Winterizing- need to fill with anti freeze?

[Shoebox]

Does your boat have catalytic converters?

On mine, there wasn't an easy way to draw antifreeze directly into the water pump. I used a fake-a-lake. You do need to drain all the water first, and reconnect all the hoses and plugs.

I suppose I will be fogging the cylinders directly though at some point. Maybe tomorrow if it's not raining.

[trayson]

Many will tell you that it's silly not to do anti-freeze. IF you do, you need to be sure that either the thermostat is pulled or the engine is up to temp to ensure it's getting into the areas behind the thermostat. OR they say that you DRAIN first completely, then fill with anti-freeze. This seems the best suggestion.

Personally I subscribe to the "drain completely, there's nothing left to freeze" camp. The downside to this is that the Pro-antifreeze camp will say that the antifreeze makes it so your empty block isn't getting corrosion.

If I was going to use antifreeze, I'd add a flush pro valve or intert a brass ball valve Tee so you can tap the garden hose into the intake line. No way I'm going to mess with a plunger whatever setup. Sure the flush pro is expensive (my boat already had one) but it's dirt cheap to add a brass ball valve tee so you simply connect the hose and turn the lever.

[Shoebox]

Many will tell you that it's silly not to do anti-freeze. IF you do, you need to be sure that either the thermostat is pulled or the engine is up to temp to ensure it's getting into the areas behind the thermostat. OR they say that you DRAIN first completely, then fill with anti-freeze. This seems the best suggestion.

That's what I did. Worked great.

Personally I subscribe to the "drain completely, there's nothing left to freeze" camp. The downside to this is that the Pro-antifreeze camp will say that the antifreeze makes it so your empty block isn't getting corrosion.

That's fine if you live in an area where you don't regularly get below-zero weather. I look at it as cheap insurance, and the mechanic at the marina puts antifreeze in all the boats he winterizes. If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for me.

If I was going to use antifreeze, I'd add a flush pro valve or intert a brass ball valve Tee so you can tap the garden hose into the intake line. No way I'm going to mess with a plunger whatever setup. Sure the flush pro is expensive (my boat already had one) but it's dirt cheap to add a brass ball valve tee so you simply connect the hose and turn the lever.

That would be a great solution. However, the fake-a-lake worked great and was easy to do, and I don't have a bucket of antifreeze inside my boat.

[Dom08]

So if we use the garden hose to bring the boat up to temp we can shut it down and put the hose into a bucket of antifreeze and it will suck it in and we can run that into the system?

Since the garden hose should prime the system

[Shoebox]

So if we use the garden hose to bring the boat up to temp we can shut it down and put the hose into a bucket of antifreeze and it will suck it in and we can run that into the system?

Since the garden hose should prime the system

Yes, but then the antifreeze will be diluted with water. Better to drain the water out. Took me about an hour, having never done it before. Probably half that next time.

[MLA]

So if we use the garden hose to bring the boat up to temp we can shut it down and put the hose into a bucket of antifreeze and it will suck it in and we can run that into the system?

I do not recommend this method, as you end up with a diluted mixture in the block, thats impossible to predict its protection level. A good portion of the A/F is going to divert right to the exhaust. What does enter the block, will mix with the water. You wont get a wall of A/F that pushes the water out.

Drain all the water first, then induce the A/F if you feel its still needed.

As to corrosion protection, that depends on what type marine/RV antifreeze you use. Some are intended for fresh water systems that are 99% plastic and rubber.

[larry_arizona]

Use marine AF propylene glycol. Avoid RV alcohol based AF intended for RV and marine plumbing systems.




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[MJHSupra]

Use marine AF propylene glycol. Avoid RV alcohol based AF intended for RV and marine plumbing systems.


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^^^ Use this ^^^

This was an interesting read: http://www.mastercraft.com/teamtalk/...ad.php?t=70342

[deerfield]

Dom08 - Drain all water. Then, fill with antifreeze. Take a look at this. Did it every year for 2007 Outback. Lived in Midwest where temps could dip below zero. Probably not necessary, but my effort to give the engine best care I could and avoid corrosion. - Deerfield


https://forum.moomba.com/album.php?albumid=320

[DOCDRS]

So if we use the garden hose to bring the boat up to temp we can shut it down and put the hose into a bucket of antifreeze and it will suck it in and we can run that into the system?

Since the garden hose should prime the system

NO do not do this.....it will not work.....the thermostat lets hot coolant out... most of the antifreeze will bypass the block and flow right out the exhaust mani. What little that does enter the block will be so diluted with block water you will have no freeze protection.