Winterizing - drain, fill or both?

[bwana50]

There seems to be three schools of thought on winterizing boat engines. I'm curious to see what the consensus is here.

Do you:
a) Drain the water and leave the block dry?
b) Fill the system with antifreeze?
c) Drain water, then fill with antifreeze?

[slob02]

RE: Winterizing - drain, fill or both?

Drain...........blow out heater with low pressure air.............then fill.

[MNSuperAir]

RE: Winterizing - drain, fill or both?

Drain and fill here.

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Winterizing - drain, fill or both?

Drain, purge heater, then fill.
I had never drained before last year. 12 years and no problems. Draining gives you that last little bit of comfort when it gets to -25* a few nights a year.....

[8122pbrainard]

RE: Winterizing - drain, fill or both?

Drain and fill - RV antifreeze

[TravisFling]

RE: Winterizing - drain, fill or both?

Drain and fill with RV Antifreeze here too. It tends to get a little chilly on the great plains of the midwest...

[M3Fan]

RE: Winterizing - drain, fill or both?

Drain and fill, but just draining is fine too. I've done it both ways. Definitely blow out the heater and pump some AF through the shower if applicable.

[Chris4x4Gill2]

RE: Winterizing - drain, fill or both?

whats the proper way to fill with antifreeze? do you just unhook the water inlet hose and pour it in? or bump the motor over a time or two?

[8122pbrainard]

Re: RE: Winterizing - drain, fill or both?

whats the proper way to fill with antifreeze? do you just unhook the water inlet hose and pour it in? or bump the motor over a time or two?

Disconnect one of the hoses from the T stat housing to the exhaust manifold and pout it in there. It will make it's way down into the block. via the engine water pump ports from the block.
Besides the block, pump and manifold drains, don't forget to diconnect the hose off the bottom of the oil cooler.
There's a real nice pictorial thread in the common questions forum over on CCfan.

Tim's (TRbenj) thread on winterizing: http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum...=8368&PN=2

[east tx skier]

I used to just drain, but with my new to me Nautique, I've gone to drain and fill for any corrosion protection that might provide.

In addition to what has already been mentioned, if you're inclined to just leave the impeller in over the winter and replace it in the spring (just in case you get that freak warm day where you drag the boat out mid winter), make sure you pull the kill switch and spin the engine over for a second or three after you drain, but before you fill with antifreeze to kick any water out of the pump housing that gravity might not have taken care of.

[Chris4x4Gill2]

thanks for the link. I'll have to bookmark that one and look at it later when I can view the pics

[igkya]

I had a 90 SN and for 14 years, all I did was drain it (no heater). Now, with a 2004 SN +heater, I drain and fill.

[WakeSlayer]

I have always been curious about the use of RV antifreeze for winterization. Is it an ecological purpose? I am all for less nasty stuff being used out there. However, I feel like an expensive performance motor, such as we have in our Correct Crafts, justifies the use of good automotive antifreeze, like you put in your cars. I lay my boat up for 5-6 months per year in fairly extreme temperatures, and want to have the best protection possible.
Why do some of you use this vs. Prestone mix, etc.

[djbartholomew]

I have always used RV antifreeze, started boating in 1970. That way I know that if it gets in the lake in the spring there will be no problem. I have always drained compleatly and fill till it runs out of the exhaust. Have never had any problems.

[OHLNautique]

In my 89 Sport I would run the boat long enough to open the thermostat. Then drain the block. Then run antifreeze through it until it came out of the exhaust. Then drain the block again.

How about winterizing ballast tanks? Is it necessary? How is it done?