OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

[diveman05]

Ok guys so this is my first year winterizing this boat, done it with plenty of outboards and Merc IO’s but my first OMC I/O, Have an 1989 OMC Cobra 5.0HO *ford engine* After reading all the info on this site I think I’ve got it down. I know everyone says read this and read that, but I feel a good engine specific how to is really lacking, unless I’ve totally missed it.
If I haven’t missed anything then I’m going to take photos of each step when I actually accept that winter is coming and decide to winterize. I’ll post it on here as a great how to for people.

The following is my plan, if this is incorrect let me know, if wrong and it screws up your boat, i'm not responsible!

1. Put in fuel stabilizer, fill up fuel tank, and Change fuel/water separator filter
2. Startup boat on muffs and let run until normal operating temperature (15-20 min)
3. Change oil and oil filter (use SAE 30 Oil per engine recc.)
4. Restart engine, let run for a few check for oil leaks and levels
5. Fog the engine: Remove flame arrestor, fast idle engine and spray fogging solution until stalls. (some people then remove spark plugs and spray oil in there also)
6. Drain the Engine:
a. Remove Drain plugs from port and starboard side cylinder block, use wire to ensure holes not clogged
b. Remove Hose from manifolds let drain
c. Remove raw water intake hose and drain
d. Remove water circulating pump hose and drain
e. Drain Power steering oil cooler
f. Close drain plugs
g. Reattach hoses expect if filling with antifreeze (debated topic on here as well), if so fill with antifreeze in the circ pump until it comes out the top of engine, also put antifreeze in manifolds and power steering cooler. Then reattach hoses, if you filled with antifreeze some people say to crank the engine a few times to make sure it got everywhere.
Engine should be good to go for the winter, now onto the stern drive

7. With unit trimmed down remove the bottom drain screw and then the top dipstick. Check for shavings and milky oil. If you have this then it’s time to remove the drive and fix it over the winter.
8. Filling a cobra seems to be a topic as well. I’m going to stick with the manual on this one. Once drained replace the lower drain screw. Then remove the middle fill screw. Use 64oz of high visc. Drive oil. Replace dipstick, let set and check at a later time. Deff check after the winter before taking it out and check after the first time taking it out. (Unless you want to replace your upper gears for being lazy)
9. Now trim the drive up and remove the water drain plugs (one port, two starboard)- DO NOT REMOVE THE DUMMY SCREW
10. Trim down; crank a few times to ensure water pump is out of water along with passages. Then trim back up to allow any extra water to drain, trim back down, then replace drain plugs for the winter if you’re leaving the drive on, some people like to remove the drive and store elsewhere…
11. Lube gimbal, universal joints and pretty much anything else that needs grease
12. Remove batteries ensure they are charged and store. I’m storing mine in the basement to avoid the chance of freezing. Just not on concrete as I've heard that is bad for batteries for some reason?
13. You’re done, now just dream of warm days.

So that’s it and my plan, did I miss anything or should I be good… If so as I said I’m going to photograph each step and repost on here to help people out.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

12. Remove batteries ensure they are charged and store. I’m storing mine in the basement to avoid the chance of freezing. Just not on concrete as I've heard that is bad for batteries for some reason?

Howdy,


I would say you have it covered pretty well!

You should carefully clean the top of the batteries with water and completely dry them. If there's any acid on top, it can provide a path for current between the terminals and cause a discharge unless you put a charger on them......so to that end, it's probably a good idea to get yourself an electronic, pulsing type trickle charger to keep them topped off.

Don't worry about placing any battery on concrete. That's an old wives tail!


Regards,


Rick

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

Ok guys so this is my first year winterizing this boat, done it with plenty of outboards and Merc IO’s but my first OMC I/O, Have an 1989 OMC Cobra 5.0HO *ford engine* After reading all the info on this site I think I’ve got it down. I know everyone says read this and read that, but I feel a good engine specific how to is really lacking, unless I’ve totally missed it.
If I haven’t missed anything then I’m going to take photos of each step when I actually accept that winter is coming and decide to winterize. I’ll post it on here as a great how to for people.

The following is my plan, if this is incorrect let me know, if wrong and it screws up your boat, i'm not responsible!

1. Put in fuel stabilizer, fill up fuel tank, and Change fuel/water separator filter
2. Startup boat on muffs and let run until normal operating temperature (15-20 min)
3. Change oil and oil filter (use SAE 30 Oil per engine recc.)
4. Restart engine, let run for a few check for oil leaks and levels
5. Fog the engine: Remove flame arrestor, fast idle engine and spray fogging solution until stalls. (some people then remove spark plugs and spray oil in there also)
6. Drain the Engine:
a. Remove Drain plugs from port and starboard side cylinder block, use wire to ensure holes not clogged
b. Remove Hose from manifolds let drain
c. Remove raw water intake hose and drain
d. Remove water circulating pump hose and drain
e. Drain Power steering oil cooler
f. Close drain plugs
g. Reattach hoses expect if filling with antifreeze (debated topic on here as well), if so fill with antifreeze in the circ pump until it comes out the top of engine, also put antifreeze in manifolds and power steering cooler. Then reattach hoses, if you filled with antifreeze some people say to crank the engine a few times to make sure it got everywhere.
Engine should be good to go for the winter, now onto the stern drive

7. With unit trimmed down remove the bottom drain screw and then the top dipstick. Check for shavings and milky oil. If you have this then it’s time to remove the drive and fix it over the winter.
8. Filling a cobra seems to be a topic as well. I’m going to stick with the manual on this one. Once drained replace the lower drain screw. Then remove the middle fill screw. Use 64oz of high visc. Drive oil. Replace dipstick, let set and check at a later time. Deff check after the winter before taking it out and check after the first time taking it out. (Unless you want to replace your upper gears for being lazy)
9. Now trim the drive up and remove the water drain plugs (one port, two starboard)- DO NOT REMOVE THE DUMMY SCREW
10. Trim down; crank a few times to ensure water pump is out of water along with passages. Then trim back up to allow any extra water to drain, trim back down, then replace drain plugs for the winter if you’re leaving the drive on, some people like to remove the drive and store elsewhere…
11. Lube gimbal, universal joints and pretty much anything else that needs grease
12. Remove batteries ensure they are charged and store. I’m storing mine in the basement to avoid the chance of freezing. Just not on concrete as I've heard that is bad for batteries for some reason?
13. You’re done, now just dream of warm days.

So that’s it and my plan, did I miss anything or should I be good… If so as I said I’m going to photograph each step and repost on here to help people out.

Now the real world winterizing for OMC, or atleast mine.

1 - Leave fuel at what ever level its at and don't add anything.
2,3,4 and 5 not needed.
6 (a,b,c,d,e,f) complete as noted above. (G) Not needed.
7,8,9,10,11,12,13 complete as noted above.

 

[bonzoscott]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

Maybe I missed it, but drain exhaust manifolds, just above where you did the block.

 

[Lou C]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

I think you got it EXCEPT for the part about draining the manifolds, you said you removed the hose...well if you only did that they are not drained, you need to remove the plug on the bottom of the manifold...look here....

OMC, Johnson & Evinrude - INTAKE MANIFOLD, EXHAUST & COOLING - 1989 OMC Stern Drive 5
part# 21

 

[watson524]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

Hi all,

New member here but I've been reading for a while. I am going to be winterizing my 4.3 OMC Cobra tomorrow and it's the first time doing it all on my own. I have all the steps down (we have a setup where we have a bilge pump hooked up to the muffs to get the pink stuff going before we start the boat and suck it up and check it with a refractometer before fogging the engine to kill it off) but I have a question on this one:

e. Drain Power steering oil cooler

So after I run the boat on the muffs with the garden hose to warm it up so I can drain the oil and refill, we open up the 4 drain plugs and ream them out, then I disconnect the 4 hoses, 2 to the manifolds, big one from t stat to water pump and then the long one that's the thinner supple hose at the t stat but how do you drain the power steering oil cooler? Is that for water or is that the actual power steering fluid? I know there's a way to not draw in the pink stuff but rather pour it down hoses tho I don't know which ones.

thanks!

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

Hi all,

New member here but I've been reading for a while. I am going to be winterizing my 4.3 OMC Cobra tomorrow and it's the first time doing it all on my own. I have all the steps down (we have a setup where we have a bilge pump hooked up to the muffs to get the pink stuff going before we start the boat and suck it up and check it with a refractometer before fogging the engine to kill it off) but I have a question on this one:

e. Drain Power steering oil cooler

So after I run the boat on the muffs with the garden hose to warm it up so I can drain the oil and refill, we open up the 4 drain plugs and ream them out, then I disconnect the 4 hoses, 2 to the manifolds, big one from t stat to water pump and then the long one that's the thinner supple hose at the t stat but how do you drain the power steering oil cooler? Is that for water or is that the actual power steering fluid? I know there's a way to not draw in the pink stuff but rather pour it down hoses tho I don't know which ones.

thanks!

What year/model is your 4.3L? You're not draining the PS fluid, just the heat exchanger that's inline (Fresh water intake hose...at least on mine?)

Some have the PS cooler routed below and some have it routed above (as in mine) it's the highest point of the "cooling" system, It drains when I pull the inlet side of the sea water pump, so there's no need to pull the upper end of the hose? The other side of the cooler drains down the out-drive intakes.

~Brett

 

[watson524]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

It's a 1987 OMC Cobra 4.3L (GM block). Unfortunately it's pitch black out or I'd post some pictures.

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

duplicate post

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

It's a 1987 OMC Cobra 4.3L (GM block). Unfortunately it's pitch black out or I'd post some pictures.

yours looks to be routed below the engine (under the port side?) So, you'll need to pull the lowest hose off there? #42 on the schematic.

 

[Lou C]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

I've got the same set up, that drain on the bottom end of that cooler is a beast to get at, what I do is disconnect the hose from the transom to the thermo housing and point it down in the bilge to drain as much water as possible. Then I take a funnel, stick it in the hose and fill it with -100 no tox marine antifreeze, till it runs out the water intakes on the outdrive. That pushes out any trapped water. I don't run AF in with the muffs, its easier and safer to just back fill. Do all this after you change the oil and filter and run it again to fog it. Drain everything, poke the drain holes, fill the hose as I told you above, pull off the bottom end of the big hose from the thermo housing to the water pump let that drain too. Then, reconnect that and disconnect the top end at the thermo housing. Next fill the engine through the top end of that big hose till a bit of AF comes out the drains (you can actually see it push out whatever water didn't drain). Replace the block drains and fill the engine till you see AF at the neck of the thermo housing. Re-connect the top end of that hose to the thermo housing. Next fill the manifolds the same way, till the AF runs out the exhaust at the outdrive. Now your engine is full, your manifolds are full, no worries about the impeller not sucking in AF, etc. This is how OMC said to use AF in their shop manual. Merc as well. Take it from me I am doing this for 10+ years and this is the best way. Sucking up AF is risky.

 

[watson524]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

It won't let me open that picture, says it's an invalid attachment (might be user error).

I was following this:
OMC Cobra Winterization Procedure - Crowley Marine

And also my SELOC manual that only talks about 4 hoses but then I read the post here and thought huh, I better check.

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

I've got the same set up, that drain on the bottom end of that cooler is a beast to get at, what I do is disconnect the hose from the transom to the thermo housing and point it down in the bilge to drain as much water as possible. Then I take a funnel, stick it in the hose and fill it with -100 no tox marine antifreeze, till it runs out the water intakes on the outdrive. That pushes out any trapped water. I don't run AF in with the muffs, its easier and safer to just back fill. Do all this after you change the oil and filter and run it again to fog it. Drain everything, poke the drain holes, fill the hose as I told you above, pull off the bottom end of the big hose from the thermo housing to the water pump let that drain too. Then, reconnect that and disconnect the top end at the thermo housing. Next fill the engine through the top end of that big hose till a bit of AF comes out the drains (you can actually see it push out whatever water didn't drain). Replace the block drains and fill the engine till you see AF at the neck of the thermo housing. Re-connect the top end of that hose to the thermo housing. Next fill the manifolds the same way, till the AF runs out the exhaust at the outdrive. Now your engine is full, your manifolds are full, no worries about the impeller not sucking in AF, etc. This is how OMC said to use AF in their shop manual. Merc as well. Take it from me I am doing this for 10+ years and this is the best way. Sucking up AF is risky.

I would go with what LouC Says...he's obviously done it a time or two...and in my experience, experience usually wins!

 

[watson524]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

So there's 4 hoses total you're pouring pink stuff in?

"Then, reconnect that and disconnect the top end at the thermo housing. Nest fill the engine through the top end of that big hose till a bit of AF comes out the drains (you can actually see it push out whatever water didn't drain). Replace the block drains and fill the engine till you see AF at the neck of the thermo housing. Re-connect the top end of that hose to the thermo housing. Next fill the manifolds the same way, till the AF runs out the exhaust at the outdrive. "

The small hose coming into t stat, the big hose attached on the t stat to the pump, and then the 2 manifold hoses?

Not to debate this at all since clearly you're way more experience than I but I'm curious. Our mechanic that retired over the summer and has done all the winterizations until now for 26 years (tho he walked me thru it last year since he was figuring he'd be done this year) always sucked up the pink stuff after disconnecting hoses and draining and draining manifolds and blocks. He told us last year that you cannot assume the pink stuff is getting sucked up you MUST test what's coming out the exhaust with the refractometer to make sure all water that may not have drained is out and you've got pure pink coming out. Does that sound reasonable?

 

[Lou C]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

It can be done that way if you drain the block first but there are 2 issues with that method:
You have to time the fogging of the engine so it's done just about when the winterizing tank is about to run out. If you can't get it to stall at the right time it might burn up the fogging oil or, you might run the winterization tank dry and burn up the impeller.
The other issue is that if the impeller is not in perfect shape, it may not prime and you can burn up the impeller.

It is easier, safer and less stressful to do it the way I gave you and that is what the manufacturer said about adding AF. The mechanics like the suck up the AF method because it's faster. But more risky. If you are a beginner, the back fill method is much easier and less risky/stressful.

 

[watson524]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

I should have added, we don't have a fixed tank amount. We're rigging up a tank (huge plastic bin) that the OD sits in with it tipped up and a bilge pump on one end hooked up to the muffs so that we don't run the risk of running dry. However, I realize that that's likely just anecdotal given your views on how to do this.

I still don't think I'm clear on which hoses get the pink, I know the big one from the t stat to the water pump. And I think if I read right the smaller long one that goes to the t stat but I am fuzzy on the other 2.

Would it be ok if I took some pictures tomorrow for clarification? We are only going to be getting to oil change and out drive oil check tomorrow (oil was changed in the spring so I'm just planning to check for water and level for right now unless I find an issue) as I have some other things to do so the pink and fogging won't happen until Monday.

Please be assured I'm not being difficult or disrespectful of your knowledge, I'm just trying to learn as much as possible about the various methods and why one is better than the other.

 

[Lou C]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

Sure you can post pix....see if this is legible....BTW, use the blue -100, the pink slushes up at too high a temp for me, the -100 stays liquid well below zero.

 

[watson524]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

Yep that definitely helps, thanks! Those are the 4 hoses we took off last year (the the 2 at the manifolds we took off down at the manifold and drained down). The only thing I'm having trouble reading is for the 2 exhaust manifolds. Disconnect at the "something something" and fill with AF till it runs out the exhaust.

 

[Lou C]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

Disconnect the hoses at the thermo housing, and then fill em till the AF runs out the exhaust. Of course you are removing the drain plug on the underside of the manifold and poking the hole with a large nail or similar first, to drain out the water. If you just point the hoses down it will not drain all the water from the manifolds. Tried to make the pic bigger....

 

[watson524]

Re: OMC 5.0 Winterize How to, if i got it correct!

Awesome thank you so much!! We changed the oil today and refilled (funny it calls for 5qts but only took about 4 and that was after a 5 minute or so run and top off, but we're going to check it again tomorrow since when we sucked the old out, we only go about 4qts through the dipstick). Drained the block and the manifolds (and yep, we ream them out with weed wacker line tho it doesn't seem to take much which I guess it a good thing) and the 4 hoses so tomorrow I'll get the blue stuff and fill 'er up. So the intake hose to the T stat is filling up what area? just the intake side? Then the big hose fills the water pump and block area and the manifold hoses obviously fill those? I do have a question on shifter linkage but I need to read the manual first and then will start a separate thread.