Anti-Freeze Question - Winterizing

[BigBoatinOkie]

Howdy. I'm winterizing my 84 Merc 5.0 228 hp and I was planning on sucking up antifreeze with the exhaust bellows ( some say it's good, some say don't do it?) Sounds like a fine idea to me. Anyway, I drained all four drain plugs first (2 on block and 2 on manifolds) and prodded the holes to unblock them. Now for the antifreeze. I have an infinite supply of very 50/50 antifreeze made with de-ionized water, and i would like to use that since it's free. My plan was to use a ton of it to really circulate it well to be sure to alll the raw water gets out. I saw one demonstration where they just used enough antifreeze to replace the water, maybe a gallon or two, but i was gonna use like 5-10 gallons to flush the system. Does this sound okay? What you think about the 50/50?

Also while i'm at it, do i have to use mercruiser oil, or even marine oil, or can i just use regular motor oil? Heck it's a Chevy.

 

[skargo]

Re: Anti-Freeze Question - Winterizing

Your exhaust bellows won't suck anything up, it's called exhaust for a reason.

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: Anti-Freeze Question - Winterizing

Wow. I have no idea why i said exhaust bellows. Major brain fart. I meant to say i'm gonna suck antifreeze up with the muffs. Too many other things on my mind i guess.

 

[skargo]

Re: Anti-Freeze Question - Winterizing

LOL, I figured!

 

[Philster]

Re: Anti-Freeze Question - Winterizing

Read this!

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=365397

 

[Lou C]

Re: Anti-Freeze Question - Winterizing

yeah don't do it that way....if you drained the block first it may be OK but still you are going to waste a lot of AF for no reason....the best way is to just back fill the block/head and manifolds through the hoses...no reason to suck it up the drive...for one if the muffs don't fit really tight....you can burn up the impeller and overheat the engine...for another if you didn't drain the block first and it's a cool day the thermo may not open and the block will still have mostly water in it when you're about to run out of AF...while you're trying to fog it....so if you want to use AF.....drain everything including the raw water intake hoses and power steering cooler...then back fill the engine by taking off the upper end of the big hose on the front of the engine (thermo housing end) fill till AF comes out the thermo housing....no need to remove thermo....then fill the manifolds through the hoses that connect to the thermo housing till a little runs out the exhaust...finally fill the raw water intake hose till it runs out the water intakes on the drive....that's the only way to use AF and....use only the no tox stuff....not the car ethylene glycol which is toxic....I use the -100 stuff which stays liquid down to a very low temp so no worries....you will need about 4-5 gallons this way....the other way is dangerous and risks a cracked block....and wastes AF....and can burn an impeller....it's only OK...on an inboard....with closed cooling...even then...on a Volvo or Bravo equipped engine with the engine mounted water pump it may not suck that AF all the way from the drive up to the engine...unless you use a livewell pump or bilge pump to pressurize the AF on the way to the muffs....not worth it in my opinion.....

 

[Bondo]

Re: Anti-Freeze Question - Winterizing

if you drained the block first it may be OK but still you are going to waste a lot of AF for no reason....

Ayuh,... if you already Drained it,.....
Just running enough thru the muffs til it comes out the exhaust is All that's needed....
Anymore is just a Waste...