A ??? for those drain to winterize.

[f_inscreenname]

A follow up question to the post “running in cool temps”.<br />How do you trust you got all the water out? I have a raw water pump on the front of the motor. It wont drain by engine drains. Then there is the water pump on the front of the motor (same as a auto). That wont drain by the block drains. Then there is exhaust elbows, hoses, shut off valves ........ How do you know you got all the water out? I would love to run on Christmas day but after last year... I winterized with antifreeze. When I closed off the valve to the water pick up in the bottom of the boat (so antifreeze wouldn't leak on the driveway all winter) just a tiny bit off plain water got trapped inside the valve and split it down the middle. How are you sure??? Just a little bit in the wrong place and you done for longer then just the winter. Help me out here.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: A ??? for those drain to winterize.

Those are all the questions I asked myself as I let my outdrive suck antifreeze into my motor and I have piece of mind.Just my preferred way of winterizing.Charlie

 

[Bondo]

Re: A ??? for those drain to winterize.

f_inscreenname,<br />I Know that you've had Your fingers on most every part on your boat.......<br />Just remember, Water flows Down Hill......<br /><br />On My 4.3LX, I have the usual drains at the sides of the block,+ at the bottoms of the manifolds......<br />I added a drain to the P/S cooler for the in-comming line....<br />Then I pull the Big Hose off the waterpump(only because I haven't added a drain there yet)......<br />After I park it, I set the trailer/boat to tip enough to drain the boat,+ lower the drive to nearly ground contact.........<br />Now I'm Safe,+ Ready to go Fishing......<br /><br />If you have Other water cavities, You'll have to figger-out Where,+ How to add drains.......<br />Water Can't do any damage if it isn't Pushing on something......<br />A Pint of water laying in the block of a SBC, will do no damage..But if your drains are free, it won't be there.......... <br />

(so antifreeze wouldn't leak on the driveway all winter)

Not Only Air doesn't Freeze,<br />Air don't Drip Either................... <br /><br />I Will be fishing till the Ramps Freeze......

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: A ??? for those drain to winterize.

Hummm.... Looks like I would not be able to do that this year. I will have to figure on how to install drains on exhaust elbows, raw water pump, motors water pump, etc. Then there is the whole corrosion thing. A dry block, exhaust manifolds and pumps rusts . You guys aren't worried about that?

 

[tommays]

Re: A ??? for those drain to winterize.

it rusts every day its used all season i dont feel it going to rust as much sitting empty for a winter as it does in one week of summer use<br /><br />when its empty there really is not anything there to keep the rust cycle going <br /><br />your riser/elbow is the fastest rusting part and there is no way to keep it compleatly full of antifreeze anyway<br /><br />anybody that thinks no-tox is not toxic needs to read the MSDS the rust inhibtors used in it are very toxic and will become part of the food chain<br /><br />merc hints about useing antifreeze but will not go on the record as to how it should be done because it cant be done in a legal way you would need to take at least 55 gallons of flush water to a waste site to remove the antifreeze in the spring <br /><br /><br />tommays<br />

<br /><br />multiply that mess by millions of boats and you get the idea

 

[Bondo]

Re: A ??? for those drain to winterize.

Then there is the whole corrosion thing.

With the exception of the Risers/Elbows,(your's should have drains, or be self draining)<br />I don't see it as an Issue........ Not in My Lifetime.......... <br /><br />I'm sure I do More Damage boating the the Salt 1 or 2 days a year,<br />Than I do storing it Dry.......<br /><br />Your raw water pump ?? Do you change the impeller annually ??<br />If you do, Do it Now, instead of in the spring......<br />Recur.pump, Just pop the hose off....<br />Besides, It gives you a Look-See at all your components + stuff............<br />Better to find a rotten hose, or whatever.....<br /><br />The outdrive, I leave down,+ then pull it in the end......<br /><br /><br />Storing motors Dry was the accepted way to do it right up till,<br />Somebody came up with a "Marketing Ploy" to sell anti-freeze.........................