Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

[egleas84]

I've had my boat out 4 times and now it's going to get to 31 F tonight. Do I need to drain? Or is there no way the water in the block could freeze that fast? This my first I/O. Anyone have a link to a manual to locate freeze plugs? Specifics in sig.

Thanks!

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

Im not suggesting that you dont drain it [My disclaimer] But I have pushed my luck and down to the low 20s and not had a problem. You could put a trouble light in the engine comp to give off some heat.. Is the boat covered ? Hook up muffs and start it and run it for 5 mins to warm it up . .. I know its late but..... I M H O you dont have to worry about it, but others on this site will disagree with me

 

[egleas84]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

Its in my detatched garage. Which is practically the same thing as being outside if not a little better. My trouble light is fluorescent so I don't think it will help much . I have a 110v pipe warmer for houses. I thought about laying that in the bilge and leaving the cover on the engine, I just dont want to blow up the boat.

 

[not enuf toys]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

i would think that you would be fine. the tempature would need to drop below freezing for longer than a couple hours (overnight) to generate an issue. is you detached garage insullated?

if you want to be safe, draining the block and manifolds only takes just a few minutes

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

Its probably more then a little better. I bet your gar stays 3 or more deg warmer. Do you have a thermometer in the garage? Once again I wouldn't worry about. BUT...its your boat. Pipe heater not a bad idea if your worried. Im not sure where the drain plugs are on that model.

 

[egleas84]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

I found 1 peacock valve on the port aft of the block a few inches below the head gasket. Drained at least 1/2 gallon of very clean cold water. I didn't see any others or any rubber/plastic freeze plugs. Nothing I could see on the exhaust either (assuming thats the manifold you're speaking of)

It's probably not going to damage it even if it gets low in temp if i didnt drain the water, after just buying the boat and just getting it tuned and re-prop'ed I'm kinda nervous to loose a good power package!

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

When in doubt,you drain it out!!!!

 

[ziggy]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

i'm with jj05. i'm drained right now. it's 30*F out right now too...

I didn't see any others or any rubber/plastic freeze plugs. Nothing I could see on the exhaust either (assuming thats the manifold you're speaking of)

look straight up and above the block drain valve, on the bottom of the manifold. you should see a hex head bolt. remove this bolt and probe the hole with a wire while it's draining.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

It's probably not going to damage it even if it gets low in temp if i didnt drain the water,

Only if it doesn't get cold enough!......Do you feel lucky? Physics is a "HARD" science!

 

[egleas84]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

Found the hex screw. That drained quite a lot of water! It appeared to have some gas in it as well... Normal?

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

Dude I would drain.. Looked at the weather and it says it will be 29 on Wednesday.. I would get all the raw water out of her(You got the manual).. You just did that work to get it running right.. Don't risk it

 

[egleas84]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

Dude I would drain.. Looked at the weather and it says it will be 29 on Wednesday.. I would get all the raw water out of her(You got the manual).. You just did that work to get it running right.. Don't risk it

Thanks Josh, I test ran today then drained the manifold and the block again this afternoon because of the nasty weather coming. Hurry up Summer!!!

I don't have the manual

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

I don't have the manual

There is a online one... IDK the link to it.. Maybe someone will be kind enough to post it... Say please

 

[mikel1291979]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

Drain the dang thing!!! For the love of all that is holy. I am replacing an engine right for that same exact reason. If it even hits 40 around here again this summer I will be in the boat with an electric heater, blanket, emergency heat blanket and a hair dryer.....

 

[egleas84]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

there is a online one... Idk the link to it.. Maybe someone will be kind enough to post it... Say please

please

 

[acuraguy81]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

I thow a space heater in my bilge set it on low...just a small one..

 

[wifisher]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

If it is in a garage it would be fine, but if it makes you feel better to drain it, by all means go for it. It would have to be 31 for an awfully long time to get your garage down to that temp, let alone the engine block parked inside.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

I thow a space heater in my bilge set it on low...just a small one..

that sounds dangerous...

 

[boaterinsd]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

Drain the dang thing!!! For the love of all that is holy. I am replacing an engine right for that same exact reason. If it even hits 40 around here again this summer I will be in the boat with an electric heater, blanket, emergency heat blanket and a hair dryer.....

so where do you live that you had that happen? they also make power blocks to plug into that are temp. activated, nice to have incase you miss the temp or something.

 

[not enuf toys]

Re: Freezing tonight, to drain or not to drain?

i have been watching this post go on for a while and i dont understand why....

if anyone is nervous about tempature durring this transission period of spring, not deep freeze winter (and you are allowed to be reguarless of what anyone else says) just pull the drain plugs. simple job takes just a few minutes.

why add lightbulbs, space heaters, engine blocks or hired help with candle sticks to keep it warm???

for engine cracks from freezing there has to be water there to expand...solid water in the unit...no water, no expansion.

i know several folks that do not use antifreeze for winterization, they just drain the water out of the block, water pump and hoses. that is their way and they have been doing it for years no matter what anyone else tells em'

i on the other hand have always winterized with antifreeze. and durring spring if i get nervous pull the plugs. its too simple of a job not to