Winterizing Chrysler 318's

[Dutch Voyager]

This is my first year I will winterize these engines myself, in the past the boat yard would pull the drain plugs. I wish to run anti freeze through them. The engines are fresh water cooled, my question is do I need to run them till the thermistat opens as that part already has anti freeze in it. or can I just start them and wait till the exhaust water turns pink, and I'm done? Thanks, Bill

 

[Maclin]

Re: Winterizing Chrysler 318's

I want to be sure of the terminology, as any advice is dependent on the exact type of system.

Fresh Water Cooled: Uses a heat exchanger(s) that has two passages. The heat exchanger's internal and external passages are isolated from each other. Engine(s) circulates coolant (water/antifreeze mix) thru the engine and heat exchanger's internal passages. Raw water from the lake/sea is circulated in an external passage around the internal passages to draw off the heat and then on out the exhaust. The engine's cooling system is closed and under pressure, and with proper coolant mix should be able to take sub-zero temperatures. The raw water is drawn up into the heat exchanger via the raw water pump.

Raw water cooled: Raw water is passed thru the engine's cooling system, which is "open", and on out thru the exhaust.

If you have heat exchanger(s) then I would not drain the engines unless you are intent on changing out their ant-freeze at this time. Just drain the raw water side of the cooling system, i.e. the exchanger's raw water "side" and all hoses and raw water pump housing(s) if it is inside the boat (engine mounted).

Putting pink antifreeze in the raw water side willl not do much, just complete draining should be enough. In a heat exchanger setup the exhaust water would turn pink very quickly as there is no thermostat in the raw water side of the system. Engine temperature is controlled by the thermostat(s) in the closed part of the system.

This is general advice and some systems may differ technically from the setup described.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Winterizing Chrysler 318's

This is my first year I will winterize these engines myself, in the past the boat yard would pull the drain plugs. I wish to run anti freeze through them. The engines are fresh water cooled, my question is do I need to run them till the thermistat opens as that part already has anti freeze in it. or can I just start them and wait till the exhaust water turns pink, and I'm done? Thanks, Bill

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,... Fresh water cooled, as in Lake Erie, or as in with heat exchangers,..??

 

[Dutch Voyager]

Re: Winterizing Chrysler 318's

Thanks Captain, You have answerd my question. The engines have heat exchangers, I have only heard this referred to as fresh water cooled or as a closed cooling system. OK so I will pull the drain plugs, but now I need to know where they all are. I'm aware of 3 on each exhaust manifold, and one just before each muffler. What about elsewhere on the block, or would all of the block area have anti freeze in it. What about the transmissions ( v drives ) does that area also contain anti freeze. When the yard did this they never removed anything from the transmissions. They would leave the drain plugs on top of the engines, I was able to account for all but 1 or 2, which I'm not sure where they took them out from. I would just have them do it, but they charge $500.00 to do both engines, kind of steep just to remove drain plugs. Thanks, Bill

 

[Maclin]

Re: Winterizing Chrysler 318's

I wish I knew more details about your particular system and where all of the drains points are. As far as the $500 charge, I have a humorous viewpoint...

Pulling drain plugs and ensure complete draining..... $50
Knowing what plugs to pull and where they are and what ones to leave alone....$450

 

[Dutch Voyager]

Re: Winterizing Chrysler 318's

laughing out loud Thanks, Bill

 

[Ned L]

Re: Winterizing Chrysler 318's

Not meaning to send this in another direction, however my preference is to run antifreeze though the raw water side until the exhaust water turns pink. Keeping coolant in the system rather than air is probably better from the point of internal corrosion (rusting in the manifolds if they are raw water cooled, & the inside of the exchanger), also the water pump impeller will probably like it more. those are the only advantages I would see.

 

[Dutch Voyager]

Re: Winterizing Chrysler 318's

Thanks Ned, As it turns out thats exactly what I did. I was uncertain about all the plugs, so rather then taking any chances I ran AF thru the raw water side. First I removed a couple of the plugs, and found there to be little water in the manifolds, but still enough to cause trouble. I made a new fitting in the raw water line that I attach a 3/4 inch hose to and put a pond pump into a 5 gallen bucket of AF, turn it on and in about a minute I was done. I did not have to start the engines. Thanks, Bill

 

[banshee owner]

Re: Winterizing Chrysler 318's

i hope you used plumbing antifreeze instead of automotive antifreeze. Plumbing is safer for environment as well as animals and it gets spilled right onto the ground