winterizing question

[captain connor]

I have been trying to get a reply with no luck. I purchased a 1981 cobia cuddy with a I/O merccruiser 170hp 4 cly, alpha 1 outdrive. What is the proper way to winterize? This is my 1st closed looped coolant system. The son and I have some great plans for this gem next year the last thing I want is to open up to a cracked block, or any other winter damage.

 

[Gregory S]

Finally posted in the right forum. Run a couple of gallons of low tox anti-freez thru the muffs and you shoud be good to go. Since you already have anti-freeze in the block, you'll only have to get antifreeze into the heat exchanger and exhausts if it is a full FWC system. drain some antifreeze out of the block and test the freeze point.

 

[captain connor]

I have been reading through some other Q&A while waiting for a reply. One message said to put ear muffs on the outdrive and run antifreeze through until it comes out the exhuast. Is that the only step? No opening plus, draining lines?

 

[captain connor]

Thanks, I must have been writing when you were. I am still green when it comes to the different forums. However, eventhough I am "green" I can see these forums are an excellent way to share experiances, and knowledge (wish I found out years ago I loved and owned boats for as long as I can remember. Lot of variuos sizes and makes but all my trouble shooting support came from local help, and my own "trial & error"... plenty of errors.)

 

[RamSport47]

I have two of these engiens in my boat...all I do is pull the back drain plug out of the cooler, that will drain all of the water out of the system. Right above that is a 1" hose that curves up to the exhaust elbow...pull that off of the elbow and pour 1/2 gallon of non-toxic antifreeze in and you're done (after fogging of course)