2000 SAN GT-40 questions

[holmes]

1. Do you have to change Transmission Fluid on the SAN v-drive?
2. If so, with what type fluid?
3. What Type of oil do you use, SAE? I use straight 30.
4. Any winterization tips such as antifreeze in the ballast tank fill pumps, Heater, Engine?

I want to know more about my boat! Any help is great.

[skinautique]

The vdrive oil should be changed around a hundred hours. You use the same oil as your engine uses. Doesn't take much though. You have to have a pump to get the oil out. As far as the ballasts, open them up and drain them all out. You can take an air compressor and give them a quick shot of air down the overflow drain on the side of the boat. Don't stick the nozzle straight down in there. The V-drives are harder to winterize and drain. Are you at all familiar with the engine and its components? The heater is easy. Take off both hoses and blow air through the top hose (put the bottom one down in the bilge) until you get all the water out that you can without passing out (do this with your mouth). The run antifreeze through the top hose till it comes out of the bottom. Sometimes you have to blow the antifreeze through with your mouth and it doesn't taste too good. The engine has 5 plugs that need to be pulled to drain the water and the transcooler needs to be drained as well as the water strainer bowl. Good Luck! As far as winterizing the vdrive itself, wait and see if anyone else has any good suggestions on doing it.

[holmes]

skinautique
Thanks for the tips. I'll wait until a few more people post there tips but I think you covered it all. Sounds like you know a lot about Nautique Engines.

Thanks again

[skinautique]

If you know anything about the engine, I can try to explain to you how to winterize the vdrive. Do you know where the thermostat housing is? I didn't mention it but you need to blow the water out of the speedo lines and put stabil in the gas. Also need to fog the engine too.

[holmes]

skinautique,

I do know a bit about engines. But I'm not sure where the thermostat housing is. If you want to type up the steps to go through that would be great. I've winterized a lot of engines but never my own SAN this is the first year for me to own my own boat. I just don;t want to miss something on it.

So if you want to explain step 1, 2, 3........ that would be great.

[skinautique]

Holmes, If I were you, I would probably call up your dealership to set up a same day service and tell them that you want to be there to learn how to do it. They shouldn't have a problem with it. The only reason I say this is so that you can have an easier time learning what to do and what not to do and you have a better piece of mind. If it was a direct drive I would be a little more willing to tell you how to do it but a vdrive is a little more involved and tricky and I think it would be easier if you saw it done right before your eyes. If you still want a step by step, let me know and I will see what I can come up with.

[skinautique]

One thing I forgot to say for everyone here: If you have the clear see through gas tanks (early 90's through present). Only fill the gas tank to a quarter or less. The tanks shrink and expand due to the changing temperatures over winter and spring. I had one that was full and on the first warm day, gas came oozing out of the vent and stained my cover.

[holmes]

skinautique,

Ok I jumped in and I think I did pretty good. I checked out the engine and transmission to see what I could find. Here it is.

1. One plug on each side of the block.
1a. Red heater hose is attached
2. One plug on each side of the Exhaust Manifold
3. One plug on Oil Cooler
4. 2 plugs on the Transmission.
5. Red Hose to heater from Engine block 1 plug.
5a. Blew antifreeze through one hose and it came out the other hose
6. Drained water intake filter


QUESTIONS

1. Any thing else you can think of?
2. Where do you spray the fogging oil?
3. Does this have a Fuel and water separator? If so do I drain or do anything to that?

Let me know what else I should do.

Thanks
Chris

[skinautique]

what plug on the oil cooler are you referring to? Did you get the plug in the "U" elbow? I am assuming you pulled two plugs from the vdrive and not somewhere on the trans? Did you empty the heater hoses first and then pour antifreeze down the hoses? This is the only way to do it. You can't just flush it out without antifreeze. It is diluted that way and not near as effective. Did you stabolize the gas? You spray the fogging oil in the air intake hole while the engine is running. Did you blow out the speedo lines? How about the ballast system? How did you get the water out of the hose from the vdrive to the engine? Did you drain the hose from the trans cooler to the impeller? Did you put antifreeze in the rest of the engine?


***I am taking no liability in you winterizing your engine based on these instructions. I am trying to offer assistance and that is it***

[holmes]

skinautique,

As far as the heater, Its done right, Drained then Flushed with antifreeze.

Oil Cooler has a little plug on it that drained a ton of the water out of. I then blew anti freeze through that.

I'm not sure what you mean when you say the VDRIVE, Isn't that the transmission area? It has 2 plugs and 2 hoses on it One hose in and one hose out. a plug near each.

Is ther another transmission drain?

U Elbow? where and what is this?

I'm not holding anyone responsible, I just don't want to spend $200 to have this done!

I really appreciate the tips and help!

[skinautique]

I just wanted you to understand that it is hard for me to explain how to do this but I am trying to help. I understand wanting to save the $200 but that is cheaper than a frozen engine.

The vdrive is located under the back seat. It get water inside of it too. there are two plugs on it and a hose that runs from it to the engine.
Did you get antifreeze into the rest of the engine? The antifreeze also needs to fill the vdrive to protect it. There is nothing that has to be done to the transmission when you winterize (a PCM transmission which is what you have).
I pull the hose off of the transcooler itself and let the water run out that way.

Hope that helps

[holmes]

I got the vdrive plugs out and the hoses drained. And antifreeze in there.

I also got the engine full of anti freeze! Just poured it in the waterintake hose while the engine was running.

What did you mean as far as the U Elbow?

I have winterized several boats, I did work at a marina for 3 years but all the boats were I/O's or outboards. So no Inboards to deal with.

It all helps!! I just like to find out all the info i can. Sounds like you know!
Not only the $200 but I will never deal with the Nautique dealer in MN, I don't trust him at all.

Thanks again

[skinautique]

The U fitting is in the front of the motor. When you look at the motor, it will be facing the back of the boat. It will be in the starboard rear corner. There is a section right near the impeller that looks like a big U. On the bottom is a plug in there that needs to be drained. You might want to flush more antifreeze through just to make sure you have all bases covered. It doesn't hurt to back off each plug and make sure antifreeze leaks out.

[dirtweed]

The V-drive oil can be changed witout a pump. The drain plug isn't bad to get to. You should also clean the filter screen at the bottom of the Vdrive. Probably worth doing every other year.

Straight 30 weight oil for the V-drive and 40 weight oil for the motor.

Easiest way to winterize is to drain the motor completely, replace the plugs, get a 5 gallon bucket and fill it with 50% antifreeze. Put the water intake hose from the hull into the bucket, start the motor and wait till it comes out the exhaust or the bucket is empty (the motor with a heater and shower will hold about 4 gallons).

Change the transmission fluid, v-drive oil, and drain the ballast system, charge the batteries and your done.

[holmes]

dirtweed,

How many plugs do you know of on the Engine and vdrive? What hoses do you drain?

thanks for your input!

CH