Winterizing over and over

[The Dish Man]

OK... First let me say I love the I/O 205 hp BUT I need my fix.... "I need to go out on the water" Does anyone have any pictures or ideas of setting up a portable winterizer. Like the muffs,long hose and a 5 gal can to throw antifreez in motor incase of a over night freeze.(Im in NM and we get one now and then) I dont care about spending the few bucks to enjoy a ride during winter. should I let it free flow to motor or put a little electical pump in 5 gal jug and do it that way. Any sugestions would be great Thanks !!!!

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Winterizing over and over

I dont think I would go to all that trouble every time! I would put radiator type drain valves in both sides of the block and just drain it when I got home! Make sure you put the outdrive down so the water runs out! Correct me if Im wrong, but that should do it!

 

[Squirterguy]

Re: Winterizing over and over

Even after the drain cocks, I'd feel better getting a bit of anti-freeze into the block and the drive unit .... My boat has a drain **** on both sides of the block, but they don't really drain all that well, and I trust anti-freeze more. Glycol is sure a lot cheaper insurance than an engine block casting or a lower unit. Probably do both with a gallon though. You don't have to fill them, just rinse the water out, or "contaminate" it with enough anti-freeze to keep it liquid untill it all evaporates. Admittedly, I live in Ks and don't do mid-winter rides, but I'm a cautious sort. That's about all I have.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Winterizing over and over

Is converting to a closed cooling system an option?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Winterizing over and over

I'm up here in the Frozen North......<br />And, I was Boating a Week + 1/2 before Christmas.... <br />I don't Quit till the ramps Freeze Up..!!<br />Our 1st Freeze(6hrs@30*) was in October....<br />On My 4.3LX Merc, I Drain Six petcocks... 1 each side of the Block, 1 each Manifold, 1 at the P/S Cooler, 1 on the Engine Waterpump........<br />The 1s on the P/S Cooler + Engine Waterpump, I Added Myself.....<br />My Motor is Always Dry, Unless it's full of lake water.... <br />Why Waste Money on Anti-Freeze ?? Not Polluting My Fishing Water Either....<br />If your Drains Don't Work, Get Better 1s... <br />I leave a ssteel screw laying on the intake manifold to Poke the Silt + Sand out of them....<br />If you Truely feel the need to add anti-freeze, <br />You'll need a 5gal bucket, with a Valve epoxied into the lower part of the pail,<br />A hose long enough to reach from the bucket to the muffs on the outdrive,<br />And, Of Course, Anti-Freeze.....<br />As Soon as you're on the Trailer,(Engine will Still be up to Temp)<br />Lower the outdrive,<br />Attach the muffs,+ hose,<br />Pour Anti-Freeze in bucket,+ Hold High,<br />Open Valve, Start Motor......<br />When the bucket is Near Empty,<br />Kill the Engine.....<br /><br />BTW, Ralph, You'd Still have to Drain the Raw Water Side....

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Winterizing over and over

That's my question Bondo. When you go to a closed system do you still take in raw water? If so, why? is it used for heat exchange?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Winterizing over and over

Yep,<br />There are several ways to plumb a Closed Cooling System.....<br />Raw water into the Heat Exchanger,<br />From either the outdrive, or a seacock,<br />Then Dumping into the,<br />A) Manifolds, exiting thru the Risers.....<br />Or<br />B) Risers.....<br /><br />You'll have raw water Atleast in the Heat Exchanger......<br />And, Possibly in the Exhaust Manifolds.....

 

[MFG197]

Re: Winterizing over and over

Be careful though because when that cool antifreeze mix hits the stat will it close? hopefully the thing is open or else you just antifreezed everything except the block.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Winterizing over and over

Go to boaters world and buy the winterizing kit for $30(5 gal cont with valve and hoses).Its fast and easy.Just make sure you mix the antifreeze with warm water so the tstat will open when flushing the antif through the system.Charlie

 

[driftwood47]

Re: Winterizing over and over

I don't Guys, but that thermostat being possibly closed would worry me as far as the "antifreeze Bucket" goes. I am new at this, but I like the idea of draining the block and manifolds completely, pulling the hoses and filling the whole thing with antifreze. I hate to lose sleep wondering if my "pride and joy" is going to survive the winter.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Winterizing over and over

Dont worry about the tstat being closed .just follow the directions which tell you to warm up to operating temp before switching over to antifreeze.Make sure the antifreeze is mixed with warm water so it is not cold and when you switch over to antifreeze ,the flow will be reduced to a gravity pull instead of a forceful garden hose flow so the temp will automatically climb keeping the thermostat open.Its easy and pretty foolproof.Charlie

 

[The Dish Man]

Re: Winterizing over and over

Thanks for all the replys ! hmmmmmmm I watched the tech @ the boat shop and he uses a pump to force the antifreeze in the block. You all got me scared now. Im going to check out the kit that Charlie mentioned and see whats up with it. Thanks !

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Winterizing over and over

Dish Man,I have used it for years and it is great!!!! All of the marinas here on Long Island use the same method.As I said ,it is the easiest and quickest way to go.I also recommend taking an ice pick and pushing it through the earmuffs and into the o/d vent so that it cant slip off the o/d.Charlie