Freeze Warning and Need to drain OMC

[boardridesurf]

There is a freeze warning (sooner that expected) and I will not have time to get my boat professionally winterized - I would also like to be able to go fishing a few more times before I put up my boat for the year. My problem is I don't know exactly how or what to drain so nothing freezes and cracks something. I have a 1988 Bayliner with a 305 OMC Cobra I/O 220HP?. Thanks for the help.

 

[butlp]

Re: Freeze Warning and Need to drain OMC

Is your boat in the water or on a trailer and do you have access to electrical power?<br /><br />I put an extension lead with 60 watt bulb in the engine compartment this spring when there was a chance of frost, engine stayed toasty warm. The boat was in the water so no fear of freezing anything in the lower unit, but I think if you are on a trailer most of the water should have drained from the lower unit so I think you will be OK.

 

[tommays]

Re: Freeze Warning and Need to drain OMC

it would takes more than just a brief overnite cold spell to freeze enough for block braking<br /><br />BUT better safe than sorry all motors have plugs at the low spots in the manifolds,risers and block <br /><br />you may need a flashlite depending on how hard it is to get to your motor i would guess you will have 5 or 6 plugs 1 for each manifold riser and maybe 2 in the block<br /><br />tommays

 

[Lou C]

Re: Freeze Warning and Need to drain OMC

V-8 has one plug on each side of the block, one on the bottom edge of each ex manifold, one on the power steering cooler. I also disconnect the hoses at the thermo housing and drain the water into the bilge.If you can't reach the p/s cooler (on the rear of the motor), disconnecting the hose that goes from the transom mount to the thermo housing and draining it into the bilge will probably get the water out of it.. Take a stiff piece of wire and poke in the holes, they are often clogged with rust. The Cobra drive has 3 plugs in the pivot housing on the drive that should be removed too. I always remove them when I winterize to check for water but there is never any water there, it must drain by lowering the drive all the way down, or thru the slits in the exhaust bellows.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Freeze Warning and Need to drain OMC

Just want to emphasize how important it is to use a piece of wire to ream out the holes as they're draining. Didn't do this first several times I drained the engine and ended up with a cracked exhaust manifold (fortunately just one). <br /><br />Next time I reamed out the holes and was amazed at how much water would have been trapped by the rust that was blocking the drain holes had I not used the wire.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Freeze Warning and Need to drain OMC

If you are on a trailer and dont want a project just mix a gal of antifreeze and a gal or two of water and run it through the muffs.Rig a bucket or container and hook a hose into it and connect the muffs at the other end.You can buy the setup at West marine for $39.Go 50/50 when you put it away for good.Charlie