Winterizing my Regal

[Flat Water]

I have a 20' Regal with a Merc 5.0 and a Bravo 1 stern drive. I've pulled all the block drains and there doesn't seem to be anything to drain on the lower unit. I was planning to replace the oil and fog the engine before putting it to bed for the winter. I live where it gets below zero and just want to check to make sure I'm not missing something. I grew up with a professional mechanic for a father and know my way around an engine. However, this is the first winterizing of an engine/boat of this size for me.

 

[Gregory S]

When you backfill the hoses with anti-freeze, you'll see it come out the outdrive and you're done.

 

[ddurand]

A COUPLE OF SUGGESTIONS:

1) You need to drain the exhaust manifolds, either pull the hose (if on bottom) or the drain plug on each side.

2) I pull the intake hose from outdrive to engine and pour AF down the hose until I see some come out of the intake holes in the outdrive. Leave outdrive down and it will drain properly. (I have an Alpha, but assume similar).

3) After draining block I pull the large hose from water pump to thermostat and fill with AF until its full, for my 5.7 its 2 gallons. That way I have no rust over the winter and any pockets of water not drained are mixed with AF.

 

[ddurand]

My Merc 5.7 also has an oil cooler inline with the intake hose (outdrive to engine) so its important to pour AF down that hose.

So you have the block to deal with, manifolds and the outdrive.