Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

[CodyG]

Question, a friend of mine didnt winterize his boat and we went out to see it today. We are in Iowa and it did snow/freeze here but hasnt been bad at all. I pulled the oul dip stick and there was no water in it, clean fresh oil. I went ahead and pulled the 2 drain plugs and fresh clear water ran out, removed the hose and bumpred it a few times to clear the water and left the plugs out as per manual specs. We didnt fill it with AF as air wont freeze..just to be safe. Pulled the spark plugs and pouted a little oil in each cylinder and bumped it, put the plugs back in. Anything else? I had mine winterized so not sure what all needs done.<br /><br />But since the oil was clean and the water was crystal clear..did he get lucky and nothing happened? I also lowered his lower unit, but we didnt do anything like drain anything..should we? Do we need to do any thing else? Thanks for the help in advance!

 

[CodyG]

Re: Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

btw its a 2.5l if thats needed..so there isnt a closed cooling system.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

You won't know if anything cracked until spring, and ya run it a bit. Keep an eye on that oil. Gets milky, ya got a prob. On the lower, yes, at least drain out a few ounces and if no water, good until spring. Do a complete change when the weather warms, lower, motor oil, and filter

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

By the way, did you drain any manifold drains too?

 

[CodyG]

Re: Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

Yes, removed the block drain plug and manifold plug, pulled the large U shaped hose and let everything drain, then bumped the engine a few times to clear it. Figgured if the block cracked we would know now with a milky oil (its been in the 50s here..REAL weird for Iowa) but it looks like it came out the container. It wasnt out much this summer, maybe 10-15 hours as he was in Saudi and his family used it. I know the lower unit is pretty much new, had new seals put in this summer and fresh oils etc. so there shouldnt be any worries there. If it was mine the block would be cracked in 20 places..but he has good luck, lol. If the block does have a crack..that sucks, we have to pull it and have it welded if possible..that wouldnt be cheap I assume..ugh!

 

[KaGee]

Re: Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

You should have fogged the engine, but what you did will suffice. The fogger also coats the carb and protects it.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

My prayers are with ya!!!! No way to tell by seeing the oil or water if any damage has occured.At this point I would drain some of the lower unit lube just to see if there is any water intrusion that will freeze.I would also spray some fogging oil into the carb and pour some antifreeze into the manifilds and block to clear any water that may be trapped,possibly as ice.Bumping the motor will help get some of the fogging oil to where it should be but will almost guarantee that you will need to replace the impeller in the drive to play it safe.You can also pour some stabilizer into the fuel tank and just make sure you run it on muffs for a while in the spring and keep an eye on the oil,bilge,and temp.Charlie

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

Without running the engine, the oil will not get milky. All it does is lie on the bottom of the pan and the dipstick will show clean oil. Easiest way to tell if water may be in the crankcase, is the oil level higher than normal. If not, probably OK.

 

[CodyG]

Re: Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

No..oil was the right level, so maybe we are lucky! Shoot..if his engine is cracked, maybe he will sell me his interior..lol! If it is bad, at least they are about the cheapest engines I seen listed, so he wont be out of pocket TO bad! Thanks again for the help fellas!

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

If it's an OMC stringer, you'll want to drain the tilt clutch hsg.

 

[CodyG]

Re: Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

Hystat..huh? Sorry..new to boats..I build import bikes/autos, boats are a new (and more expensive) passion, trying to learn!

 

[murphini]

Re: Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

CodyG--where you from in Iowa? My in laws live at Lake Panorama, and we spend a week at Okoboji every summer....

 

[CodyG]

Re: Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

From Florida (Jax) but live in Iowa..Cedar Rapids. We plan on getting to Boji and the Dells this summer..only had the boat in the water 4 times last year due to work, that changes this summer!!

 

[murphini]

Re: Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

We'll be at Okoboji last week of June in a red sparkly VIP with black monster wakeboard tower. Look for me either squiring my mother-in-law and wife on coffee cruises in the morning, or hanging with brother's-in-law's at the Barefoot Bar or Whisky ****'s at night.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

Omc Stringer - White or Silver drive<br />OMC Cobra - Charcoal Grey<br />Mercruiser -Black<br />Old Volvo -white<br /><br />wow, there's a really bad way to identify your drive... <br /><br />google search images for "omc stringer" etc and you will see

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

cody it was 70 degrees in jax today.

 

[CodyG]

Re: Friend didnt winterize but this is what we found..

Tash..dang you..dang you to HECK!!<br /><br />lol, I pretty much get a daily weather report from my sis..grrrr!<br /><br />Never been to the Dells or Boji but hear its a good time and we want to check it out..actually get some water time this summer! I got 5 months to get mine pretty..wont be the biggest or nices, but its paid for!! Would love to have sparkle but im gonna roll/tip her bright white and use vinyl for some color..im not as high tech as yall!!