Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

[poconojoe]

Hi all, noob here...my first power boat. 2003 Bayliner 185, 4.3L (carb), alpha one drive. Looking at all the discussions here about whether to use the muffs to introduce antifreeze into the system. It seems there are two camps here. I dont want to do things "the lazy" way. I want to get it right. So, if I add the antifreeze through all of the engine hoses, (not using the muffs) how does the antifreeze get its way into the outdrive?
thanks,
Joe

 

[achris]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

Don't use antifreeze at all. Remove the drive and store it somewhere warm and dry. Then just drain the water out of the engine and leave it empty... Air don't freeze...

Chris......

 

[ziggy]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

how does the antifreeze get its way into the outdrive?

anti freeze don't need to be in the drive. when the drive is full in, or full down if ya wanna call it that, all the water drains out of the drive. water runs down hill. i beleive that down hill starts at the aft side of the riser. everything after that is down hill and will drain out. possibly another good reason to store your boat bow high too (which i also do). making sure it's down hill to drain. that said. i do exactly what achris said when i winterize. drive in the basement, air in the cooling system of my engine and manifold.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

Using antifreeze or not is up to you, but you MUST DRAIN ALL OF THE WATER from the engine and manifolds before you add the antifreeze.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

My son's Mercruiser is a recent model with plastic petcocks all over the place. we merely drain the water. His owner's manual is OK with that.

Mine is 30 years old and only has 1 brass petcock that's easy to drain. The rest are all brass plugs, which are a PITA to work with. Plus my owner's manual recommends adding anti freeze after the plugs are all removed and water drained. Then you have to pull the t-stat and hoses to pour the A-f in. A worse PITA.

I have been using the lazy way for 10 years now. I don't put the A-F jug on until the engine has been running at frull temperature for a full 10 mintes after the gauge comes up. Then, when I'm finished, I drain a cupfull out of the block (from the one usable petcock) and check the SpG against the straight anti-freeze. Every time I ever did it it showed full strength.

 

[slag]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

I, too, use antifreeze and then also drain the water. In my mind, I keep thinking that somewhere, somehow, buried in the engine, there is going to be a pool of water that isn't drained by the petcock that the antifreeze gets to and helps protect the engine. In fact, I've put antifreeze in the warm engine before at the water pump until it ran out of the exhaust. I then drain the engine and still get clear water coming out so maybe my theory doesn't make sense...

 

[achris]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

I, too, use antifreeze and then also drain the water. In my mind, I keep thinking that somewhere, somehow, buried in the engine, there is going to be a pool of water that isn't drained by the petcock that the antifreeze gets to and helps protect the engine. In fact, I've put antifreeze in the warm engine before at the water pump until it ran out of the exhaust. I then drain the engine and still get clear water coming out so maybe my theory doesn't make sense...

If the thermostat isn't open, that anti-freeze gets chucked straight out through the exhaust....

All you need do is drain the water out of the engine and manifold(s) and rest easy.... Save the money you would have spent on (unnecessary) AF and buy some new fishing gear.

Chris.....

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

There are various ways of winterizing, all aimed at the same thing.

I pull in antifreeze via the muffs as it puts antifreeze through the intake hoses, oil cooler, sea water pump, etc. Once you to get to the engine, it is best to drain block and manifolds, rather than rely on the antifreeze to be in strong enough concentration. Too much dilution of antifreeze happens up at the engine.

 

[poconojoe]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

Years ago we had a camp trailer. We used to blow all the water out of the lines with an air compressor. Can this be done with a boat? Also, if I decide to remove the out drive, how heavy are these things (alpha one). I wouldn't mind storing it in my basement as suggested.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

Antifreeze?
Why not just drain the water? Air isn't going to freeze. And it's obvious that there will be small amounts of water here and there in the block. But this residual bit of water will not damage the engine even if it does freeze.
But adding RV antifreeze to this residual water could give you a nice slushy or frozen mix at -40. Then you will have problems.

 

[achris]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

Years ago we had a camp trailer. We used to blow all the water out of the lines with an air compressor. Can this be done with a boat? Also, if I decide to remove the out drive, how heavy are these things (alpha one). I wouldn't mind storing it in my basement as suggested.

About 40kg.. (88#).

 

[lfunk11]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

hopefully I will be storing my boat in my basement/garage if it fits. So after I drain it do I put the draing plugs back on or leave them open? I assume put them back on. I don't have to take off the drive since the entire boat will be indoors - correct?

 

[skydiveD30571]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

You don't HAVE to store it with the drive off at all. It's just some people's personal preference. Same goes for drain plugs, I personally leave them out, others put them back in. Just remember to put them back in come spring.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

There are potential problems with freezing of the block if it has water in it, but an outdrive in the down position has nothing to freeze. Taking it off and storing it elsewhere is unnessary and a PITA unless you are afraid someone may steal it.

Having said that, though, a buddy had his boat shrinkwrapped, and of course the battery was pulled and he then drove it home. The outdrive was up all winter. The wrap around the prop deteriorated (from a sharp SS prop) just enough to let water in the thru hub of the prop. Come spring there was a puddle of oil under the lower unit, and he had to replace it. The shrinkwrapper assumed no liability since it was tight the last time he saw it.

Moral of the story - have it shrinkwrapped at the storage point, and lower the drive and pull the battery first.

 

[lfunk11]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

You don't HAVE to store it with the drive off at all. It's just some people's personal preference. Same goes for drain plugs, I personally leave them out, others put them back in. Just remember to put them back in come spring.

Thanks - not sure what I would do without this site

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

to quote the late Don S. Air doesnt freeze

 

[ricohman]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

to quote the late Don S. Air doesnt freeze

It sure doesn't. Maybe adding antifreeze is a southern thing? It gets extremely cold here (-45) and I don't know of anyone who adds AF. The dealer across the road from me just drains and wraps the boats. He says he has never added AF as that is the number one way people end up cracking motors. But then he gets to sell new motors.......

 

[Tmakaro]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

But antifreeze has rust inhibitors in it. Isn't that beneficial?
The thing I don't get is if you suck up antifreeze through muffs then when/how do you fog the carb? Seems a lot easier to just run the engine with water, while the engine is running, fog the carb then drain the water and forget about antifreeze.

 

[achris]

Re: Winterizing: add antifreeze with muffs or not?

It sure doesn't. Maybe adding antifreeze is a southern thing? It gets extremely cold here (-45) and I don't know of anyone who adds AF. The dealer across the road from me just drains and wraps the boats. He says he has never added AF as that is the number one way people end up cracking motors. But then he gets to sell new motors.......

If it can be proved his winterising caused the cracking, then he gets to GIVE AWAY new motors!

But antifreeze has rust inhibitors in it. Isn't that beneficial?
The thing I don't get is if you suck up antifreeze through muffs then when/how do you fog the carb? Seems a lot easier to just run the engine with water, while the engine is running, fog the carb then drain the water and forget about antifreeze.

Got it in one.... :thumb: