when it comes time to winterize..

[500dollar744ti]

Re: when it comes time to winterize..

Have you read the stickies? http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288430

i did, i got to the part where it says get your manual and remove every drain and plug on your engine, i'm trying to clarify what everything is because even in the manual, the best i can get is the two block drains and the drains on the risers. it says to drain the p/s cooler but it wasn't specific enough to say how to do it. it didn't say about draining other things as a precautionary measure, i work well with lists so i am putting together a list of all the things i want to drain.

cheers

 

[Don S]

Re: when it comes time to winterize..

Just checking to see if you had the rest of the information. The manuals list the things to drain, as it varies on each engine.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: when it comes time to winterize..

i did, i got to the part where it says get your manual and remove every drain and plug on your engine, i'm trying to clarify what everything is because even in the manual, the best i can get is the two block drains and the drains on the risers. it says to drain the p/s cooler but it wasn't specific enough to say how to do it. it didn't say about draining other things as a precautionary measure, i work well with lists so i am putting together a list of all the things i want to drain.

cheers

The power steering and oil coolers (if installed) can be a real pain because some do not have drains on them. In that event, you have to just disconnect the raw water supply hose. It's sometimes pretty hard to do........disconnect the "low" side........ If they're not sitting at an angle, they might not fully drain.

When you get everything apart, you might look at installing ball-valves in low spots that will facilitate draining.

Then all you have to do is open the valves.....don't leave them open or you will forget to close them later (like in the Spring)

I have a Bravo, so my raw water pump is on the right side of the engine. everything drains well except the hoses to and from the raw water pump at their lowest points.

I disconnect the supply and discharge hoses and suck them dry with my wet-or-dry ShopVac.

It quickly removes any residual water in the low spots.....

 

[500dollar744ti]

Re: when it comes time to winterize..

okay, that makes sense. where would the engine oil cooler be located if i had one? i think i've only got a p/s cooler but i want to be sure.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: when it comes time to winterize..

okay, that makes sense. where would the engine oil cooler be located if i had one? i think i've only got a p/s cooler but i want to be sure.

You have a small block engine. I don't think they put oil coolers on them (don't know about the magnums)

It's a Alpha or a Bravo?

If an Alpha, your raw water pump is in the drive but you still have a raw water supply hosefrom the transom that goes to your PS cooler trace the hose from the PS cooler and the next one would be the oil cooler if you have one.

Otherwise, it should go directly to your T-stat housing input.

If it's a Bravo, the hose comes from the transom fitting to the raw water pump on the starboard front side of the engine. trace it from there to the ps cooler etc.

I added more text above in my previous post.....

 

[500dollar744ti]

Re: when it comes time to winterize..

it's an alpha 1, gen 1... ok, so the hose through the transom goes to the p/s cooler, exits and goes to the t-stat housing for the rest of the cooling?

 

[Don S]

Re: when it comes time to winterize..

If you was to look in the service manuals achris gave you links to, you can look at the water flow diagrams and see what happens.

 

[Bondo]

Re: when it comes time to winterize..

it's an alpha 1, gen 1... ok, so the hose through the transom goes to the p/s cooler, exits and goes to the t-stat housing for the rest of the cooling?

Ayuh,.... correct...

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: when it comes time to winterize..

First, glad your going to be winterizing correctly. I concur with moving to Florida. its still near 90.

what kind of boat do you have that you have to contort yourself to get to the engine?

 

[Don S]

Re: when it comes time to winterize..

First, glad your going to be winterizing correctly. I concur with moving to Florida. its still near 90.

Temperature is the ONLY reason to move to Florida, but I can think of a LOT of reasons not to. Been there a few times, won't do it again.

 

[500dollar744ti]

Re: when it comes time to winterize..

First, glad your going to be winterizing correctly. I concur with moving to Florida. its still near 90.

what kind of boat do you have that you have to contort yourself to get to the engine?

it's a 22.5' cobia, once i pull the seats out it's not hateful to get to but it still is super akward. i have to bend my arm all kinds of ways it's not used to. the boat is a fairly deep vee and the engine sits very low in the back.

to do any kind of work on the engine that's below the exhaust manifolds, i have to lay down on my back or on my stomach and my arms just barely reach where they need to go. i am also very tall, athletic with long arms. so if it's akward for me, it's pretty dang akward.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: when it comes time to winterize..

Once you have done it, it doesn't seem so bad. Just go for it.

 

[500dollar744ti]

Re: when it comes time to winterize..

i was able to find the drain petcocks. after inserting myself into the engine compartment face first from the top, one shoulder on a riser and my face kissing the flame arrestor, i found it at the bottom of the block. instead of removing the rear interior of the boat i decided i should practice replacing my starter as if i had to do it on the water, since i did need to replace it anyway.

while in the contortionist position for starter replacement, i felt around and found the drain on the starboard side. after i wrenched the starter in, i switched positions and found the port side drain as well and located the power steering cooler. i feel like i can get the p/s cooler inlet water hose off but i'm not sure about the other side.

do i need to remove both sides or is it sufficient to remove the inlet side and then disconnect the other side where it goes to the water distribution block?

 

[Bondo]

Re: when it comes time to winterize..

i was able to find the drain petcocks. after inserting myself into the engine compartment face first from the top, one shoulder on a riser and my face kissing the flame arrestor, i found it at the bottom of the block. instead of removing the rear interior of the boat i decided i should practice replacing my starter as if i had to do it on the water, since i did need to replace it anyway.

while in the contortionist position for starter replacement, i felt around and found the drain on the starboard side. after i wrenched the starter in, i switched positions and found the port side drain as well and located the power steering cooler. i feel like i can get the p/s cooler inlet water hose off but i'm not sure about the other side.

do i need to remove both sides or is it sufficient to remove the inlet side and then disconnect the other side where it goes to the water distribution block?

Ayuh,.... Removin' the big hose from either end, Drains it...