Winterizing boats

carrera997 · #1 10-02-2014, 10:36 AM

Hey all,

Can anyone suggest a good place in the Edmonton area to buy a winterization kit to winterize a Mercruiser 4.3L? Looks like a guy needs the muffs for the drive leg as well as the antifreeze. Not sure what else these kits will have - i can fab up whatever may be missing.

Youtube has some good videos on what needs to be done for winterizing boat engines.

Thanks.

Skybuster · #2 10-02-2014, 10:44 AM

I have a 5.7l inboard. I don't believe you actually need muffs to winterize. I use mine in the ocean and after each trip I drop it in a lake to run fresh water through to rinse the salt off the inside. This year we didn't stop at a lake so we used muffs to run fresh water through. But that is the only reason and the only time I used muffs.

If you have a water cooled engine, as I do, you will need to drain the water manifolds.

Here is my checklist for winterizing:

Drain Water Intake Manifolds
Change Engine Oil
Check Leg oil levels, look for discoloration
Change Leg Oil
Check Antifreeze levels
Drain all pumps (Potable Water, Washdown)
Leave leg lowered to allow drainage.
Ensure bilge drain nut is out
Run some RV Antifreeze into the live well pumps

Other than that it is just cleaning and organizing.

jpohlic · #3 10-02-2014, 11:03 AM

I have a 3.0 Mercruiser. I add some fuel stabilizer and use muffs to run the engine up to temp, then spray fogging oil in the carb until the engine quits. Pull the block and manifold drains, check the leg oil for water, change engine oil/filter, run a bit of RV antifreeze through the bilge pump, remove battery

carrera997 · #4 10-02-2014, 01:41 PM

Best place to buy muffs? (I'm talking boat muffs

).

jpohlic · #5 10-02-2014, 02:00 PM

I think I got mine at Canadian Tire

AndrewM · #6 10-02-2014, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybuster

I have a 5.7l inboard. I don't believe you actually need muffs to winterize. I use mine in the ocean and after each trip I drop it in a lake to run fresh water through to rinse the salt off the inside. This year we didn't stop at a lake so we used muffs to run fresh water through. But that is the only reason and the only time I used muffs.

If you have a water cooled engine, as I do, you will need to drain the water manifolds.

Here is my checklist for winterizing:

Drain Water Intake Manifolds
Change Engine Oil
Check Leg oil levels, look for discoloration
Change Leg Oil
Check Antifreeze levels
Drain all pumps (Potable Water, Washdown)
Leave leg lowered to allow drainage.
Ensure bilge drain nut is out
Run some RV Antifreeze into the live well pumps

Other than that it is just cleaning and organizing.

The only thing I would add is to disconnect the hose on back of speedometer and blow back through the hose. Seems to always have water in it that messes up the speed.

benamen · #7 10-02-2014, 02:22 PM

For the small amount it costs, I change the oil in the leg every year. Found out that is a good thing to do one year. Drained the oil and out comes part of a gear. Saved me a major repair cost and being stranded somewhere out on a lake.

carrera997 · #8 10-02-2014, 09:32 PM

Thanks for the tips guys. I got a winterization kit (muffs, antifreeze jug, ang fogging oil spray) from Barry Jay's today so I'll be doing this on the weekend. Weather looks good for it.

Quick question on checking the leg oil for water - do I just crack the lower drain and see if the first oil out looks cloudy? I'm not planning on changing oils this fall as the boat only ran for a few hours this summer, unfortunately.