Cold Nights Coming - Should we re-winterize

[72Miles]

So here in the Charlotte region, it looks like we will have a night or two this weekend drop into the high 20's, being over 50 each day. RaceCity changed my oil yesterday and ran the boat to check everything out, which means I am no longer winterized. Has anyone else already run their boat this year? Do we need to re-winterize?

[NautiqueJeff]

I took the opportunity today to pull the blue plugs again, just in case.

I am more concerned about my heater core, since it is up under the dash. I disconnected that and blew out the lines again.

It probably isn't really necessary, but for less than 20 minutes of work, I figured why take the chance.

[72Miles]

Thanks Jeff. The problem is, mine is up at Tillery. And I have never winterized it myself so I'd be learning from scratch!

[NautiqueJeff]

Does your boat have a heater? That's what I would be worried about the most. If it does, and the heater core freezes, it could crack and leak water inside your boat. Since the heater core is not located in the engine compartment, there isn't as much protection from freezing. That's why we often hear about leaking heater cores. They're always the first things to freeze.

In all likelihood, we won't see low enough temperatures for long enough to cause a problem, but I would hate to say that it will be fine and then have something happen!

[72Miles]

Maybe I need to run up there. I'm sure there's a thread somewhere here that tells me how to blow out the hear cool right?

[thtrog]

I'm like Jeff and hate to make that call for someone else, but it takes more than just a few hours below freezing to cause damage. The good thing is if you have a '14 your heater and block have antifreeze all the time. All that said, I've not taken the bilge heater out of my boat yet.

[NautiqueJeff]

Ah, that's right! With a '14, your heater is all set!

[72Miles]

The good thing is if you have a '14 your heater and block have antifreeze all the time.

I have heard that before but I totally don't get it. My seadoos have closed cooling with radiators. So I get they don't need to be winterized. But my G definitely pulls in lakewater right? So where's the antifreeze?

[NautiqueJeff]

Here's the water flow diagram for a '14 409 and 450 engine.

Basically, water is pulled in, and circulated to the heat exchanger to cool the coolant.

Coolant is in the block and also runs to the heater core, if equipped. The exhaust, v-drive, transmission cooler, RWP, oil cooler, and heat exchanger all still have to be drained during winterization.

They did this because on those engines, the heads and the blocks are different metals, and cannot handle raw-water cooling. Starting in '16 with the DI engines, the heads and blocks are all the same metal, and that's why the newer engines are all raw-water cooled.

This information is from the 2014 PCM manual, found here.

[72Miles]

Ah. Cool. Makes sense. So the lakewater doesn't get captured in the heater coil? Then I feel a little better. The engine is pretty protected. Plus I could drop it in the water to be extra safe.

[NautiqueJeff]

Correct. On your engine the heater core uses anti-freeze, so it should be all set.

[72Miles]

Jeff & others, that is great information. Thanks to everyone. Sounds like I never have to worry about the actual block busting, just a bunch of very expensive bolt-ons!

[charlesml3]

So Jeff's post persuaded me to do the same thing. Pull the "blue plugs" out and empty the raw-water strainer. I'm actually glad it did it. First of all, it's peace-of-mind the next couple of nights. Second, now I know where they all are. It wasn't that bad. I was done in 30 minutes. Plus now I know where the oil-drain tube is as well. I found that while I was poking around.

-Charles

[jondavis08]

Any idea if the same process would work for a 2014 210? Does the 210 have anti freeze as well? It's looking promising in a week here in Michigan but I'd want the ability to rewinterize on the lift if a few cold nights pop up.


Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

[NautiqueJeff]

Assuming it has the 409 or 450 engine, the process should be the same as in the diagram above.