Winterizing How-To

[Erie-S-Cape]

I just purchased (2) new complete outdrives for my 1988 Sea Ray 270 Amberjack 4.3L. There are some prevenitive maintenance items that I want to get done before I reinstall the new outdrives & I will not be able to get all comleted before winter sets in. My delima is that with the drives off I obviously can't use muffs to provide water for cooling, that's one problem. the other thing is when I removed the old outdrives I moved shifter in full forward position & I'm not sure what happens if I move them back so I can get in neutral for starting engines. I want to run the engines so I can change my oil, run antifreeze thru block & fog out. Does anyone have a process that I could follow? I just don't know if I can hook a hose from a container full water & then switch it to antifreeze. Will the engine block water pump pull in the fluids & circulate thru the block & out the stern?
Any help would be much appriciated.

Sincerely,

Curt
Erie-S-Cape

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterizing How-To

You can run the engine by hooking up the water to the cooling hose from inside the boat. Just make an adapther fitting.
Shifting into neutral is not a problem, just put it back in fwd when you install the new drives.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Winterizing How-To

And the block pump won't pull water, you need to use a pressurized water source, or gravity feed.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Winterizing How-To

And I personally feel the whole anti-freeze thing is a waste of time & money. 99% chance that the engine will break down or wear out looooong before it rots out; (and I speak from 24 yrs in the boat repair biz) just drain it and forget about it... Just my opine.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Winterizing How-To

I just don't know if I can hook a hose from a container full water & then switch it to antifreeze. Will the engine block water pump pull in the fluids & circulate thru the block & out the stern?

Ayuh,.... Even With the outdrives mounted, that particular winterization process is a recipe for Disaster....
Almost a Guaranteed Frozen block....
You Absolutely, Positively Have to Drain the block before tryin' to add the Antifreeze....
And,...
If you've already got it Drained,.... Why screw around with the antifreeze at All,..??
Air, just Don't Freeze.... 100% Insurance against a Frozen, Busted, Cracked block come spring...

Just be sure to drain ALL the water from Everything.....

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Winterizing How-To

I beg to differ, sir.

Air will indeed freeze. It has a freezing point considerably lower than that of water however- and if that temperature is ever reached on this planet, then the last thing I'd worry about is my boats engine block cracking!

Sorry, it's late in the week........couldn't resist.