Winterizing - Interesting

[dvan1901]

Took my boat yesterday to be layed up for the winter; brand new so I wanted a mechanic to look it over the first go around. Anyways, I asked him what their winterizing procedure was and he went down the list and said "then we run anti freeze through the block to protect agains corrosion". I just thought it was interesting that he said that and not "to prevent freezing". Everything around here is freshwater, but thought it was interesting anyways.

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterizing - Interesting

That is because you don't need antifreeze in the engine to prevent freezing if you drained it properly, but it does help with rust.
If you don't get it all drained properly, all the antifreeze in the world is not going to mix with the water, it will just lay on top, and it's going to freeze and break anyway

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Winterizing - Interesting

That is because you don't need antifreeze in the engine to prevent freezing if you drained it properly, but it does help with rust.
If you don't get it all drained properly, all the antifreeze in the world is not going to mix with the water, it will just lay on top, and it's going to freeze and break anyway

Yep, I realize this. They actually run the antifreeze through the muffs and circulate it through the system. I drained the water out of everything before I took it to them to be winterized. When people, who do it properly, use antifreeze, you are supposed to get the engine up to temp, then hook up the antifreeze and run it until it starts to come out the back; that way you ensure that it has circulated through the engine. I've seen where some use a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze in a bucket, or some use pure antifreeze.

 

[Deanrw3]

Re: Winterizing - Interesting

Anti Freeze does not mix with water? HUH? "Just lies on top"

How do you explain the cooling system in cars? When you mix a 50-50 mix into your cars system the water doesn't seperate and freeze....So why would it do it anywhere else

Mixing AF with water lowers the freezing temp of water. Look on the back of AF bottle, and it will say mix water with AF and it makes it so it will not freeze until a low temp.

If I am wrong please expain...

Running AF though your motor also helps mix any AF with water that might be left over in the motor to lower the freezing point of the water and prevent it from freezing. However i have heard if drained properly this is not needed, just in case.

Dean

 

[Shaun78]

Re: Winterizing - Interesting

I have to agree with you. antifreeze will mix with water. The more water though the less effective the antifreeze becomes(lower burst point)

 

[JimS123]

Re: Winterizing - Interesting

You can't always drain all of the water if you merely pull the brass plugs. There are potential areas where pockets of water may still be present. That's why Merc recommends filling with AF thru the topmost fitting if you're in an extreme northern climate. Any water left will blend with the AF.

An alternate procedure is to buy a tank kit to attach to your muffs and then pump 5 gal of straight AF into the motor, as you fog it. I got lazy about 5 years ago and have done it that way ever since. A little more costly (5 gal instead of 1), but a lot easier.

If you start the AF tank after you have warmed up the engine to temp first (with the garden hose) to ensure the thermostat is open, there is no need to drain the block first.

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Winterizing - Interesting

"An alternate procedure is to buy a tank kit to attach to your muffs and then pump 5 gal of straight AF into the motor,..."
This is what the shop does, and the way you are supposed to do it. I agree with DonS to a point. If you just pour in antifreeze, it may not fully mix with the existing water, but if you do run the engine to temp, then put in the antifreeze mix, you ensure that antifreeze is distributed throughout the system.

 

[Deanrw3]

Re: Winterizing - Interesting

I think i misunderstood what Don was saying. I think it might be possible for AF and water to sit next to each other and the water could freeze.

I think Pooring it though also helps move any water out of the system also.

 

[Shaun78]

Re: Winterizing - Interesting

What if you run engine to temp then drain the plugs quickly(w/in 3-5 minutes) then run the antifreeze on the muffs. That's what I do.

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterizing - Interesting

I wasn't talking about mixing antifreeze and water in a bucket, of course it will mix with water, but if you expect a block or manifold full of water to suddenly mix because you dump a small amount of antifreeze in the thermostat housing or something, you are about to start replacing a cracked block. It's just not going to mix in all those narrow passages......... THINK about it.

 

[Shaun78]

Re: Winterizing - Interesting

All of this talk about cracked blocks makes me think that I did something wrong and want to redo winterizing my engine.I have antifreeze coming out of all 5 drain plugs when I open them so I should be allset. I also poured 2 gallons down the thermostat just in case there was any trapped water that didn't drain.

Don, would you recommend draining block after reaching temp(then run antifreeze through muffs) or just reach temp and then run antifreeze through the ears w/out draining block?

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterizing - Interesting

Just like the OEM service and owners manuals say. Drain completely, then add mixed antifreeze (NOT straight antifreeze).

 

[Shaun78]

Re: Winterizing - Interesting

I dont have an OEM service manual. I have the online manual but I don't see where the section for winterization is.

 

[dmcb]

Re: Winterizing - Interesting

If you don't have the manual, you should not do this yourself.
Imo, get the manual and follow it exactly and use it every year least you forget something important.
The engine does not have to be warm to drain.
Doug

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterizing - Interesting

I dont have an OEM service manual. I have the online manual but I don't see where the section for winterization is.

The online manual (#23) for your engine IS the OEM service manual.
Look on page 1B-50 paragraphs 11 thru 12.