Winterization - oil change after little use

[TheRussian]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

Better get on it. Winter is coming as it was -4 this morning.

Wow that really sucks!

I am in south east Ontario. We have had frost warning one day so far, but today is 23 degrees outside (daytime of course). I was hoping to winterize at the end of October with the hope of being able to get the boat out at least one more time.

 

[achris]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

Yeah, for some reason it's still really wintery here too... Was 14C this morning.... Brrrrr...

 

[TheRussian]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

So I guess I am going to change the engine oil and filter while warm and I think that I will just check the outdrive oil for signs of water since it will have less than 10 hours on it (same on engine oil).

I have also been researching on whether to use antifreeze in my winterization or not. I see that a lot of people say not to run it through the muffs and just to drain the water from the block directly. Just watched a video by WestMarine and they suggest the antifreeze way. I guess my question is can I do both, and if I just go the plug way how can I be sure that all the water has been purged. When winterizing my pool I use a shop vac. Should I use a compressor or a vac or something like that?

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

Wow that really sucks!

I am in south east Ontario. We have had frost warning one day so far, but today is 23 degrees outside (daytime of course). I was hoping to winterize at the end of October with the hope of being able to get the boat out at least one more time.

If your boat is not sitting in the water, the end of October might be a little late for our location If it's sitting outside on a trailer and we get a cold spell, the water in the engine may start to freeze

 

[skydiveD30571]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

So I guess I am going to change the engine oil and filter while warm and I think that I will just check the outdrive oil for signs of water since it will have less than 10 hours on it (same on engine oil).

I have also been researching on whether to use antifreeze in my winterization or not. I see that a lot of people say not to run it through the muffs and just to drain the water from the block directly. Just watched a video by WestMarine and they suggest the antifreeze way. I guess my question is can I do both, and if I just go the plug way how can I be sure that all the water has been purged. When winterizing my pool I use a shop vac. Should I use a compressor or a vac or something like that?

If you just use antifreeze, how can you be sure you have a strong enough mix to not freeze? How can you tell the thermostat was fully open long enough to get enough antifreeze to the block?

Pull all the drain plugs, prod the holes with a nail or small screwdriver to get the rust and crud out of the way, watch the water pour out. Drain the hoses and power steering cooler as well. You can be done there, or if it makes you feel better, replace the drain plugs and add antifreeze. At that point it is a waste of money but if it helps you sleep better at night, well that's worth some money.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

So I guess I am going to change the engine oil and filter while warm and I think that I will just check the outdrive oil for signs of water since it will have less than 10 hours on it (same on engine oil).

I have also been researching on whether to use antifreeze in my winterization or not. I see that a lot of people say not to run it through the muffs and just to drain the water from the block directly. Just watched a video by WestMarine and they suggest the antifreeze way. I guess my question is can I do both, and if I just go the plug way how can I be sure that all the water has been purged. When winterizing my pool I use a shop vac. Should I use a compressor or a vac or something like that?

I left my leg oil in as well. I changed it only 4 hours ago so all I did was pull the plug. No water so I'm not concerned, but this is a new boat.
I just drain my 4.3 and I'm done. Nobody around here, including the dealers, use antifreeze after draining. And it gets -45 in the winter.

 

[Volphin]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

I left my leg oil in as well. I changed it only 4 hours ago so all I did was pull the plug. No water so I'm not concerned, but this is a new boat.
I just drain my 4.3 and I'm done. Nobody around here, including the dealers, use antifreeze after draining. And it gets -45 in the winter.

Ugh! That's cold enough to spit icicles! Yep air does not freeze.

 

[TheRussian]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

So with all your help guys I have decided that I will winterize in the beginning of October. I am going away in 2 days and just don't have the time to get the job done. The weather should hold up.

I will not use antifreeze but will drain the water instead. Does anyone know where I can find exact location of the plugs and hoses that I need to pull to drain? I don't know where any of them are and I certainly don't want to miss anything. All the videos that I was able to find just use antifreeze!

 

[achris]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

Ugh! That's cold enough to spit icicles! Yep air does not freeze.

Technically it does, but if the temp gets that low, whether the boat's been properly winterized will be a low priority...

So with all your help guys I have decided that I will winterize in the beginning of October. I am going away in 2 days and just don't have the time to get the job done. The weather should hold up.

I will not use antifreeze but will drain the water instead. Does anyone know where I can find exact location of the plugs and hoses that I need to pull to drain? I don't know where any of them are and I certainly don't want to miss anything. All the videos that I was able to find just use antifreeze!

For the 4.3 there should be a plug on each side of the engine block, about in the middle. Could have a hose attached to it. A drain or a hose at the bottom of each manifold. Also pull the big hose off the bottom of the water pump, and drain the power steering oil cooler and (if you have one) the fuel cooler...

Also if you leave the drive on, store it in the straight ahead and trimmed DOWN position.

Chris....
Oh, and poke all the holes with a bit of wire, or a nail or small screwdriver.

 

[TheRussian]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

Thanks Chris.
Do you know if there are any diagrams available anywhere? I am still learning my way around the engine but have not really figured out what most of the stuff is yet. So locating the drains or hoses may prove to be quite challenging for me.

 

[achris]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

Post up your engine serial number and I'll post some links to factory manuals for you... (should really include the serial numbers of the engine and drive in your opening post... So next time...)

Basically, find all the lowest points and drain from there....

Chris......

 

[ricohman]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

Yup. Make certain you are doing this according to the manual. Or it gets expensive in a hurry.
But since this isn't difficult you should be fine with draining it out. Use a piece of wire as mentioned above. Even on my new boat one hole was plugged with crud.

 

[achris]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

Yup. Make certain you are doing this according to the manual. Or it gets expensive in a hurry.
But since this isn't difficult you should be fine with draining it out. Use a piece of wire as mentioned above. Even on my new boat one hole was plugged with crud.

Can't emphasis that enough. After 2 years, both the block drains on my engine were plugged SOLID, and I religiously flush my engine with fresh-water immediately after every trip....

Get in there with a small philips screwdriver and give them a real good digging....

Chris........

 

[TheRussian]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

Engine # is 0D843814. 4.3LX V6 Sorry that I didn't post it but the initial forum question was pretty general but now turned into something more specific.

Thanks if advance for the help.

BTW I use the boat in fresh water only.

 

[achris]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

That's an early 1993 engine.... Here's what you need.

Engine manual

Drive manual

Download and save....

Chris....

 

[TheRussian]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

Thanks! I really appreciate it.

Just another question regarding the oil change. I the preferred method pumping through the dipstick hole or is it just for the convenience. I do not have a pump that fits that opening, so what I did before what to drain from oil pan and then transfer into a bottle. Are both acceptable?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

Before you 'store' the boat, take a sample of the drive oil from bottom plug. Any sign of water, change it. If the oil is still good, clean and blue colour, you're a happy camper....

Chris.......

I don't think he's talk'n about the engine oil.......

 

[achris]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

Thanks! I really appreciate it.

Just another question regarding the oil change. I the preferred method pumping through the dipstick hole or is it just for the convenience. I do not have a pump that fits that opening, so what I did before what to drain from oil pan and then transfer into a bottle. Are both acceptable?

Yes, as long as you get the oil out of the sump ('pan' for you people) that all that really matters. The dipstick tube runs all the way to the bottom of the sump, so the suction method works well. Merc adopted that method very early on, as they realised people don't like to just dump the old oil in the bilge... It very messy :facepalm:

Chris.......

 

[OldNBold51]

Re: Winterization - oil change after little use

like the others said, make sure you get all the water out of the block. When i 1st got my boat and winterized, I had no idea how much water was in the block. I removed all the required plugs per the manual. I then put the plugs back in. I only had maybe a cup or 2 of water from the block. I wrongfully assumed it somehow had drained itself out and there wasn't any water left in the block. 1 big freeze later and I had to repower due to a cracked block.

FYI: there are several gallons of water in the block. When you pull the plugs on the block, a stream as thick as your pinky finger should gush out of the block and you should get several gallons from the block. If it dribbles out, you've got blockage and you need to open up the blockage.

I now keep the plugs in a zip lock bag and zip tie to my boat steering wheel until spring and reinstall before my next boat outing.