winterizing

[egldvrbags]

1995 Mercruiser 4.3 LX

I've read the sticky and other threads regarding winterizing. I usually let the marina do it but wanted to give it a try myself this year and don't want a costly first year tuition!

I have the Merc manual for my engine and have followed the procedures to drain the block, manifolds, hoses, etc. It then describes an optional procedure using antifreeze/water mixture via the thermostat housing (Don has this in his sticky post as well).

I live in Wisconsin so it gets pretty darn cold here. The marina has never done this to my knowledge as I would've noticed it during start-up in the spring.

1. Are there any plusses/minuses to this?
2. The manual says to use marine antifreeze (I assume environmentally friendly) with anti corrosive - what type/brand is this?

Thanks!
Dave

 

[Bondo]

Re: winterizing

Ayuh,.......

If you've got All the water out of it,............

Why Waste the money on Antifreeze.......

Air does Not Freeze...............

btw,.........
Even the low-Tox is still Toxic.........

 

[ziggy]

Re: winterizing

Why Waste the money on Antifreeze.......

after reading about this for several years. i've decided the reason i want to do this is for the corrosion protection it offers...... after reading mercruisers idea on the subject. air is good for extending the season and is ok for winterizing. but adding anti freeze at lay up is better...............i've winterized with air for years w/o consiquences and only last year decided to change my tune...... it seems to me that anything that fights corrosion on a boat, is probably a good idea.....

i just used the pink stuff. rv antifreeze i think. got mine at the mercruiser store. so if it works for them.........

eg. use the search function here. there is much debate about this subject.......it seems either or is satisfactory. ya gotta agree w/ bondo though. air don't freeze, is free, and non toxic........

 

[mkpj1]

Re: winterizing

If I where you I would just follow the manual. Especially if you are a newbie. Water can get trapped in your manifolds by sand and setiment. Manifolds will eventually rust out ....especially if you run in salt water. Don't believe me....what happens to your rotors on your car when they get water run over them....instant rust.

The toxic antifreeze deal is getting tired. The EPA has done studies proving that ethylene glycol biodgrades in the soil and water in less than an hour and poses no threat to aquamarine life unless disposed of in large full strength quantanties. This was done as there was concern about de-iceing of planes which uses EG. This all runs into the sewer system and out to sea my friends. Your ..50/50....would degrade even quicker.

Am I saying...blow it into the lake.....ABSOLUTELY NOT. But let's be honest here. All boats are dropping some level of gas and oil into the lake which is much more harmful.

I drain my AF into a bucket and put it back into the container for next year. Then run the boat on muffs in the yard. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Don, Bondo, Air Don't Freeze Camp....When posed with the facts I think you guys are crazy. I say that with all due respect as you guys are invaluable to this forum. It's just physics, and my opinion.....go for it...I've got my flame retardant suit on.

 

[dvan1901]

Re: winterizing

I think I'm going to use the anit freeze this year; I busted a block last year because I missed a drain plug. I don't think adding antifreeze would have completely prevented it, but when I had the engine rebuilt I had a lot of corrosuion in the manifolds and I think putting some anit freeze would help with this. Plus for a minimal investment, why not?

 

[John_S]

Re: winterizing

"i just used the pink stuff. rv antifreeze i think."

If you are going through the trouble of doing the anti-freeze method (I do as well), I'd make sure it has a rust protection additive. Allot of the RV anti-freeze are just concerned with not bursting drain pipes, which are mostly plastic.

 

[johnsonrc]

Re: winterizing

5th Plug, 97 Mercruiser 350, SeaRay SunDeck

Easy out for the 4 (manifold and block) blue plugs, but I can't find the 5th. I heard it was a fuel cooler. ?

It's a touchy feely search down there.

Much Appreciated.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: winterizing

John, I dump the antifreeze down the raw water hose to drive the water out of the power steering cooler. You will see it emerge from the outdrive water pickup. My P/s Cooler did not have a plug on it, and it was hard to get to.