ZR409 draining the water for winter (2009 SN206)

[jsta281]

So do I correctly understand from others posts that My 409 motor has a fresh water system and an anti-freeze system? The fresh water system is what is used to cool the anti freeze system via the heat exchanger? If this is correct, my real question is for winterizing purposes am I correct to assume that only the fresh water system needs to be drained to avoid freezing? (That of course assumes that that the antifreeze system has sufficient coolant to avoid freezing)

I have done alot of reading of various winterizing posts, but this issues is still a bit unclear to me. I have read where other 409 owners talk about draining the block (anti freeze in here right?) as well has the heater core (anti freeze in here too right?)

If the afore mentioned assumptions I have made are correct, then exactly what parts of the fresh water system need to be drained? I can see where the fresh water hoses come in and head to the fresh water strainer or filter, so it's clear those hoses and "things need to be void of fresh water. I have read the manifolds also need draining. Any thing else?

Lastly any instructions on where to look for the various drain plugs would be great.

[ericchile]

What type of exhaust do you have? CES or regular?

I believe the manual calls the parts cooled by anti freeze 'fresh water' while the parts cooled by intake water 'raw water'. The PCM manual is going to be your best help. It has diagrams and everything. If you haven't seen my post as well it might be some help.
http://www.planetnautique.com/vb3/sh...zing-ZR409-CES

Ask you have other questions.

[jsta281]

How do I know which manifolds I have? The raw water strainer is easily identifiable as well as the heat exchanger. What is different in terms of cooling between CES and the "non CES" manifolds?

[jsta281]

Mine don't look like this



Mine looks like this



Pretty sure I don't have CES manifolds.

So what does that mean in terms of draining water for winter?

[jsta281]

"Mine don't'. . . Wow that was bad, mine doesn't look like that.

[jsta281]

So the manifolds on the CES appear to be cooled by antifreeze system, and the Non CES is raw water cooled.

[ericchile]

So the manifolds on the CES appear to be cooled by antifreeze system, and the Non CES is raw water cooled.

Yup that is correct. Add draining the manifolds to your list. You choose weather to add anti freeze or just drain.

Don't forget about all the other stuff. Again the PCM owners manual is really a great resource. http://www.pcmengines.com/assets/Upl...wners-2011.pdf

Don't forget about your ballest as well.

[jsta281]

So I winterized this past weekend and some of the posts I have read about the pink -50* RV fluid is also stressing me out!

Please comment I'm what I did and be critical if I messed something up

1. I did NOTHING as far as draining the "fresh water" / antifreeze system.
2. On the raw water I drained the manifolds (2 plugs on each manifold). Virtually no water came out
3. Disconnected all the hoses associated with raw water filter. Not much water here either.
4. Disconnected the hoses associated with the impeller "pump" some water here.
5. Drained water associated with hoses to transmission. Some water in here.
6. Pulled the raw water hose off the bottom of the heat exchanger (the one that goes down to the bearing or housing whee the driveshaft goes through the hull. No water came our of heat exchanger.

Sucked up 4 gallons of RV antifreeze and turned the boat off.

Pink RV fluid came out the bottom of the boat where the drive shaft comes through hull and started to spurt out the exhaust.

I considered draining the RV antifreeze but did not. Should I?

How did I do?

[Rick]

It sounds like your done. What you are trying to do is to replace any water (not coolant) that is in the system that might freeze and expand and break something. Do you have a shower or heater? If they are on the raw water side you need to make sure they have the RV antifreeze in them. The antifreeze coming out the bottom of the boat means that the dripless packing on the shaft is done. comming out the exhaust means the manifolds are done. If you reattached all the hoses and sucked the antifreeze in the raw water intake thn you should be good to go.

[jsta281]

No shower. Thanks for checking my work. The posts that I read about RV AF freezing and becoming slushy made me nervous.