How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

[Fun Times]

How do you do it?

1. Do you Just drain the water out only.

2. Do you drain the water out first By taking off hoses and drain plugs around the engine, Then fill the engine with Anti-freeze with one of the hoses removed inside the boat, Then start the engine till it comes out the Exhaust.

3. Do you leave the water in the engine, Then use the muffs to fill with anti-Freeze till it comes out the exhaust.

4. Do you drain the engine first, Then fill with Anti-Freeze using the muffs.

5. I do not drain or treat the engine at all, But should Because of where I live.

6. I do not need to Drain or Treat or Winterize the engine, Because I normaly will use the boat over the winter time, Because of where I live.

7. I store the boat inside where it's warm, And don't need to treat the engine like this at all.

8. Other.

Also here is another thread I made with a poll on storing the fuel over the winter In the link below, Just in case you would like to see how it came out also.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=358698

 

[nlain]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

I boat in salt water, so pull boat, flush engine, run saltaway thru and let set until the weatherman says it may freeze, then drain block, due to where I live I can use the boat thru the winter months.

 

[ziggy]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

last couple years, i've been draining all the water out, then fill w/ antifreeze through the tstat till full for the block, and directly into the manifold for it....
this, year, i may just go w/ draining all the water out (which is already done). since air don't freeze.. i haven't decided yet though.. either or is satisfactory per my mercruiser s/m... the way i understand, the only thing better about the antifreeze is it's anti corrosion properties..

 

[JimKW]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

Other - I pay somebody else to do it.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

The blue antifreeze will protect the metal from rusting over the winter. An engine full to the brim with water will not really rust without oxygen during the summer. An empty engine will rust. Spend the money on the blue stuff.

 

[QC]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

I moved this over to the I/O section. Almost left it, but pretty specific to I/Os, and we try to keep the Boat section non-engine . . .

 

[Don S]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

I do MANY winterizations per year.
Air doesn't freeze.
If a customer "Insists" on antifreeze, he gets propolene glycol.
If he insists on the "Regular, Green, antifreeze" we drain the system and explain to him how to put in his own.
There is no way to keep the green stuff off the ground and out of harms way for pets in the area.

 

[Bondo]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

An empty engine will rust.

Naw,... Not really,... Just a surface patina...

 

[Dshow]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

Other. I use a "Wintereze" for my Alpha1 Gen2 to run RV antifreeze through my engine, then I drain it so it's empty. The though being any liquid pockets that didn't get drained should be mixed antifreeze. I sleep better knowing it's double protected.

 

[problem child]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

Drain the block and Pink RV/Marine AF through the thermostat housing for me this year.

 

[shogun95]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

I pay the marina to use the pink stuff as well. One of the 10 years I did not and had them leave it dry. I think it was the second year I owned it. The next spring my impeller let go early in the season which I blame on being dry over the winter. No proof, but just an opinion. Once I went back to leaying it up wet, my impeller has been fine. I replace it every five years now. I'm sold.

 

[mcleaves]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

Air doesn't freeze..

The trick is making sure you are filled with air and not blocked up.

M

 

[Bondo]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

The next spring my impeller let go early in the season which I blame on being dry over the winter. No proof, but just an opinion. Once I went back to leaying it up wet, my impeller has been fine. I replace it every five years now.

Ayuh,.... On Alphas,+ most OMCs, the Impeller is Dry whether you antifreeze the block or Not....
I suppose it'd be Wet on Volvos,+ Bravos, with Motor mounted pumps..

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

The most important thing is you make sure and poke a wire in the drains to make sure rust has not plugged them and left water in the engine/manifolds.
I bought a boat with drains open and guy said he drained the manifolds but the rust had plugged it up.
Your choice on the rest, just make sure and flush the antifreeze on muffs before you launch in the water, especally if you use auto antifreeze. Keep the pets away if you use toxic antifreeze so they do not drink the stuff. I have hear it will not hurt the vegitation.

 

[fishingman220]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

i have closed cooling system

 

[boat1010]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

I put the muffs on it and run it till it gets warm and thermostat opens, then with a drill pump I put a mixture of 50/50 car antifreeze through the motor till it comes out the exhaust. I just think the antifreeze lubricates stuff and if there are pockets of water in the motor now it has antifreeze in it.

 

[truckermatt]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

drain all water for me..... I remove the outdrive and put it in the garage on a stand...... My boat parks out side shrinkwrapped.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

i have closed cooling system

If you live in a freeze area then you still need to drain the raw water out of your exhaust manifolds, ect,

 

[fishingman220]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

i drain the heat exchanger, the intake water line from the outdrive, and disconnect the lines going to the risers, the rest is all antifreeze.

 

[Bondo]

Re: How do you store your I/O Engine over the winter? With or Without Anti-Freeze?

I put the muffs on it and run it till it gets warm and thermostat opens, then with a drill pump I put a mixture of 50/50 car antifreeze through the motor till it comes out the exhaust. I just think the antifreeze lubricates stuff and if there are pockets of water in the motor now it has antifreeze in it.

Ayuh,... Think for a minute,...
What do you think that T-Stat does as Soon as that cold antifreeze hits it,..??

Sounds like You've been Lucky,.... So far.....

For you guys who insist on Antifreeze,....
You simply can NOT skip the draining step, or eventually,... You'll Loose....