winterizing an I/O

[Captain Losten Confuzed]

Well it's almost time to winterize the boat, and I'm looking for some opinions on what is the best type of anti-freeze to use. In the past I've always used regular car anti-freeze. But thinking of the enviroment I'm starting to wonder if perhaps an RV style anti-freeze might be better. People who own summer camps in the north country pour RV anti-freeze down thier drains for the winter and then flush the anti-freeze into the septic tanks in the summer. Which anti-freeze is better for the enviroment?

 

[Bondo]

Re: winterizing an I/O

Well it's almost time to winterize the boat, and I'm looking for some opinions on what is the best type of anti-freeze to use. In the past I've always used regular car anti-freeze. But thinking of the enviroment I'm starting to wonder if perhaps an RV style anti-freeze might be better. People who own summer camps in the north country pour RV anti-freeze down thier drains for the winter and then flush the anti-freeze into the septic tanks in the summer. Which anti-freeze is better for the enviroment?

Ayuh,..... Drain the cooling system, Dry, 'n ya don't need Any antifreeze,....

Air, just Don't freeze....

 

[tpenfield]

Re: winterizing an I/O

We mostly use RV/marine anti-freeze. Feel free to join in.

If you are in a really cold area, then you might want to go with the "-100 F" type and not the "-50 F" type.

As Bond-o indicated . . . You would also want to drain the manifolds and engine block as an added measure of security.

 

[Bondo]

Re: winterizing an I/O

We mostly use RV/marine anti-freeze. Feel free to join in.

If you are in a really cold area, then you might want to go with the "-100 F" type and not the "-50 F" type.

As Bond-o indicated . . . You would also want to drain the manifolds and engine block as an added measure of security.

Ayuh,.... He's right in-between where I met ya, 'n my house ya visited Ted,...

The Cape, is where the sweet water seas, turn into the St. Lawrence creek....

'bout 8 miles by hi-way, or maybe 15 miles by barge...from my houses...

So,... Ya, it gets Mighty Cold there... Air, still don't freeze though....

 

[Captain Losten Confuzed]

Re: winterizing an I/O

I hadn't considered draining the block. The manual didn't say to since its a closed cooling system. I was refering to the exhaust mainfolds and all the lines. Draining the block makes sense though. My worries are using the best (enviromantally safe) anti-freeze to flush the manifolds since its so hard to collect as it exits the vessel. I always try to collect as best I can, but I used the boat well into the winter months chasing walleye and therefore need to winterize the manifold freaquently.

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: winterizing an I/O

Almost time to winterize? I believe we dropped below freezing last night. Might have stayed over 32 near the water, though. Still, I'd be on it this weekend even though forecast calls for some warmer nights this upcoming week. I finished winterizing mine a couple weeks ago and my boat lives indoors near Fisher's Landing on the river.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: winterizing an I/O

I have always had good luck collecting the antifreeze when I drrained it from the block in the spring. A pan under the garboard drain collected it pretty well. I save the A-F containers and used them to store the A-F over the summer.

Whereas I agree that air doesn't freeze, I always had some residual water remain in the block, after draining. I therefore recommend filling the block and mannys with A-F. I also recommend flushing the PS cooler and water intakes with antifreeze, since they also have residual water in them, in my experience.

 

[Don S]

Re: winterizing an I/O

Residual water is not going to expand and break anything. Water has to be enclosed with no where to expand to do damage.

Fill a dinner plate with water and put it in the freezer. The water has a place to go.
Put water in a drinking glass and the glass will break.

 

[Augoose]

Re: winterizing an I/O

Don't forget servicing the lower unit and bellows inspections!

 

[Bondo]

Re: winterizing an I/O

I hadn't considered draining the block. The manual didn't say to since its a closed cooling system. I was refering to the exhaust mainfolds and all the lines. Draining the block makes sense though. My worries are using the best (enviromantally safe) anti-freeze to flush the manifolds since its so hard to collect as it exits the vessel. I always try to collect as best I can, but I used the boat well into the winter months chasing walleye and therefore need to winterize the manifold freaquently.

Ayuh,... Ya didn't mention the closed coolin', 'n I don't know Volvos well enough to know ya got it...

In that case,...
So long as the antifreeze side is doped enough for the temps expected,...
All ya gotta do is Drain the Raw water side of things,....

Like I said, I don't know yer motor, so someone else will have to tell ya Exactly what needs drainin',. 'n what don't....

Almost time to winterize? I believe we dropped below freezing last night. Might have stayed over 32 near the water, though. Still, I'd be on it this weekend even though forecast calls for some warmer nights this upcoming week. I finished winterizing mine a couple weeks ago and my boat lives indoors near Fisher's Landing on the river.

I also don't think it got cold enough, long enough,...
But,...
Mine is sittin' in it's slip, all drained, just in case.....

 

[jkust]

Re: winterizing an I/O

Ayuh,... Ya didn't mention the closed coolin', 'n I don't know Volvos well enough to know ya got it...

In that case,...
So long as the antifreeze side is doped enough for the temps expected,...
All ya gotta do is Drain the Raw water side of things,....

Like I said, I don't know yer motor, so someone else will have to tell ya Exactly what needs drainin',. 'n what don't....



I also don't think it got cold enough, long enough,...
.

I brought mine in the other day to get winterized and while it has been down below 27 degrees here, the Marinemax was confident it hadn't been cold enough yet to cause damage. I keep mine in the garage and it stays warm but their 'confidence' is important because someone could bring their cracked block in for winterization and blame the marina for it. If it gets cold enough to cause damage then you bring it in for winterizing, I believe the Marinemax will verify the block isn't cracked so they don't get stuck. The day I brought it in, it was going to be 24F that night and yet they were undaunted.

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: winterizing an I/O

I also don't think it got cold enough, long enough,...
But,...
Mine is sittin' in it's slip, all drained, just in case.....

Yup I agree. But no sense in holding out. I was hoping for one more trip out before I winterized mine last month, but then I saw how low the water level had gotten, so I gave in and winterized.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: winterizing an I/O

with a closed cooling system, check to make sure your cooling system AF is up to snuff. do a simple check on the specific gravity.

if you have a half system, you will need to drain the manifolds and anything else the manual tells you to do. and depending on which year you have, you will need to pull the raw water line from the pump and drain that, as it will hold water like a p-trap.

I find on my V-P, that pulling the drains, impeller, and puting them in a plastic bag zip tied to the keys is a good way to remember to put them back in in spring. I also pull my raw water line, blow it out, and rinse a bit of RV AF thru it just because I can. I also remove the drive and inspect the bellows and grease the shafts.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: winterizing an I/O

Don S, so your manifolds and risers are shaped like a plate? Mine are much more like a cup.

And the residual water is not a threat to crack anything? So you cannot forsee where a piece of rust or dirt traps water? Or a casting defect traps water? A lot of professional mechanics recommend winterizing with antifreeze. I assume there is a good reason. I probably get a cup of residual water out of each drain point when I introduce the antifreeze.

 

[Bondo]

Re: winterizing an I/O

Don S, so your manifolds and risers are shaped like a plate? Mine are much more like a cup.

And the residual water is not a threat to crack anything? So you cannot forsee where a piece of rust or dirt traps water? Or a casting defect traps water? A lot of professional mechanics recommend winterizing with antifreeze. I assume there is a good reason. I probably get a cup of residual water out of each drain point when I introduce the antifreeze.

Ayuh,.... That's Why ya gotta prod the holes out with a wire or screw...

None, I repeat, None of the marinas around here use antifreeze, unless specifically asked too...

A cup of water can't/ won't hurt a thing...