WINTERIZING 671

[052520]

just double checking. I drained heat exchanger & drained the raw water inlet (angled down) for winterization this year. I have been used to leaving the boat in the water with eng. block heaters on & pumped antifreeze through the sea strainers last few years. Would anyone suggest that I do more in winterizing these engines? they are 1981 detroit 671 naturals.. Thanks for any advice!!

[captbone]

I swear by those electric engine room winter storage heaters. For about $100.00 they keep the engine room at 50 degrees or so. I know it seems like a waste to heat the engine room but it is piece of mind for me. I have seen several boats go down because of water freezing in the seacock itself and breaking it. I have also seen a 100 watt light bulb facing the seacock and that kept the temp fine. Just my 2 cents.

[052520]

I agree however I have no power acess this year & just want to be sure everything is ok

[captbone]

The only other thing I can think about is to change the oil. The contaminants in the oil can eat away at the engine when it sits for along time. I would also give it a spray with some anti rust spray like corrision X or the type (not wd-40). Other than that you should be all set. What type of boat are they in?

[052520]

oil is changed, thank you! boat is 43' torres

[jbonnet]

I would run some anti-freeze thru the whole raw water system. You will need to get the raw water out of the Fuel Cooler and the oil cooler if your engines have them. You probably have a raw water cooled transmission cooler as well. Draining the water out is not enough. There will probably be alot of water that will remain. If you have raw water strainers you can buy a new lid that has a garden hose attatchment that connects via a garden hose to a 5 gallon container of anti-freeze. Have someone in the engine room to keep an eye on the container and someone start the engine and try and get a nice stream of anti-freeze to come out the exhaust. It may take more than 5 gallons so be prepared with more anti-freeze. Make sure the thru hull is closed or the antifreeze will end up on the ground and not in your engine. Also is you have access to your mufflers there may be a drain plug on the bottom and it is a good idea to drain the left over raw water out of them before winterizing them. This will ensure that the water coming out of the exhaust is pure anti-freeze. Good Luck

[Post50]

Also my hydraulic steering pump runs off of my left motor. I would suggest draining the water intake to that too. I know on my cat's I Have the flushers on the strainers, thay make everything oh so easy.

Will