Winterizing Question: Antifreeze or empty?

[hostage]

So I have been winterizing my boat every year by warming it up on the muffs, draining the block, and then running Marine Antifreeze into it, while killing the engine w/ fogging oil. I got that info from this forum, though it seems like a lot of people I know just drain the block and call it a night and I have never heard of them having an issue. Am I going overboard with using antifreeze?

 

[oldjeep]

Comes up every year, but it is a matter of choice as long as you have first gotten all the water out.

I drain mine and then pour -100 Marine antifreeze in through the hoses because I like the corrosion prevention aspect - I don't use a fake a lake.

If you are killing the engine with fogging oil then I sure hope you have a carb.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Am I going overboard with using antifreeze?

In my opinion - Yes. To quote Bondo - "air don't freeze". However if spending $10 on antifreeze makes you sleep better, then do so.

you are draining the manifolds as well as the block, correct?

BTW, I have the same opinion on fogging oil on an I/O

 

[oldjeep]

In my opinion - Yes. To quote Bondo - "air don't freeze". However if spending $10 on antifreeze makes you sleep better, then do so.

you are draining the manifolds as well as the block, correct?

BTW, I have the same opinion on fogging oil on an I/O

I wish I could get antifreeze for $10 Banfrost 2000 is more like $20 a gallon and it takes 2 gallons to do the job.

 

[hostage]

5 Plugs Total:
2: Manafold
2: Block
1: Below Hoses

And yes it is a carb ;-)

 

[Maclin]

How do you introduce the antifreeze? Suck it up through the muffs? Or remove hoses and pour it in?

 

[oldjeep]

How do you introduce the antifreeze? Suck it up through the muffs? Or remove hoses and pour it in?

I pour mine in through a couple of the hoses that come off my thermostat housing, into both hoses for my heater core and then some into the hoses that cross connect my exhaust manifolds. Winterizing my Indmar requires several hoses to be disconnected, so doing a couple more to dump in the antifreeze isn't any big deal.

 

[jkust]

I take my I/O in to get winterized each year still...a couple years back they added anti freeze to their winterization process. Not sure why but they do.

 

[tpenfield]

I run the antifreeze in to get the intake line and related components, then just drain everything. Sort of the best of both worlds.

 

[oldjeep]

I run the antifreeze in to get the intake line and related components, then just drain everything. Sort of the best of both worlds.

How is that the best of both worlds? You don't get any corrosion prevention and the end state is the same as if it was never used.

 

[thumpar]

If you worried about corrosion you shouldn't run your boat in water. How many blocks have you seen go bad from not using antifreeze? I drain mine and forget it.

 

[oldjeep]

If you worried about corrosion you shouldn't run your boat in water. How many blocks have you seen go bad from not using antifreeze? I drain mine and forget it.

Seen craploads of exhaust manifolds and risers go bad from corrosion and blocks that dump all sorts of rust flakes when drained. I think I'll spend the $40 a season to protect my $10,000 engine

 

[Chris1956]

If you can be sure that you got all the water out of the block and manifolds, then antifreeze is unnecessary. However, I have found that some water remains in the block and manifolds after it ceases to drain. I therefore introduce straight antifreeze into the block, with the drains open to force out the residual water. I then install the plugs and fill the block and manifolds to assure there is no raw water to freeze.

 

[WIMUSKY]

I always drained everything, then dumped antifreeze in until it came out the drain holes and dumped some done the hose for the water pump.. Then put the plugs back in and hooked the hoses back up. Left the block empty. As long as the water is gone there's really no wrong way to go about it. Pick your poison, as mentioned.....

 

[thumpar]

Seen craploads of exhaust manifolds and risers go bad from corrosion and blocks that dump all sorts of rust flakes when drained. I think I'll spend the $40 a season to protect my $10,000 engine

The manifolds will go bad either way with time. The block won't. My 1983 had original everything and was always just drained.

 

[bruceb58]

Seen craploads of exhaust manifolds and risers go bad from corrosion and blocks that dump all sorts of rust flakes when drained. I think I'll spend the $40 a season to protect my $10,000 engine

I have never seen a manifold or riser used in fresh water fail from corrosion. I have also never seen a block fail from salt water corrosion!

If it really is that much of a concern, then why not be putting anti freeze in the entire year and not just in the winter. And if it's REALLY that much of a concern, get closed cooling when the boat is new.

One of our boats had over 1000 hours on its engine when we sold it and was used 50% of the time in salt water. An engine is going to wear out far before it rusts out, even used in salt water.

 

[Maclin]

I pour mine in through a couple of the hoses that come off my thermostat housing, into both hoses for my heater core and then some into the hoses that cross connect my exhaust manifolds. Winterizing my Indmar requires several hoses to be disconnected, so doing a couple more to dump in the antifreeze isn't any big deal.

I was trying to ask hostage he got the antifreeze in, very pertinent to his questions about his methods. Hostage?

 

[scoutabout]

Oh man - much as I loved my SeaRay I/O, I definitely don't miss those days of hangin upside down in the engine bay lookin for manifold drains...

 

[JimS123]

My Mercruiser OEM Shop Manual details how to drain the water, yada, yada, to winterize. It also states "for added protection, fill with anti-freeze". That's good enough for me.

But then again, the manual also lists a bunch of other things to do that the Forum people don't agree with either.

 

[bruceb58]

My Mercruiser OEM Shop Manual details how to drain the water, yada, yada, to winterize. It also states "for added protection, fill with anti-freeze". That's good enough for me.

But then again, the manual also lists a bunch of other things to do that the Forum people don't agree with either.

And if you look at a Volvo manual it says no such thing. Same exact engine blocks.