Winterising an inboard for cold outside temps

cobra 3.0

Lieutenant Commander
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Jul 31, 2003
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Is there anything special I need to do to ensure a safe storage of my boat over winter. (i.e. Flush out any remaining water in my engine...and how do you do that?) Here in Quebec, temperatures do go down to -30C on occasion. My engine is watercooled outside water (no radiator)<br /><br />I know I should keep a full tank of gas and put some kind of fuel stabiliser in it. Should I also drop some oil in my pistons through the spark plug holes to keep the pistons from rusting up? Should I also put my boat and trailer on jacks to keep the tires from getting a flat spot?<br /><br />...anything else I have to do?
 

Ralph 123

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Jun 24, 2003
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Re: Winterising an inboard for cold outside temps

There are lots of really good sources on the net that will help you with winterization. Start with this link:<br /><br /> http://www.mercstuff.com/winterizing.htm <br /><br />Rather than go through the draining process described there, I fill the system with antifreeze - I poor it in a 5 gal bucket and suck it up through the engine until I see it start to come back out the exhaust. It saves a lot of work but when you prepare the boat in the spring you need a way to capture it all rather than just let it run out all over the place. That's easy for me because I have thru-hull so I just use dryer vent hoses to direct the fluid back into 5 gal buckets.
 

djvan

Chief Petty Officer
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May 3, 2003
Messages
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Re: Winterising an inboard for cold outside temps

Could a person use RV antifreeze, and let it run out on the ground?<br /><br />DougV>
 

cobra 3.0

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Re: Winterising an inboard for cold outside temps

Thanks for the link Ralph!<br /><br />...as for using rv antifreeze...I don't see why not. I use it in my inground pool plumbing. It isn't toxic and basically gets flushed into my pool in the spring with no harmful effects on us swimmers!
 

sea wolf

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Re: Winterising an inboard for cold outside temps

don't use rv antifreeze {the pink stuff}. it's not meant for engines. trust me on this one. you're not winterizing a pool. as for stabilizer, yes. run the engine for a few minutes, before u winterize it!, to distribute the stuff thru the fuel system. don't forget to drain the lower unit water pump of water. on cobras the drain is on the port side of the lower unit. turn the engine over with the plug out to help purge the pump, then let it completely drain.
 

cobra 3.0

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Re: Winterising an inboard for cold outside temps

Thanks Sea Wolf!
 

Ralph 123

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Re: Winterising an inboard for cold outside temps

Cobra,<br /><br />Check this out, I just grabbed one yesterday to make things a little easier and I had a $10 coupon I had to use. You can easily make your own. Also note that they have non-toxic AF to help simplify Spring prep:<br /><br /> STRBRTE WINTERIZING/DESCALING
 

sea wolf

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Re: Winterising an inboard for cold outside temps

be careful with those kits. if u don't do it right, you'll pay dearly in the spring. i'd rather just pour the antifreeze in the hoses. at least i know it's done right & i don't have to worry about a freeze up. cobra 3.0, get a can of fogging oil, & follow the instructions. remember once u fog it, u can't start it again. i also squirt some oil down the spark plug holes, then turn the engine over {pull the coil wire so it doesn't start} to didsribute the oil. i've been doing it this way for 10 yrs. + & never had a problem with freeze up. i also cover the carb with a plastic baggie to keep moisture out.
 

cobra 3.0

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Re: Winterising an inboard for cold outside temps

If the engine has never been run in salt water, is the descaling necessary?
 

Ralph 123

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Re: Winterising an inboard for cold outside temps

sea wolf - How can you screw up filling the entire system with anti-freeze? When you suck 5 gals through and see it come back out how can the entire system not be full? I would think the chances of screw up are greater trying to do it manually? Seriously, I'd like to know becuase if it's better to do it the other way I will switch in a minute. I have too much money sunk into my twin 350s to take any chances. I did it this way last season and they fired right up this season and last year was a very cold harsh winter here in Boston. If they didn't freeze last year they never will.<br /><br />You still do all the other stuff like fog and lube the tops of the pistons, I/O drain, etc. All that kit is is a tank to make it easy to suck the AF into the system.<br /><br />Cobra I don't think so. I flush with fresh water after each use so I've never descaled.
 

Skinsk

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Aug 31, 2003
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Re: Winterising an inboard for cold outside temps

The main problem with sucking the antifreeze up through the drive, is that if your thermostats are stuck open they will allow a lot of the antifreeze to simply flow up, through the thermostat housing through the exhaust elbows and back to the ground without really filling the engine. Make sure the engine's up to good running temp before running the antifreeze through it. <br /><br />In colder climates I would also suggest draining the bock and the manifolds first, before, either filling the block manually, or sucking the stuff up through the drive. This should help keep the pink stuff from mixing with too much water.<br /> <br />I use the pink stuff. For a sterndrive I think it's really the only way to go. Otherwise you're dumping toxic antifreeze onto the ground, or into the water. :mad: <br /><br />Scott...
 

Lou C

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Nov 10, 2002
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13,332
Re: Winterising an inboard for cold outside temps

I tried that kit last year, and I was not sure if all the water was displaced so I would up draining it and filling with antifreeze anyway. On the 3.0 it is pretty easy, there is basically one drain on the block (port side aft) one on the manifold (underside of it, near block drain), and if you have power steering, there is a 7/16th plug you have to remove on the cooler. I also disconnect the hose that goes from the outdrive to the thermo housing, and the water pump hose (big one) and drain both of them. After you pull out the drain plugs, stick a nail or stiff wire into them to make sure it drains, a fair amount of water should come out. Now on the outdrive (should be all the way down for winter storage) 3 plugs that have to be removed, on on the port side and 2 on the starbord side.You will have to raise the drive to remove the ones on the starbord side. After it drains and you replace the plugs, you can fill the engine with antifreeze through the big hose that goes from the thermo housing to the water pump. After filling, you can crank the engine like 1/2 turn (DO not start it) to make sure the antifreeze gets into all areas esp the impeller housing in the outdrive. I recommend you get the OMC shop manual it shows you where all the plugs are and makes it easy to understand esp if you have never done it before. Not a job where you want to take a chance!!<br />The other thing I have heard about the kits that allow you to pull the AF in from the tank is that if your impeller is not in good shape it may not pull it in, or the engine may overheat while you are doing this.
 

Ralph 123

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Re: Winterising an inboard for cold outside temps

Skinsk Starbrite does not recommend using the pink stuff for your engine. They want you to use their blue stuff. Same non-toxic stuff but a different formulation and rust inhibitors, etc. Pink stuff is like $4/gal while the blue is $10/gal
 
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