'Stupid tax' - Winterizing

[lowkee]

Allow me to be the first to pony up the money for ever-present 'stupid tax'.

Last week here in NC it was 65F, so I hooked up the muffs in order to do some nice weather engine tuning. Well, last night it was 19F and, since I never re-winterized, my lower thermostat housing broke right off the engine block. I'll consider myself lucky the therm. housing is all I need to replace.

Along the same note.. anyone have an Merc 3.0L Alpha 1 lower thermostat housing for sale? I think I know a buyer...

To anyone who thinks one night of subfreezing isn't enough to cause major engine damage.. let this be your warning. ONE night of 19F temps caused 1/4" cast iron to snap like a twig.

Lowkee

 

[Bondo]

Re: 'Stupid tax' - Winterizing

Ayuh,....

What else did you find,..??
Have you done a Thorough Inspection,..??
Have you warmed,+ Drained it yet,..??

My Guess is,...
Your Troubles have Just begun....

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 'Stupid tax' - Winterizing

I feel your pain, but you might be in for some more bad news.

Sooner you thaw it out, the sooner you'll find out what else cracked.

Maybe prevent something else from cracking.

Did you have the drive down, i hope you did.

 

[lowkee]

Re: 'Stupid tax' - Winterizing

So far so good on the other components. The block looks okay from what I can see with some moderate inspection. I tore down 1/2 the engine to check things out (it needed a tear down for repainting anyhow).

I managed to find a replacement (used) part on ebay for $35. Not bad for stupid tax. I haven't dug into the outdrive yet. It was down, though, so hopefully no water in it, since it was warm for the past few days. Should have been dry.

Guess I'm tearing into this thing sooner than I thought. This is the first time I've ever torn apart a 'car' engine, so it's quite fun. Not really that different from any other engine, small, motorcycle or otherwise. Took the opportunity to go through the carb, which seriously needed it (chelac was almost clogging the line shut).

 

[mylesm260]

Re: 'Stupid tax' - Winterizing

Winter time tuning is simply not worth it.

I know there's not much to do in the winter time, but de-winterizing your boat before the spring is just going to lead to problems.

You gota resist the urge to tinker with it, and leave it alone =)

And honestly, I'm with them... If you didn't pull your drain plugs on either side of your block, then I'd wager your tax rate just went up. Have a close look at your manifolds too... did you pull the drain plugs on those when you were done? It doesn't take much.....

 

[180shabah]

Re: 'Stupid tax' - Winterizing

If nothing else is cracked than you need to get a powerball ticket.

 

[Don S]

Re: 'Stupid tax' - Winterizing

Well, if there was enough water in the engine to break the thermostat housing, then there is little chance of the engine surviving. Same with the manifold. Seen many broken blocks, but never a broken off thermostat housing. You may have set a record!!!!!

That ought to put you in a bracket of your own.

Why do I have this strange feeling the words "Stupid Tax" are going to be around the forums for a long time to come.

BTW Lowkee, welcome aboard!

 

[mphy98]

Re: 'Stupid tax' - Winterizing

Why do I have this strange feeling the words "Stupid Tax" are going to be around the forums for a long time to come.



because it is what it is, we have all done it before

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: 'Stupid tax' - Winterizing

Welcome lowkee....

Right down the road from you and heck yes it was cold the last couple nights.
I hope the thermo housing is the only problem..good luck..

 

[180shabah]

Re: 'Stupid tax' - Winterizing

I'll be down charlotte way this weekend - carolina - west virginia game....

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: 'Stupid tax' - Winterizing

I'll be down charlotte way this weekend - carolina - west virginia game....

Have a safe trip...the weather is better...about 55* out right now.
Slight chance of rain for Christmas day...
I'll be watching the game so bring a big Iboats sign and wave it to the cameras...lol!

 

[snoski]

Re: 'Stupid tax' - Winterizing

I ran 2 gal. of antifreeze through mine on the muffs and have three 40w bulbs burning in the engine compartment. Also a trickle-charger on the batteries...

 

[Don S]

Re: 'Stupid tax' - Winterizing

snoski, might want to read the thread below so you don't have to file for the ST.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=280921

 

[mylesm260]

Re: 'Stupid tax' - Winterizing

Don, you can lead a horse to water.... but you can't always make him drink...

Cudos on trying though, you're doing us all a great service.

After I read your post a few months back, I drained my engine, removed my therostat, and pored antifreeze down the thermostat housing until I saw green water come out of my block drain plugs (while holding my lower water pump hose up high)

 

[Polar_Bus]

Re: 'Stupid tax' - Winterizing

Allow me to be the first to pony up the money for ever-present 'stupid tax'.

Last week here in NC it was 65F, so I hooked up the muffs in order to do some nice weather engine tuning. Well, last night it was 19F and, since I never re-winterized, my lower thermostat housing broke right off the engine block. I'll consider myself lucky the therm. housing is all I need to replace.

Along the same note.. anyone have an Merc 3.0L Alpha 1 lower thermostat housing for sale? I think I know a buyer...

To anyone who thinks one night of subfreezing isn't enough to cause major engine damage.. let this be your warning. ONE night of 19F temps caused 1/4" cast iron to snap like a twig.

Lowkee

There is no set "time" that an engine will or will not "freeze" when subject to sub-freezing temps. There are many variables to the equasion. I can tell you if your boat was subject to 19F AND out in the open air, AND subject to a lot of wind during the overnight on said incident, then yes I can certainly understand how your engine froze up in one night's time. Wind greatly accelerates freezing.
A good boating buddy of mine has a 45,000 sq ft indoor non-heated boat storage building, and many customers are procrastinating on their winterizations. Even though up here in NH we have had severall weeks of sub freezing temps at night, the inside temp of the building still has not gone below 32F. The building also has a dirt floor which allows warmer air to rise out of the ground and hinder freezing. Hopefully you can simply replace your thermostat and be done with no further damage. The advantage with your engine block, is simply the fact more volumes of water take longer durations of cold to freeze.

 

[mphy98]

Re: 'Stupid tax' - Winterizing

to go along with the theme of your post, "here's your sign"