Winterizing Merc 5.7 EFI - Alpha Drive

[kookaburra]

I have a couple of questions after the better part of two days finishing (I think) the winterizing:<br /><br />First, I have changed oil, filled and stabilized gas, and then have fogged the engine (2 oz outboard oil with gasoline in the fuel filter. That went well. <br /><br />My questions are around anxiety in getting the water out and antifreeze in.....I drained water from the 2 manifolds, the block, the Y-fitting, the fuel cooler and from the hose between t-stat and engine pump, and then cranked engine (did not start it). Quite a bit of water came out and I feel pretty good about that. Then I replaced plugs. I then put antifreeze down each of the four hoses off the t-stat housing.<br /><br />Questions...<br />a. Do I need to take off the t-stat housing and put water directly into the block, or does the hose from t-stat housing to circulating pump (or from manifolds?) go into the block?<br />b. I missed a step (in Clymers, not in Merc guide steps) of taking a hose off that runs between transom water fitting and the power steering fluid cooler. Do I need to do this, or am I ok?<br />c. I did at one point take off the t-stat housing to look around - is it safe to say that I need to replace the gasket before firing things up in the spring ? <br /><br />Lastly, I know I need to change the lower unit lube still.<br /><br />Please help with input on my questions and any other insight you may have would be very, very appreciated !!

 

[JB]

Re: Winterizing Merc 5.7 EFI - Alpha Drive

5.7!! That sure is a BIG outboard, Kookaburra! <br /><br />Just joking, mate.<br /><br />I'll move this to the Forum you intended, I/O and Inboard Question.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[kookaburra]

Re: Winterizing Merc 5.7 EFI - Alpha Drive

Thanks for moving question over to this board, its too early on a Monday I guess. Thx.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Winterizing Merc 5.7 EFI - Alpha Drive

kookabura.<br /><br />My confidence in my skills have reached a new low but that is a different story.<br /><br />a. Yes, you need to drain the line on the power steering cooling line. I believe it is located on the port side of the engine and looks sort of like a torpedo about a 1/3 of the way back almost under the engine. Drain if or fill with anti-freeze but this component is vunerable.<br /><br />b. No, You do not need to remove the "T" unless you intend to fill completely with anti-freeze.<br /><br />c. Gaskets as a rule are not recompressable. You can sometimes recompress an o-ring but gaskets are a one shot deal.