Winterizing question

[ccustomrides]

So I winterized last year and my boat made it with no problems here in COLD Michigan.
I service everything and fog the engine but I do use the 5 gallon bucket to flush the engine out.
Here is what I do and you tell me why people say to stay away from using this method.

I drain the cold block and exhaust.
I stick little screw driver in and get the gunk out and more water comes out.
I then start the engine and fill it back up with water again. Run it for few and then I drain it again. This in my book tell me it's flushed because second time there is no blocked drains.
Then I start the engine and run till my boat warms up all the way. I run till 150F or so.
I keep checking the thermostat housing untill it opens up and gets hot. I did replace the thermostat this spring and I know it works. Old one worked fine I just got a new one for a piece of mind.
So after it warms up I shut it down and switch over to RED POP from a 5 gallon bucket. I do use all of the 5 gallons and run everything out. With about one and half gallon left I start foggin and then shut it down for the winter.I DONT DRAIN THE POP BUT LEAVE IT INSIDE. NOW: I know it worked last year just fine but why does everone say to warm the engine up to operating temp and then drain the block and exhasut? By the time you do that Thermostat might close unless you remove it? Also 5 gallons is enough to push all the water out and fill everything up with Red pop in my 4.3.
Let me know what you guys think.
Thanks.

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: Winterizing question

very hard to tell how much was by-passed straight out the exhaust and how much was directed into the engine to push out the water.

 

[ccustomrides]

Re: Winterizing question

if the thermostat is open all the way why would it by pass thru the exhaust?
Also I read that 4.3 mercruiser only holds 3 gallons or so of water. This is inlcuding the block and exhaust. So 2 gallons is to push anything that might be in there.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Winterizing question

...... 5 gallons is enough to push all the water out and fill everything up with Red pop in my 4.3.

I believe that is an unwise assumption. Pumping 5 gal. of af into a engine containing 2 gal. of water would only remove all of the water if they did not mix during the process The af left in the block will almost certainly be diluted to some extent. How much? Who knows?

 

[ccustomrides]

Re: Winterizing question

Hmmm? Why do they make the kit then? I was told by few guys to just hook it up to 5 gallon tank and with thermostat open run all of it out. I didnt have any problems this spring after doing it the same way. I just dont see why pumping AF into my boat would be a bad thing and how can af not push the water out.

 

[SteveRay]

Re: Winterizing question

Quick and easy...Air doesn't freeze....Drain the block and then use your bucket method.......If your not sure....when all done pull the drain plugs and check the block and see what comes out.

 

[Jeepster04]

Re: Winterizing question

Just seems like youre taking an uneeded risk. Why would you drain the block, then fill it up with water again and try to flush it out with anti freeze?? At a minimum, drain the block again after you 'flush' it with anti freeze. I dont know why some people want to take such a huge risk with their engines.

Drain the block and manifolds and be done with it.

'They' make a kit to make money.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Winterizing question

Winterize????????????????
what does it actually mean and why we do it.
Option 1
remove all drain plugs, probe to make sure something drains, leave empty.
downside is cast iron dries out and starts to scale off
Option 2
Flush and fog motor untill it stalls, remove drains and probe, reinstall drain plugs and POUR the A/F into the block and manifolds/risers thru the hoses
cast iron surfaces are now immersed in A/F to prevent scaling.
Option 3
Using the "bucket method" not knowing if the A/F got diluted in the process and will leave you with a cracked block or manifolds.Or you really do want to use this system,
DRAIN EVERYTHING FIRST, and hope the A/F lasts untill you fog it.

 

[ccustomrides]

Re: Winterizing question

What??
I see some people cant tell if or when thermostat opens.

 

[SteveRay]

Re: Winterizing question

What??
I see some people cant tell if or when thermostat opens.

Why ask others opinions if you are going to question them?
What about the T stat opening and then getting your cold AF and closing??? That would leave your block full of AF.
Besides, Its way easier to fog PROPERLY and not have to worry about your jug running empty. As others have noted its also a good time to look in the engine bay for abnormalities while back filling the hoses.

Do what you wish...I can guarantee one thing..You have a MUCH higher probability of cracking doing it your way than the alternative.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Winterizing question

Just seems like youre taking an uneeded risk. Why would you drain the block, then fill it up with water again and try to flush it out with anti freeze?? At a minimum, drain the block again after you 'flush' it with anti freeze. I dont know why some people want to take such a huge risk with their engines.

Drain the block and manifolds and be done with it.

'They' make a kit to make money.

Ayuh,... I agree completely,.... but That's my question too.?.?.?.?

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterizing question

Hmmm? Why do they make the kit then?

They work great on engines with a Fresh Water cooling system where the block is cooled by antifreeze to begin with.

What??
I see some people cant tell if or when thermostat opens.

I do see that there are a lot of people that don't understand how a thermostat works in a raw water cooled MARINE engine. If they try to use automotive logic, they loose.

Basically, winterize it howevery you want and feel that you are good to go. Springtime will tell if you are lucky or not.

 

[chriscraft31]

Re: Winterizing question

I just leave all the plugs in, pour 200 gallons of AF in the bilge and pump it out in the spring. LMAO

Just pull the plugs and be done with it. Takes 15 minutes.

 

[ccustomrides]

Re: Winterizing question

There is more then just pulling plugs! Water pump and all the other hoses need to be drained. What about power steering cooler. I just dont see why you would want to take all the hoses off? Why. Most shops either use hand pump to pump AF into the lower leg or flushing kit. The only difference is they use -100 AF. This way they are covered if some water is left in the engine.
Some people just do everything by the book and another way is just a now way to them!
What is so bad to pump AF into your block?
I dont flush with AF. I am super picky and like to have all the gunk and sand out. I will take a cold engine and drain everything. Clean it all out. Start her up and on the second drain there is very little sand so I know its clean and clear.
Then I start her on the hose again and run till I get to operating temp. Switch over to 5-6 gallons of AF and she is all done!
I check block and manifolds for color of the AF coming out! Unless I suck in a tennis ball there should be no problem with AF getting all the water out.
GUYS 6 gallons of AF will push all water out. My 4.3 only holds 2.5 gallons total! Run your engine and drain the block and manifolds. Then hook her up and count how long it takes for water to come out again from the exhaust?
Pink: -50F. This means it will not expand or freeze untill -50F.
-60F Same thing just higher
-100 same thing just will never freeze.
PINK stuff has rust inhibitor in it. Some people say it has nothing in it and want to sell you the -100 @ 9.99 gallon.
I did a test. Put -50 RV/Marine and -60F in the freezer. You will see bolth of them will slush up!!! SLUSH UP but not freeze or expand. So block or water system will not be damaged.
Also all marine thermostats have a bleed hole in them and even if cold AF hits the thermostat it will still pass all the way to the block and exhasust. How about cold lake water hitting it? Does it close everytime you run in the spring or fall. NO

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: Winterizing question

Your original post asked what we think.

Well I used to think that air freezes slower than most other liquids.

But I might have been wrong.

 

[Jeepster04]

Re: Winterizing question

It took me a matter of 10 minutes to fog the engine(while on trailer at ramp), pull all of the drain plugs(5)(in the parking lot), and pull all of the hoses off the front of the engine, then drive home and put the cover over it. I didnt have to spend more money on AF, didnt have to get out the hose and muff's when I got home, didnt have to do anything extra. Change the gear oil when I get around to it the next week or so. The power steering cooler is drained when I take the hoses off the engine(Not all engines are like this!). Its whatever floats your boat, or cracks your block I guess..

And no I didnt hold traffic up at the ramp, there was no one there since I did it late in the season.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Winterizing question

......I did replace the thermostat this spring and I know it works. Old one worked fine I just got a new one for a piece of mind.

That tells a a lot, some folks are extra cautious. If you properly drain the engine, and then run in antifreeze, you have 0, none, nada risk for freeze damage. If you run antifreeze into a block that is full of water you have some risk of freezing. Take your choice.

 

[tarheelebbtide]

Re: Winterizing question

It's also not a one size fits all answer. Depending upon your locale, you have to be more or less cautious. I would imagine in Michigan, you'd want to take every precaution possible.