Wasting Time running Antifreeze - while storing indoor heated


toofast

toofast

Active member
Ok...so even though I keep my 31PC (Freshwater use only and closed cooling) in indoor heated storage, I've always ran antifreeze through the engines each year for two reasons.

1) JUST in case the heaters fail in the building (they have a backup heater and a genny). I know the odds are a million to one...but heck I have OCD as you all know.

2) MOST IMPORTANT reason I do this is because I THINK they having the antifreeze with the corrosive control "stuff" is better for all the passages vs. nothing.

Over the years my buddies just RIP on my for doing this...especially since I have the air actuated system to blow out all the water from the passages.

Anyways...since we have a ton of OCD guys/gals like me I figured I would get everybodies opinion on the matter. Is there any real value, other than what is in my mind :)

Thanks in advance!
 
ALWAYS run glycol thru the raw water side...ALWAYS !!!

Cast iron especially doesn't like to be dry. Air is it's biggest enemy !!


Also, in my 496 manual, it even states to run glycol on the raw water side for long term storage....

"IMPORTANT: Mercury Mercruiser requires that propylene glycol antifreeze, mixed to the manufacturers instructions, be used in the seawater section of the cooling system for freezing temperatures or extended storage.....make sure the glycol contains a rust inhibitor and is recommended for marine engines...."


I know a few salt water boaters who don't even use the air actuated drain or manual drain. They just hook up the muffs and run 5-10 gallons of glycol in each engine (yes, 496 engines w/closed cooling).
 
Do all you can for winterization. The time spent sitting is the hardest on the equipment and any edge you can give it is beneficial.

In the end, you feel better about it so poo on your buddies who rip on you ;D
 
OK so I was just looking to make sure I was not crazy and it looks like my thinking was right on!

Thanks all for responding!
 
toofast said:
OK so I was just looking to make sure I was not crazy and it looks like my thinking was right on!

Thanks all for responding!
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I agree here. I'm probably going to go a bit overboard with what I do here relative to what is needed and what everyone else does. After all, they just have boats -- I have a Formula! :)
 
toofast said:
OK so I was just looking to make sure I was not crazy and it looks like my thinking was right on!

Thanks all for responding!
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Nobody said you weren't crazy, it's just that we're all crazy right along with ya..... ;D
 
toofast said:
OK so I was just looking to make sure I was not crazy and it looks like my thinking was right on!

Thanks all for responding!
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This will be the first season indoors with heat for the boat. I will flush engines ( closed cooling)with fresh water then drain raw water with the pump system. Blow out the fresh water system, and aircon with air and call it a day.

I understand the corrosion protection from the antifreeze however I use pink stuff so not sure if it has any.

I think merc states to use it to cover there butts. Besides manifolds need replacing every 4 years per merc...

Also read somewhere that pex tubing will not burst or crack when it freezes... But I am not testing that one ;D

Too fast, sorry to confuse you!
 
Certain pink will contain corrosion inhibitors. Will state on bottle.

Glycol is cheap and it's not good to keep those manifolds dry. Merc isn't covering their butts and I wouldn't trust the air actuated drain to completely drain all the water either.

What's your reference on the 4 year manifold replacement?
 
I also store indoors, heated, and have always winterized my engines (closed cooling), water systems, genset, a/c, etc. Always felt that raw water side should never be left dry.
 
Here's one ref, there are plenty out there.

http://www.sterndrives.com/merc/exhtips1.html

I am a past (late 80's) certified Merc mechanic on inboard, I/O and outboard. Don't do me much good with today's electronics but they all need air,compression, fuel and ignition/spark ;D

My manifolds are on there 7th season (not all fail in 4years) 6 in fresh and this year salt. I agree leaving them dry might not be the best idea but every year after I ran pink thru I drained them anyway... All my boats up to this and including this one.

To each his/her own ;D
 
Many technicians who winterize 496 or any closed cooled engine that operate in salt water will never even use the manual or air actuated drains. Just hook up the muffs and run glycol into the raw water side.

Like your said, to each their own.
 
That's true! We had an assembly line set up in the shop! 110 gallon drum of pink stuff, electric pump and a huge tub to collect the drippings. Was recycled til tested over 20 degrees then discarded. Never touched the drain plugs or air systems.
 
Raw iron exposed to air WILL NOT rust through. It will get a light surface rust that becomes it's protective coating for further rust, but that's it. Shops probably always run the pink stuff through because of two reasons: 1) it's universal (will always do the job no matter what engine they're processing) and 2) it's easier/faster if you already have the stuff on hand than having to figure out what needs to be drained & what plugs need to be removed.

I'm closed cooled (block & manifolds), but I just drain the raw water side and call it a day. It's easy because I know my boat and do the same thing each time. We also boat year-round, and running glycol through is actually more time consuming.

NEVER solely rely on electric heat for winterization. No matter how redundant the system is, it can still fail. If the boat's at your house and you can take evasive action, OK, but, if not, why chance it?
 
undercover said:
NEVER solely rely on electric heat for winterization. No matter how redundant the system is, it can still fail. If the boat's at your house and you can take evasive action, OK, but, if not, why chance it?
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Yeah, this reminds me of when we had that ice storm that covered everything in ice, promptly knocking out power across the board. Seems to me that is when you would most want the heating but would least likely have it. For that reason alone, if you're freezing it would be nice to have yourself protected (oh, and your boat too *grin*)
 
Undercover, where are you located? Just curious how cold it gets where u are with just draining raw water side
 
I'm in Seattle. Typical winter temps are upper 30's highs and lower 30's lows. However, we will always get a patch of clear skies for a week or so, and the low temps will drop into the low 20's. I only worry about freezing when daytime temps hover around freezing and lows drop to the mid-upper 20's. The boat is well insulated and holds a lot of heat.

I've always been ok just draining the raw side (dont forget sea strainers if you have them), and I do prep t freshwater system by running the tank dry and gravity draining the lines. I only put the pink stuff down the head and drains because you never seem to get it all out of the tank.
 
ok thanks. I have 32 x 50 pole barn fully insulated for the 1st winter this year with 6 inches of concrete with radiant floor heating(natural gas fired). Keep the floor at about 68 degress.. this keeps the air temp at 6 foot around 64/65 degress. I also have a generator for back up in case of power failure.
It handles the barn and important parts of the house. Been crazy in NJ the last 2 years with storms... Even with loss of power it takes the floor about 30 hours to drop to ground temp of 56 which makes airtemp about 50. I will use air to blow out water lines, AC and Generator. And just drain the manifolds/risers with the pump.

Then sit on my milk crate on creeper and start working pulling the drives etc...while watching Football!

PS. remove KVH dome, place outside barn on a base made from block, then run wire from Dome to DTV head unit in boat, then outside port window of boat to LCD TV in the barn and your good to go! Its very versitile.. turns the barn into MAN CAVE!
 
Yeah, you shouldn't have any problem as it takes a real good deep freeze to do damage, and that's on an unprepped boat.

I am so jealous that you can pull the whole boat inside - being able to do maintenance out of the weather all while watching football, that's the shiznit!!
 
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