new owner need help w closed cooling system

[dazeoff-wy]

I am going to winterize my boat this weekend. this is my first boat this size. I want to make sure the closed cooling system is ready. Getting the internal portion is no problem. I am not sure where the intake to the heat exchanger is located. I believe it is in the outdrive if so what is the best way to blow it out or do I need to put antifreeze in it somehow. I have a 87 Carver Montego 27ft with twin mercruisers with alpha 1 outdrives.

 

[rommer]

Use this kit with a set of drive "earmuffs"

Get it here

 

[cwms]

Do you sea strainers on your raw water intake hose? I have them on my Carver. I close the raw water thru hull, open the sea strainer and run fresh water thru it to flush the system while the engine is running. After a couple of gallons of fresh water, I pour my antifreeze in, again while still running. When I start running out of AF, I have my mate squirt fogging spray into the carb and then shut down the engine.
You can do this in water or out and don't need to have ear muffs or the kit shown above

 

[dazeoff-wy]

Thanks
for the tips. As I said I am new and not sure if I am not understanding terminology or not. I know there is an intake on the out drive is this the raw water intake or is there another location i need to be concerned about any drawing or link to drawing would be great.

 

[cwms]

Now that I think about it, I doubt that a I-O has a sea strainer on the water intake hose.
THe winterizing kit shown above is probably your best bet.

You can look for other water intakes, but I doubt you have any. Look in the bilge around the engine for a thru hull connection with a hose connected to it and the engine cooling system.

 

[dazeoff-wy]

Thanks for all the input believe it or not I got no response from 2 other forums dealing with engines and winterizing.

 

[pdecat]

First you need to realize that you have two separate cooling systems.

The closed portion is just like your car and should use permanent antifreeze winter and summer, it does not need anything special in winter.

The sea water section needs to be drained completely or drained and flushed with non polluting anti freeze. The potable plumbing and heads need to be similarly treated.

 

[dazeoff-wy]

Thanks Bruce
I was aware of the two systems potable and cooling system I just wanted to make sure that I was accessing the right place to flush and winterize the exterior portion of the cooling system. I am pulling it in to the shop where I can flush everything and fill with af.