Winterizing 1987 OMC Cobra

[Trackertrucker]

Hi all,looking for a complete procedure for Winterizing my 87 OMC 4.3, OEM service manual hasn't made it here yet and wondering if there is a sticky on winterizing it? I realize it's not time to winterize it yet but since this will be my first time winterizing it I would like to get a jump start on knowing exactly what to do for it. My last boat was Merc 470 powered and it was a breeze to winterize. Thanks in advance

 

[Scott Danforth]

There is a sticky at top of the forums.

Make sure to read the sticky about the screw NEVER to remove on the OMG cobra outdrive. Its the one that looks like a drain, however isn't.

In general
Run motor on muffs to get oil warm.
Change oil and filter
Change gear lube in lower
Remove drive for bellows inspection (replace raw water pump every other year)
Remove the 4 drain plugs - one on each exhaust manifold, one on each side of the block. Poke the crud out with a wire or 3" wood screw. Some 4.3 motors have a small drain plug on the bottom of the thermostat bowl in the intake as well.
Pull large hose off bottom of water pump and drain that

Once drained, some people put the drain plugs back in. I kept mine in a bag zip tied to the keys until spring and I put a bit of grease on the drain hole threads to prevent rust

 

[Trackertrucker]

Thanks for the reply, I assume if it has a plug in the intake It will be pretty obvious and not hidden away? Good advice,thanks again

 

[Lou C]

If the engine is an '87 it will not have that plug, unless the boat was repowered with a newer engine.
To the instructions above I would add:
If the boat has power steering there will be a p/s cooler on the back of the engine, mounted in the raw water intake hose. These have drains on them but they are very hard to reach. A way around removing the drain is this: put the drive all the way down. Disconnect the raw water intake hose at the thermo housing. Point it down to drain out water. Then hold it up and stick a funnel in it. Fill it with -100 marine AF till it runs out the water intakes. This will push water out of the p s cooler and impeller housing in the upper gear case of the out drive. I also fill the engine and manifolds manually with the same AF.
Lastly there are 3 drains on the pivot housing (part of transom mount that the drive mounts to) 2 on starboard side one on port side. Tilt up remove all 3 poke holes, tilt down to drain . Put gasket sealer on threads of plugs and replace.

 

[Trackertrucker]

Thanks for the replies, Lou when you say water intakes you mean the ones in the lower unit? Also when you say you fill the manifolds and block where do you fill it from?

 

[Trackertrucker]

I've never put antifreeze into one always just drained,i guess it's just extra peace of mind??

 

[Lou C]

Engine; just disconnect big hose from thermo housing to circ pump on front of engine, fill it till you see AF come out the neck of the thermo housing; re connect hose. Manifolds disconnect the feed hose at thermo housing and fill it from the hose till it runs out the exhaust . Yes the water intakes are the holes on the out drive....

 

[Trackertrucker]

Just got my boat home and am going to winterize tomorrow I'm looking and I only see One water drain plug on the port side and it is not the do not remove screw none on starboard side. is it possible that if the drive has been replaced with a newer one they didn't have all three? Will post a pic tomorrow. Thanks in advance

 

[Lou C]

Tilt the drive up to see the others 2 on stbd one on port

 

[Trackertrucker]

I've looked and they aren't there, tried to upload pic but the forum says its too big

 

[Lou C]

No Title

 

[Trackertrucker]

No Title

 

[Lou C]

Never saw one like that , could it have been re finished or welded?

 

[bruceb58]

Of course, something you should be doing annually anyway is pulling the drive and those water pockets will drain that way.

 

[Trackertrucker]

I really don't know, I just bought it in June, the po had it for 20 yrs and kept maintenance up on it very well

 

[Trackertrucker]

Lou, where do you get the -100 antifreeze?

 

[Lou C]

West marine & most boating stores around here sell it