Re: Antifreeze Through Strainer
Mperm, I will start by saying that I am a Mercruiser guy, and have never touched a Volvo. Hopefully Don S will post ( he is a volvo certified tech). The two systems should be somewhat similar, so here is my 2 cents worth.<br />When you say closed cooling, that would imply that it has a heat exchanger (round tube with radiator cap on top). Most folks run antifreeze in the "closed part" of the system year round. That circulates antifreeze through the engine and exhaust manifolds(not risers) and this hot antifreeze then circulates in closed tubes within the heat exchanger where the heat is dissipated into the "raw water" that the sea strainer and raw water pump circulates through the heat exchanger and out through the risers and exhaust system. The two liquids never mix or "meet".<br />Pouring antifreeze into the sea strainer and then checking the drains on the block is not a valid test.<br />Just like with a car, open the radiator cap on the heat exchanger (when the engine is cold) and test the antifreeze to make sure it is clean and strong enough for your climate. If that checks out, the engine is protected......now for the heat exchanger and such.<br />You asked about antifreeze so I will not get into the debate between antifreeze and just draining things. Now we need to get antifreeze into the raw water system to protect those components. If you have an outdrive either use muffs connected to some means of getting the antifreeze to the muffs, or a tall enough bucket to submerge the water intake of the drive in antifreeze. If you have an inboard or a thru-hull water intake for the engine, disconnect that hose and get it connected to a resivoir of antifreeze. By the way you should have already changed your engine oil and filter prior to doing this. When the antifreeze is ready to go get your fogging oil ready and remove the flame arrestor (looks like air filter). Before you start the engine please make sure that you have some kind of container under the exhaust to catch the "expelled" antifreeze so that it does not run off into the ground (the stuff is toxic).<br />Start engine, watch exhaust, when you see antifreeze blowing out of exhaust, start slow and gradually increase fogging oil into carburator or throttle body untill engine stalls.<br />This covers some of what needs to be done to winterize a boat....there is more.
