Winterizing Antifreeze Question

[jmo]

i dont drain my block before and it gets down to 10-15 degrees here all winter long in MD. but i do run about 6-7 gallons thru my block so im sure by then all the water is out? am i right or wrong? when i look at my exhaust it looks really deep color pink as its running it thru.. this is the 3rd year i have done it this way.

Marine AF isn't designed to be diluted like car AF, the more diluted it becomes the more it compromises how low the temps can go before it freezes, for me it's about peace of mind - I would take the extra 30 minutes to drain the block to insure you don't end up with a $5,000.00 mistake and a loss of skiing time while the engine is being replaced. It certainly sounds like you getting all the water out of it, but you just don't know for sure.

JMO

[WakeSlayer]

i dont drain my block before and it gets down to 10-15 degrees here all winter long in MD. but i do run about 6-7 gallons thru my block so im sure by then all the water is out? am i right or wrong? when i look at my exhaust it looks really deep color pink as its running it thru.. this is the 3rd year i have done it this way.

This is fine with the green stuff, i would not risk it with the pink stuff. Peace of mind is worth the extra few minutes to drain.

[83ski2001]

understood ill redo it this week...thanks for the heads up

[j2nh]

Think of it this way.
It is not necessary to store the boat with antifreeze in the system. There are lots of marinas and individuals who store their boats by draining the water out of the system and storing the engine "dry". Perfectly acceptable and unless my memory is faulty that is what is indicated in the manual. Lots of people, myself included, choose to do the above and then add antifreeze for the sole reason of cutting down on corrosion inside the block by keeping it immersed in liquid.

Drain first, add antifreeze if you choose.

[TRBenj]

It is not necessary to store the boat with antifreeze in the system. Perfectly acceptable and unless my memory is faulty that is what is indicated in the manual.

Perfectly acceptable- yes... but your memory is still faulty. The manual instructs you to drain and backfill with antifreeze (pour in method).

[j2nh]

Perfectly acceptable- yes... but your memory is still faulty. The manual instructs you to drain and backfill with antifreeze (pour in method).

Just checked and you are correct, must be an old age thing for me. In NE WI, especially when using RV antifreeze that you don't dilute, the key is to think drain dry first and then antifreeze.

[east tx skier]

If you're going to go the "drain only" route, take the boat for a ride on the trailer for about 10 minutes afterward. Hit a few hills along the way. Helps to get some of that water out of the nooks and crannies.

[jmo]

understood ill redo it this week...thanks for the heads up

On a side note - don't forget to pull the impeller out of the rwp for storage - which should be done even if you store with the cooling system empty. The AF will cause the rubber to swell, so wash it off after you pull it. If your impeller is already out, you could just drain the block and manifolds and manually refill with AF, or just leave empty.

HTH's

JMO

[nsteffens]

Will the AF really swell the impeller? I've always left mine in with the AF and never had a problem.

[WakeSlayer]

I have never once removed an impeller for storage, always stored with AF, both green and now pink. I have never had an actual failure of an impeller. I have replaced a couple, but only as a preventative measure after several years of service.

[DanielC]

I remove the impeller, and store it in a bucket, outside of the water pump, removed from the engine. That way, I look at is at least once a year. Depending on how it looks, and how many hours, and years, are on it, I replace it in the spring.

For what it is worth, I drain the block, and leave the plugs out. I obviously do not refill with antifreeze.

I live in western Oregon. If it is a really cold winter, we may get a week or two where the temperature is actually below freezing, during the day, and the night. Most winters, it just rains.

[jmo]

Will the AF really swell the impeller? I've always left mine in with the AF and never had a problem.

In general yes, alcohol (which is what AF is based off of) and other solvents are known to cause rubber to swell, the degree of the swelling depends on the type of alcohol and the type of rubber. The automotive industry has done extensive studies on this given fuel systems have rubber seals and today's modern gasoline blends contain alcohol.

That said, maybe the combo of the propylene glycol in non toxic AF and the type of rubber used in our impellers only causes minimal swelling and hence isn't an issue, which seems to be what some are experiencing first hand. But for me, being the paranoid control freak that I am, I prefer to pull it out, wash it, and store separately so the fins don't set.

In general it's a good idea to inspect the impeller every year anyways.

Anyways, just my two cents...

JMO

[WA-H2O-SKI]

Stored in heated garage?

I store my boat in a heated garage below my house. I have done the pink AF thing a few times. Always drained everything and the pumped 10 gallons through (I used to live in NH and always thought $40 was cheap insurance).

My question is, since I am not worried about freezing in my garage....... leaving the engine with water in it,do I have an issue with added corroision over the winter or is it fine?

[nsteffens]

Leaving water in will always add corrosion because of the minerals in the water. The pink AF has corrosion inhibitors which slow down corrosion.

[WA-H2O-SKI]

How Much Really?

How much corrosion do you think occurs? Does the pink AF really have anti corrosion properties? It is bio degratable...... meant to be used in motor home water systems....... I am not so sure it has anti corrosion properties........ Convince me.