Re: Winterizing- How to get antifreeze in 3.0l?
here's how i do my 3.0 cobra. <br />1. drain the lower unit & add fresh gear lube. the 3.0 takes approx. 2 qts.<br />2.start the engine with muffs attached & add fuel conditioner to the fuel tank. let the engine run for a few minutes to allow the conditioner to be distributed thru the fuel lines etc.<br />3. fog the engine. remove the flame arrestor & with the engine still running & at idle speed, spray the oil down the carb till the engine stalls. remove the spark plugs & spray some oil into the plug holes. u can also use regular motor oil for this purpose. remove the coil wire so the engine can't start & turn the engine over a few times to coat the cylinder walls with the oil.<br />4. ok, you're ready to winterize the engine. remove the drain plugs. there's 1 each for the engine block & manifold. make sure the boat is level so all of the water drains out. take a coat hanger or piece of wire & shove it in the drain holes to remove any rust, sand which can block the drain holes. tighten the plugs after they completely drain. remove the large hose that goes from the engine water pump & t-stat housing. let it drain. after it drains, reconnect the bottom half only for now. remove the small hose from the t- stat housing. it's right above the larger one. let it drain & leave it off for now. go to the lower unit. on the port side there is a small drain plug. remove the plug & let it drain. this drains the pick up pump. u may have to raise the lower unit to get it to drain completely. pull the coil wire again & turn the engine over to purge any water remaining in the pump. after it drains replace the plug. remove the small hose from the t- stat housing to the manifold. it's a tight fit, but i only remove the end that connects to the stat housing. <br />5. now you're ready to add the antifreeze. forget the bucket method. mix up a 50-50 mixture of water & antifreeze. get a funnel, & fill the manifold thru the small hose till it runs out the hose. reattach the hose. do the same to the large hose that i mentioned earlier. reattach that hose also. now fill the small hose from the t- stat housing. watch the lower unit. when u see the mixture come out the pee hole, stop filling. reattach that hose. clean up any spills & yer done!<br />6. here's a couple other things i do when i winterize. remove the flame arrestor, & cover the carb with a plastic baggie that completely covers it to keep moisture out of the carb. tape it down with duct tape. also tape over the hose that attaches to the valve cover. tape over the intakes on the lower unit with duct tape, to keep ice etc. out. it makes a mess when u remove it in the spring, but u can clean it up with mineral spirits. <br />7. make sure there's no water in the bilge. use a shop vac or a sponge to remove any water.<br />8. remove the drain plug, & raise the bow so any water that gets in can drain out.<br />8. leave the lower unit completely down so the bellows don't take a set.<br />9. pull the battery.<br />10. grease the gimbal bearing.<br />11. put some mothballs in a container to keep rodents away.<br />11. vacuum the carpet with a shop vac if's wet.<br />12. clean the seats etc. with armor all or something similiar to help protect them from the elements.<br />13. get a good winter cover {very important} & tie it down well to protect you're investment from the winter elements.<br />14. go the the store. pick up a six- pack & congratulate yourself on the fine job u did. not to mention the fact that u saved youself a couple hundred $$$$ by doing it yourself.<br />i've been doing it this way for over 10 yrs. & never had a problem, so don't sweat it. i didn't mention changing the oil, 'cause u already knew that. good luck.
