Winterizing double check question on Alpha 1 350 with 5.7 Mercruiser

[Ski Bob]

Good day! Brother in law just bought a 1997 Sea Ray 210 with Alpha 1 350 engine and 5.7 Mercruiser outdrive. I have been nominated to help him winterize. I am a 1991 Four Winns OMC experience guy so it is different. Here is what I did and is it correct? I read a lot of threads, trust me! Thanks,

Pulled blue drain plug from each side of engine block. Pulled blue plug from each side on hose that runs just below manifold. Manifold drains? Pulled all four hoses from top multi jobby by thermostat housing and drained them all. Pulled large 2" hose from bottom of water pump. Blew air through both block holes as they were full of sediment. Seems previous owner must have simply did the antifreeze switch because all hose clamps are fused into this thing. Replacing all. Cranked engine over for a few seconds to blow water out of pump and impellers. Picked up new o-rings for the FOUR blue plugs that go back in. It is a carbureator engine so is there only 4 blue plugs? All hoses were tilted as needed to make sure water is out.

Drained lower unit grease and found resevour in engine compartment with no grease in it and it was gummed up and plugged. Cleared and cleaned and re-filled lower unit and little emergency bottle. Put new washers on drain and vent plugs.

Changed engine oil and engine oil fliter. Guess I should have changed the water separator too as previous owner seemed slack on other stuff. Probably old.

So, what is the new deal on using RV antifreeze? I am concerned about the runnning the engine and sucking RV antifreeze from a 5 gallon bucket like I saw on YouTube. What if thermostat doesn't open? Water not exchanged then? do not have owners manual for this boat. Dealer has to order and wants $80.00. Sounds steep!

Lastly, is fogging engine really a good thing? If so, each cylinder too? Or just shoot into carb slowly until it stalls. Of course now I have the water drained so I am down to manual or screw up engine! Or just fire into carb on a quick start and stall with fog?

Heck, for 22 years I rarely fog mine and have NEVER used stabilizer. But really, I was told by a carb guy run boat as low on fuel as possible then next spring, fill it up to mix it all. sounds better than stabil. thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: Winterizing double check question on Alpha 1 350 with 5.7 Mercruiser

Ayuh,... It's Drained, no real need for antifreeze..... Air don't freeze,....

'n, I'm guessin' there's a P/S cooler down under the motor that needs drainin', probably under the portside motor mount,...

If ya truly feel the need for antifreeze, the block is drained, so it'll fill with antifreeze, no t-stat, or mixin' to worry 'bout,...

 

[Ski Bob]

Re: Winterizing double check question on Alpha 1 350 with 5.7 Mercruiser

Thank you very much. I shall check for the PS cooler. Bob

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Winterizing double check question on Alpha 1 350 with 5.7 Mercruiser

Hey also, you ought to pull out those plugs again and poke in the holes with a coathanger or something. My motor and exhaust plugs always have a skim of rust in those holes that trap water.
I don't bother with anti freeze, if it finds some water and gets too diluted it loses protective ability. Water gets hard and expands in Minnesota, lived there done that.
I'm going for a leaf peep ride Sunday and then taking mine out. :grumpy: Hate to stop boating.

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Winterizing double check question on Alpha 1 350 with 5.7 Mercruiser

...Water gets hard and expands in Minnesota, lived there done that.

'Cause New Hampshire is known for it's mild winters?!! :friendly_wink:

 

[Ski Bob]

Re: Winterizing double check question on Alpha 1 350 with 5.7 Mercruiser

Love the coat hanger idea. Will do just that. Actually, I have a 21 foot Four Winns and am taking it out Sunday with wife and kids to look at the fall colors of Minnesota on beautiful Lake Minnetonka. I don't know if it's the lake or the gals in all the boats on the lake that qualify the lake as beautiful. But Sunday is my boating day. Brother in law is almost winterized so he can be a passenger this weekend. Thanks again.

 

[Ski Bob]

Re: Winterizing double check question on Alpha 1 350 with 5.7 Mercruiser

For the record, after all the great advice, I located FIVE blue drain plugs on this boat. The last one was yes, port side along the bottom by the mount, oh like you said! Thank you. So, if anyone knows of more than five, please speak up. Otherwise, I think I got this thing done. Found the gear case emergency bottle empty and basically full of gunk, not working, cleaned it, changed drive grease, greased fittings, changed oil, drained all five blue plugs, opened all hoses, cranked engine over a bit and even shot some fog in the thing. Oh, probably should buy a new water separator. Otherwise, going to hook the hoses back up, leave the blue plugs out and toss the recommended amount of MARVEL MYSTERY OIL in the gas tank. Carb expert says it's great stuff. He is not a Stabil fan and for sure said no Seafoam. He's an empty gas tank fan and then fill and dilute old stuff in spring. Feels condensation in plastic gas tank will be burned in spring run and go out with diluted new fuel. I bet a little bottle of Isopropol alcohol in spring may even help? New idea. Thanks again for all your tech help. Bob