Yanmar 315 winterizing

[NJRobert]

I was wondering if anyone out there might have a "shortcut" sugestion for winterizing the engine? I have a 2" hose coming in and it's been a task to try to attach a longer, more flexible hose to it, while trying to prevent an air leak, when putting in antifreeze. Wondering what anyone else has done.

Thanks

[Carl]

Good question. I was thinking I would just take the top off of the strainer(after closeing the Through hull) and just keep pouring in some anti freeze until the pink stuff started comeing out of the exaust. I think there have been several posts about this, so that might be where I came up with this plan. I did winterize all of the other systems today, but still have some fishing to do. Should be fine unless we get a straight week of weather in the teens. The water the boat is sitting in is still in the 50s.
I have always been told not to worry about it unless the water around the boat freezes.

[mhanna]

I have done just what Carl said. Close the through hull, idle the engine while pouring pink stuff in the strainer. I believe I used 5-6 gallons last year before pink started coming out of the exhaust. Then I put in 1 more for good luck (dilution concern)

* make sure you bottles are already opened or have it in a large bucket or such. You dont want to have to open containers and pull off those foil seals while doing this and let the engine run dry.....

Matt

[RobS]

or have it in a large bucket

Last year I had poured 3 gallons in each of two 5 gallon buckets and just poured it into the strainer while she idled. Helps to have a 2nd person to monitor the color of the exhaust and then kill the engine after it goes pink for a bit.

[NJRobert]

Thanks everyone for the strainer suggestion. Having a second person would make this a very easy job, I agree.

[RobS]

Having a second person would make this a very easy job, I agree.

Shouldn't be hard to find someone as no skills required for this one.

[Merry Kate]

Also, if you're winterizing in the water using this method, don't forget the part of the raw water intake hose between the seacock and the strainer, and the seacock itself. I once cracked the ball valve on the raw water intake because I forgot to drain the chamber of the closed valve via the little plug, and the slug of water trapped in there froze.

Once closed off, I use my topsider pump to completely vacuum the water from the hose and from the ball valve (and do this for all other thru-hull ball valve chambers as well). I'm pretty paranoid, but have seem some really weird things happen when the temp gets in the teens for a couple nights in a row, blige heaters or other tricks notwithstanding.

[pcthornton]

I used Carl's method, and this is consistent with what the dealer told me to do. First, he recommended against using the pre-mixed -50 antifreeze because it will be further diluted by the raw water remining in the engine. So I got the undiluted, nontoxic antifreeze ($17/gallon) and mixed it 60% antifreeze and 40% H2O. I used 2 1/2 gallons of antifreeze and 1/1/2 gallons of water and mixed it in a clean, 5 gallon bucket. After changing the pencil zincs on the engine (4 out of 5, as I couldn't get a wrench on the one on the end of the fresh water cooler) I removed the sea-strainer cover, closed the seacock and started the engine and immediately began pouring the 4 gallon cocktail into the sea-strainer. I was surprised that it didn't draw in the antifreeze quicker. After pouring it all in I then watched the exhaust and waited for the red stuff to begin coming out. I then shut 'er down for the winter. Finally, I stuffed oily rags up into the exhaust and put a plastic cover an duct tape over it.

This was my first time winterizing the engine. I was a bit nervous but felt good after it was done and I won't be so timid about it next time.