Winterizing my SN176

   I have read through your forums looking for the answers I need to no avail. I'm sure with all the info on here my answers are on here somewhere but I can't find it.

I am winterizing my '96 SN 176 and have a few questions. I am no mechanic, but I've been racing stock cars for years, so I'd like to think I can do this without paying somebody else.

   I have drained the block, and filled it as per my owners manual (is there a better way?) The owners manual is not the greatest as far as pictures go, so I'm having troubles figuring out where exactly the trans cooler is, and how to properly drain and fill it with AF for the winter months. I have found a small cylinder (like a old ignition coil size) drained it and have found that the lines running off the side do have trans oil in them, is this all the tranny cooler is? Where should I fill it? I see the strainer runs to what I think is the cooler, should the strainer have AF in it?

If anybody has any help it would be greatly appreciated. I think I have done all I can to keep my new toy safe so I can play next summer.

I have lost a race motor to not winterizing it, and would rather it didn't happen again, thanks


bonuts

Alright thanks, I found the five drains, and did the u pipe one, thanks for the help


   bonuts

BTW, i warm the engine, drain it at 4 or 6 points, 2 at both sides of the block, 2 or 4 drains at the manifolds, pull the water hose at the pickup and run 2 gallons of RV anti-freeze through the system...pull the plugs and fogg the cylinders.
when you drain the block at the fittings and nothing comes out, poke something in the hole to remove the sediment, many engines have been lost this way because the owner assumed there was no water in it when nothing came out of the fittings

Winterization thread with pictures

eric lavine wrote: when you drain the block at the fittings and nothing comes out, poke something in the hole to remove the sediment, many engines have been lost this way because the owner assumed there was no water in it when nothing came out of the fittings

Better yet, replace the petcocks with plugs.....they are unlikely to clog up like the small openings of the petcock drains. I was frustrated with this problem for the last time this year and now have plugs back the block.

LaurelLakeSkier wrote: eric lavine wrote: when you drain the block at the fittings and nothing comes out, poke something in the hole to remove the sediment, many engines have been lost this way because the owner assumed there was no water in it when nothing came out of the fittings Better yet, replace the petcocks with plugs.....they are unlikely to clog up like the small openings of the petcock drains. I was frustrated with this problem for the last time this year and now have plugs back the block.

Mark,
Did your boat come with the cheap "radiator" petcocks or did you put them in?? Hmm! Do Indmars come with them??

You haven't been listening to me on the drain petcocks!! I thought we reviewed them when I was over looking at your cracked manifold a couple years ago.

Petcocks with removeable center stems - good for probing the drain for sand/sediment:



I've got them on all the boats. Good old Mcmaster Carr!!

baumanmt wrote: Hey guys, I have an 84 2001 and live in northern Montana. It can be 10-40 below zero for extended periods of time here in the winter, so I'm always worried about the winterizing job I do. This year I changed oil and filter, only drained 2 plugs on the Block?, took off strainer, took out impeller, took out battery, removed thermostat and poured in two gallons of RV antifreeze. I left the plugs in so the antifreeze would stay in, is this not correct? Should I leave the block plugs out? And where is the plug on the "U' that was mentioned in this post. Plus I see people mentioning 4 to 6 drain plugs and I only undid two, this has made me nervous since it was 5 degrees here this morning! Thanks for your help

TRBenj wrote: Winterization thread with pictures

Did you miss this link Tim posted? The pictures are self explanatory.

Tims link is a lot of help- Thanks. Still didn't see if he had mentioned whether or not to leave the plugs in or out? Do you want to keep the antifreeze trapped in with the plugs?

Cool- thanks thats what I did

damonwells wrote: TRBeng > do you still pull the water pump if you run anti-freeze through the engine ?

I always pull my pump off per the PCM instructions. I remove the impeller and store it all inside- Im convinced thats one of the reasons my impellers last so long (they dont take a set while sitting for 6 months).

Remember, I dont suck up the antifreeze from a bucket- I pour it in per PCM's instructions.

John - I'm with you. I am going to replace my impellar next year (3rd year) for same reason - I have heard about guys having to chase down those rubber chunks. That risk is not worth $25 to me.