Alternative winterizing

^^Exactly how I have always done all my boats. But I went exotic, and have about 6 feet of hose.

BS won't happen, it failed because of poor torqueing of the head bolts not because she made a thousand one mile trips to school.

Sounds like some material for Mythbusters to work on!

I said If you repeat this. ONe time aint gonna do it.

One way to blow the head gasket is failure to let the engine heat up fully before turning it off. If you repeat this, it is a possibility. I wouldn't start it up for like 2 minutes in the offseason just to start it up. Let it warm up 100%. Same in a car, My Uncle's Dodge Durango Blew a head gasket, His wife would take the boys to school in the winter, it was only like 1 mile away. Everyday she did this, and a week later the head gasket blew.

74SkiNautique wrote: If you dont let it heat up fully, You can only really do this by putting it in the water and using it, You have a risk of blowing the head gasket.

Chris,
I've lost you where you're going with this comment. If the engine is run long enough on the garden hose, it will heat up and not need to go in the water - correct? Where's the risk of a blown head gasket coming in?

Last year I stopped by to pet the boat in the middle of winter. I just turned the engine over a little with a wrench so that the pistons weren't in the same exact spot. Don't know if it did any good but it didn't cost anything either. I was also told it was bad to start an engine if you weren't going to let it warm up good.

Sounds like alot of extra work, but maybe it isn't work to you if you enjoy doing it!

after many, many boats in the hundreds over the years??? I drain the block and manifolds and because I Buy cheaply RV anti freeze, i suck or pour 2 gallons into each engine without the thermostat open, normally in the thermostat housing is a small passage that goes right into the manifolds. I will warm the engine if the customer wants an oil change. as im pouring the last half gallon of AF in I'll fog the engine.
If the engine wont start I'll remove the big waterpumpm hose and fill.
when you drain the block you are removing a full cavity of water and if it did freeze the water has no where to go, simply draining the block is sufficient. over the years on my own boats i never added antifreeze, simply drained the block and left the plugs out until spring and then re-installed

ac505 wrote: I have used the "suck from the bucket" method for the last few years with no probs, in my view I am ensuring that every part of the cooling system is suitably protected - I am personally not as confident this can be achieved with the "disconnect and pour antifreeze method". I run the engine up to temp with a hose feed, then immediately switch over to a bucket of antifreeze - I've got a diverter valve for this so the swap over is immediate hence no time for the thermostat to close down. I always crack open the drain plugs a little to ensure the antifreeze has circulated. I'm always open to learning so if this method is wrong or problematic, I'd love to understand why.

AC,
I'll restate the major concern. Without draining the block, there is no way of knowing that you have the proper freeze protection in all parts of the engine. Some of the water from the RWP is diverted to the exhaust through the manifolds. The engine only takes what it needs to keep the proper temp. With regular antifreeze, and say there's a gallon of water in the block, there is no way of knowing you have gotten a gallon of antifreeze into it and properly mixed. With RV antifreeze, it must be used full strength and can't be diluted. Even if you used a hydrometer or a refractometer from a sample you still won't know the mix strength throughout the entire engine block.

Draining and pouring in a known strength is really the safest way plus, you don't need to worry if the T stat is open or closed. The antifreeze will flow backwards into the block through the circulating pump.

what a way to waste money, they dont need 5 cases...hahaha

8122pbrainard wrote: I've commented before that I'd really like to know who and where someone decided this was the way to winterize. 5 or 6 cases for 5 boats! Sucking from buckets or Flush Pros! Kiddie pool collection! Hopefully a refractometer for checking the freeze level (for RV). I have a feeling someone saw a large marina set up with a purge/circulating system and thought this was the way it was supposed to be done. Never mind what the manual says!! Quicker? Maybe - After you've building the contraption! Safer? Not with out draining!! Expensive? Yes - More antifreeze! (got to get the exhaust tubing protected!!!

[QUOTE=emccallum] A lot of folks around here are into the sucking antifreeze from a bucket method. QUOTE]

These people must be afraid of wrenches!!

Threaded plugs are scary!

A lot of folks around here are into the sucking antifreeze from a bucket method. Two things that worry me....What if the thermostat is closed and the antifreeze doesnt get into the engine? Second, the antifreeze that stays in the strainer ruins the plastic. If I am in the boat removing impellers, loosening belts etc, how long does it take to remove a few plugs and do it right??

it was worth taking a picture Pete, i wish i would have, these guy's trip over dollars to pick up nickels, recently they are draining our lake for the new damn and out in the distance you could see 4 wheeler wheels sticking up in the air and the "rescue crew" went out to pull it from the lake, big dollar 4 wheeler with the key still in it, we figured the guy was on the ice and broke thru, no body though, maybe insurance job?
Pete you know about metals, from being submerged alot of the metal parts broke right off easily such as the brake arm and other metal parts, it was strange, any explanation?

stopped in amazement yesterady while riding my bicycle to watch the locals having a winterizing party, 4 boats on the street waiting for thier turn.
These guy's made a 2x4 frame and lined it with plastic sheeting with a kiddie pool underneath that. it was an all day process it seemed. I stood back and watched, they had 5 or 6 cases of antifreeze and im sure the same amount of beer to match.... I keep my trap shut because these guy's have a tendency to call you any hour of the day or night and want to talk about boats and want them repaired while they wait. I just finished up a trans from my neihborhood, I even offered to pull the boat to my shop, through another guy, he insisted the local dealer do the repair, well somehow i wound up with his trans, the dealer nailed him for 1300, the guy is snakey and he is a shopper, looking for the best possible deal.
he found out I did the trans through the grapevine and I ran into him yesterday and I went out my way to tell him I would of did the job in my driveway for $500.00, obviously i was rattling his chain. I thought it was pretty funny