. I would put at least a couple of gallons into the block instead of just one.

That's about all you can do with the plug stuck in it.

 

[sebas54]

Re: Winterize question

One more question when I run the boat it will be in neutral, but the stern drive has no grease in it, I am letting it drain for a couple of days. Will this be ok?

Also I already fogged the heads and carb. Will I have to do this again after I flush it? OR will it be ok?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Winterize question

DO NOT run with the stern drive empty!!! Period!!!
All of the upper gears and shaft are still spinning...

 

[45Auto]

Re: Winterize question

As Gary said, DO NOT run the sterndrive with no lube in it! All the upper gears and bearings are spinning when the motor is running. The shift mechanism just engages the upper to the lower when you put it in gear.

Fogging should be the last thing you do. You need to refog it. It's cheap compared to a locked up engine if the un-fogged cylinders rust up. When you run it again you're going to wash all the protective oil coating off the cylinders.

 

[Deanrw3]

Re: Winterize question

if it were me this is what i would do. Do not waste your time and money with all the AF flush kits ect. and now you don't have fluid in your drive. Plus you will have to re fog your motor.

Go down to your local auto parts store. Tell them you have a striped bolt and you have to get it out. There is a socket that looks like a normal socket, but it has like "teeth" on the inside. When you use it to loosen the striped bolt it will dig in more and more as your turn. IT will soon grip the bolt enough for you to loosen it. This is a great tool, and i think it would be easier and less time overall.
Give that a try first or other things the store might recommend.

best of luck.

dean

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterize question

Pouring the anitfreeze into the thermostat housing only works if there isn't already water in the block. If there is, it WILL NOT mix.
Running antifreeze thru muffs like the system you showed, on a raw water cooled engine usually works about half the time. I think it might get some in there that protects from minor freezing temps, but you being in NY and prone to some below zero temps, I sure wouldn't trust it.
You might try pulling the exhaust manifold so you have some access to the plug so you remove it.