Does gear oil freeze?(i did read the winterizing sticky)

[artificialreef]

I live in Central to South Florida coord.27? 11' 50" N / 80? 15' 11" W. It gets to 32 degrees only 2 to 3 times a winter and then only for 2 or 3 hours at a time. This is such a short freezeI dont really do a complete layup, I fog and treat the fuel if its going to sit for any period of time. My boat is I/O (alpha R drive) closed cooling with heat exchangers so it allready has antifreeze in it. I read the winterizing stickys but i am not really putting it up for the winter. The owners manual i have just says to open the heat exchangers to let the water run out for freezes (i hope they expect the power steering cooler to gravity drain when the exchangers are open), which i do for these brief freezes.

I dont drain the gear oil from outdrive. I have put a bottle of water next to the boat for these ocassional 3 hours of 32 degrees and the bottle does not freeze. I cant see the gear oil acting any different.

Ok after all that just a quick question. (i really read the sticky)

Why is it recommended to drain the gear oil? (i do it when the hours require it) just have a hard time accepting it for 3 hours of freeze.

Thanks, hope everyones toys make it through the winter.

 

[Don S]

Re: Does gear oil freeze?(i did read the winterizing sticky)

During winterizing you CHANGE the gear lube, not just drain it. no it doesn't freeze, but the reason you change it is to make sure there isn't water in it........ which does freeze, plus you don't want water setting on bearings and gears for long periods of time (over the winter up north)

 

[artificialreef]

Re: Does gear oil freeze?(i did read the winterizing sticky)

Thank you Don, stock up on Orange Juice. I think all the florida trees are taking a beating these last 2 days.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Does gear oil freeze?(i did read the winterizing sticky)

Thank you Don, stock up on Orange Juice. I think all the florida trees are taking a beating these last 2 days.

With temps in the 20's you defiantly want to drain those heat exchangers. Super easy to do on the 470. Just pull the aft exchanger plug. The p/s cooler should be between the exchanger and the manifold (above the exchanger) and should drain, you might want to check by pulling the hose. If it has drained you should not have to pull the hose again (Have not pulled mine since '92'). A little NAPA (permatex) aviation sealant on the plug and put it back in, hose back on and you are ready to go boating again as soon as the ice is off the ramp. Two years in a row for block cracking weather in Fl.