Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

[acevedor2]

Hey guys,
I've had the boat about a year and a half now and last winter I had it winterized at boat shop. This year, having read and looked at a lot of stuff online, I figured I would give it a shot myself. Tried it today and all I ended up doing - in my opinion - was putting about 10 gallons of antifreeze on the ground...Yes 10. I am sure this is operator error, so I am hoping the experts here could give me a hand. Here's what I did and the trouble I ran into.

- I bought myself a five gallon jug kit with hose from West Marine. Picked up 5 gallons of RV antifreeze and filled the jug. Hooked up my flusher to the garden hose and ran the engine (with water on of course) until engine was up to temp (about 175 degrees steady) and running smoothly. Then I shut the engine off, disconnected the garden hose, connected the antifreeze line, and stared the engine up. Here is where the problem starts. The antifreeze did start going down and I could see it dripping from where the flusher covers the intakes, but I NEVER saw a steady amount of pink from the exhaust ports. In fact, I didn't really see any. The engine tempt started rising, and got to 200 with the temp alarm going and so I shut her off even though the antifreeze was not flowing from the exhaust ports. I didn't want to burn up the engine.

- I wasn't sure what the problem was but went and got 5 more gallons and repeated the process - again with the same results. Now, pretty peeved by this point, and with 10 gallons of antifreeze wasted, and unsure if any antifreeze was in there, I hooked the garden hose back up and ran water through again. Yes, I realize this defeated the purpose, but again, I wasn't sure if there was any antifreeze actually in the block. When I ran the water through - all was normal, temp was steady at about 170 and plenty of water coming out the exhaust ports - just like it was before I started the process. I did see some antifreeze coming out with the water, so there indeed had been some antifreeze in the block. How much, I have no idea.

- What am I doing wrong? All the videos I have seen show the antifreeze coming out nicely from the exhaust during this process with no temp issues and then the engine is snuffed out with the fogging oil. I can't ever get to that point because my engine keeps heating up too much. Is it possible there just isn't enough pressure with the gravity feed to force the antifreeze through the block? I don't think that would be the issue, but I don't know. Also, my boat is on the trailer in my driveway which isn't exactly flat. The stern is lower (not by a great deal) than the bow. There is an incline. Could this be an issue as well because it's not on level ground.

Thanks in advance guys for the help. Appreciate it.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

My guess is that the impeller may be shot and it is just not pumping unless there is water pressure from the hose. Suggest that you drain the engine before trying the antifreeze again. Of course if yo drain the engine you don't really need the antifreeze. Replace the impeller over the winter.

 

[bspeth]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

I agree with Terry

 

[seilings]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

I agree too that your impeller may not has enough sucking power to suck water in. when you use garden hose, the garden hose has water pressure so that easier to suck in water.
But I think this is not a good way to do winterizing especially only yourself with no help. Because you need to fog your engine too.
when fogging the engine, you need to run your engine while spraying the fogging oil until the engine halt. After this step, you should not run the engine until next year, so it is difficult to do fogging and anti-freezing together when your impeller is not efficient enough.

The best way to do is do the fogging, then drain water, loose all rubber hose on the engine and pour anti-freeze.

follow this guy's video and you will get the idea, he had a 4.3 mercruiser TKS engine too:

How to Winterize Your Boat Part 1 - YouTube

How to Winterize your Boat Part 2 - YouTube

 

[acevedor2]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

Thanks for the help guys. So if the impeller was shot it would prevent the engine from drawing in the antifreeze because it didn't have the pressure if the water hose - correct?

Think I'm going to drain all 5 drain plugs and fill the hoses with antifreeze.

A couple of more questions though after viewing the videos you linked to above:
- do I have to fog each plug or can I just fog the engine?
- after I drain the drain plugs, where do I put the antifreeze ? Which hoses? The video shows several hoses off and I didn't find that part nearly as clear.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[fen-isl]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

Take the kit back to west marine get your money back Look at the threads on winterizing at top of forum This explains the correct way to winterize. By pulling the plugs on block the manifolds and hose off water pump. Like the experts here say air doesnt freeze That kit is like playing Russian roulette with your engine You wont find that kit mentioned in your mercruiser owners manual

Good Luck

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

A couple of more questions though after viewing the videos you linked to above:
- do I have to fog each plug or can I just fog the engine?

IMHO you don't have to fog at all, unless your warranty requires it.

 

[thumpar]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

Take the kit back to west marine get your money back Look at the threads on winterizing at top of forum This explains the correct way to winterize. By pulling the plugs on block the manifolds and hose off water pump. Like the experts here say air doesnt freeze That kit is like playing Russian roulette with your engine You wont find that kit mentioned in your mercruiser owners manual

Good Luck

+1

If you do want to use antifreeze only do it after you drain the engine and pour it in. I just leave mine drained. Antifreeze will freeze before air, especially when the antifreeze is not done right and mixes with water or never gets in the engine.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

+1

If you do want to use antifreeze only do it after you drain the engine and pour it in. I just leave mine drained. Antifreeze will freeze before air, especially when the antifreeze is not done right and mixes with water or never gets in the engine.

Ayuh,.... ++1,....

I just pulled my barge,...
5 minutes at the launch, just onto the wagon, 'tween pullin' up the ramp, 'n tyin' her down, she's Winterized,...
Drained, Dry,....

 

[seilings]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

Thanks for the help guys. So if the impeller was shot it would prevent the engine from drawing in the antifreeze because it didn't have the pressure if the water hose - correct?

Think I'm going to drain all 5 drain plugs and fill the hoses with antifreeze.

A couple of more questions though after viewing the videos you linked to above:
- do I have to fog each plug or can I just fog the engine?
- after I drain the drain plugs, where do I put the antifreeze ? Which hoses? The video shows several hoses off and I didn't find that part nearly as clear.

Thanks again everyone.

To me, fogging engine should be good enough,but pulling off plugs give oppertunity to check spark plugs.

I follow the video and everything works fine for me.
After drain all water, I left the plugs off, and started to pour antifreeze into the highest level of the hose untill antifreeze come out from one of the drain hole, then put back the drain plug for that hole, and keep pouring antifreeze, until antifreeze keep coming out from other hose or from back of boat, then I hock back this hose, and repeat same procedure on next open hose, untill all done.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

I agree that the impeller may be on its way out. Additionally, how much higher was the jug of antifreeze than the intake . . . as high as you can get it is preferred. Also does the jug kit from west marine flow freely? If it does not, then the impeller will be starving.

As to the other comments about draining versus just running antifreeze. . . the engine holds about 5 gallons of water. So, pumping in 5 gallons of antifreeze may not fully purge the engine block and manifolds of the water that they contain. Therefore, you could have a diluted mixture in the block and manifold and not the full protection needed for very cold temperatures. That is why draining the engine block and manifolds is a preferred technique regardless if you run antifreeze or not.

My preferred approach is to take in 4-5 gallons of antifreeze and then drain the engine block and exhaust manifolds. The intake hoses will have a very concentrated mixture of antifreeze and you do not have to worry if the antifreeze made it through the other parts of the engine in high enough concentration.

FWIW - I had a similar experience when winterizing one of my engines last year. I had the 'pail' of antifreeze up on the swim platform and it did not seem to flow well enough. Then, I raised the pail up onto the sunpad and it seemed to flow better, but not great. I checked the impeller, and it had disintegrated. :facepalm:

 

[acevedor2]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

Thanks for all the great replies guys. I actually drained the engine today just because I wanted to see how hard it was and makes sure I knew where all of the drain plugs were. I found them no issue. So now that I have these great replies and some idea of what I am doing, I think I am going to do the following:
1 - Start engine with muffs on water hose.
2 - Fog engine until it dies.
3 - Drain all five drain valves completely.
4 - Pour antifreeze through the hoses, but I'll let it drain out. This is just to make sure the last bit of water is out. If I have to have residue in there, I would rather it be anitfreeze than water.
5 - Replace all drain valves.
6 - Disconnect and remove battery
7 - I already added marine Stab-il to the fuel system.
8 - Then , because it gets stored outside, I plan on getting it shrink wrapped.

Any issues with that plan that any can see off the top? Come spring I'll change the gear oil, fuel filter/separator, oil and filter, and the daggum impeller of course...

 

[bonzoscott]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

Two tips: No anti-freeze needed if you're sure you drained the block and manifolds and power steering cooler (if you got one).
It's best to add the stabilizer just before filling up. If you just pour the required amount in, I found that my fuel hose lays south of the fitting to the tank. Could be 8-12 ozs lying in the hose. Then Shake it up!

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

Funny thing men generally treat boat's like there wive's..The golden rule boat's do not talk back. So drian all the fluids air does not freeze and if you must pull you plugs shoot some oil in the cylinders turn the engine over a few time.......15 revs at max and call it a day. In six months your boat will be ok.

 

[acevedor2]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

Thanks guys. I'll be doing the maintenance this weekend, but I am happy that I actually already drained all the water from the motor since it has been getting very close to freezing here during the night. She's bone dry now, but I will have to start her back up to fog here and drain it again.

Another question, as we've discussed in this thread, it is likely the impeller is going bad. When I ran it on the muffs with the hose, she ran fine and the temp stayed at approximately 170 degrees. Is that normal, high, etc? Should I expect that after the impeller change out it will run cooler or is that about what I should expect? I know it will depend on the sea water injection temp as well. And finally, I have been unable to find what the alarm temp is. I know I got there because as I mentioned when I was trying to put the antifreeze in the larm went off - but it would be nice to know the set point. Thanks again for all of the great responses everyone.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

Thanks guys. I'll be doing the maintenance this weekend, but I am happy that I actually already drained all the water from the motor since it has been getting very close to freezing here during the night. She's bone dry now, but I will have to start her back up to fog here and drain it again.

Another question, as we've discussed in this thread, it is likely the impeller is going bad. When I ran it on the muffs with the hose, she ran fine and the temp stayed at approximately 170 degrees. Is that normal, high, etc? Should I expect that after the impeller change out it will run cooler or is that about what I should expect? I know it will depend on the sea water injection temp as well. And finally, I have been unable to find what the alarm temp is. I know I got there because as I mentioned when I was trying to put the antifreeze in the larm went off - but it would be nice to know the set point. Thanks again for all of the great responses everyone.

Ayuh,.... It depends on the T-stat used, but that's 'bout right,....

'n 'bout 200? on the alarm,...

 

[BrianNJ]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

170 is normal operating temperature. It is controlled by a thermostat as long as there is sufficient water flow. If you don't know the age of your impeller, I recommend replacing it. My manual recommends replacement every 300 hours or 3 years. Replacing it on your schedule is much better than having to deal with failure on an otherwise nice day.

What kind of drive do you have?

 

[JimS123]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

When you used the West Marine jug, did you open the vent?

 

[acevedor2]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

Yes I did. It flowed out of the jug fine, just not into the engine...

 

[ricohman]

Re: Winterizing Issues - Bayliner F-18 4.3 TKS

I also have a new 4.3 TKS. After fogging and an oil change I just drain the block. Done. No messing around with antifreeze.