There’s an antifreeze drought in Maryland

PSNI

Member
Aug 2, 2017
60
Boat Info
2000 380
Engines
Mercruiser 8.1 MAG (2005)
All West Marines are sold out. Even the marine industry is scrounging. They normally buy it by the barrel but ended up scooping up all the 6 x 1 gallon cases from our local store.

So I had 7 1/2 gallons I managed to come up with to winterize two 8.1’s I used 3 1/2 gallons in the starboard engine and my assistant saw no pink coming out of the exhaust. Now incidentallly, I did not drain the water first using the air actuator thinking this was superfluous. The 3 1/2 must have been enough to work through the system; right?

With 4 gallons left, I moved to the port engine. This time, thinking maybe I skipped a step, I used the air actuated valve to drain the water in the manifolds. It went though the 4 gallons but the entire time there was no water/antifreeze exiting the exhaust.

I’ve read on this forum that the procedure requires 4 gallons and I believe that’s what I used last year. West Marine is supposed to be getting a delivery late next week. I plan to restart the procedure until I see pink in the exhaust.

Am I missing something? Am I underestimating the required antifreeze.

I fogged as well in case anyone is interested.
 
Looks like you get to do this one again... ;) You ALWAYS have to drain, first. Otherwise you end up with some "mix" of AF/water. You do have it a little easier than others, though, since you have a closed cooling system for your engine. That certainly helps. You can run your engine and add the AF through the (closed) seacock, or even just pour it into the appropriate hoses.

You didn't, by chance, "fog" by spraying fogging fluid into the intake, did you?
 
Try Walmart. That's where I get all my pink AF. In NY it was 2.58/gal.

-Kevin
 
Oh... as you look around for more AF... make sure you get the propylene mix. The ethylene/ethanol mix is less expensive, but can CAUSE corrosion to metal items... like what most of the system you are trying to protect is made out of. FYI, BOTH formulas of AF may have pics of boats on them, but one of them is only good for water systems (plastic).
 
Probably because it went from 50* to 16* in a couple of days and everyone ran out to get it at the same time. Normally it's around 50* this time of the year. Overnight lows may be colder in the high 30*s

-Kevin
 
I ordered mine from west marine and had it shipped. Is it still available online?

Worst case, you drain the water and use the cheaper ethanol mix. It's not recommended per say, but it will work in a pinch.
 
Probably because it went from 50* to 16* in a couple of days and everyone ran out to get it at the same time. Normally it's around 50* this time of the year. Overnight lows may be colder in the high 30*s

-Kevin

Procrastination causes so many problems. Every year the first time the temp drops here they all want to be winterized on the same day. LOL

MM
 
In a pinch you can probably use auto windshield wiper fluid in NON POTABLE systems as it is usually rated to -20 or better.

For fresh water just blow out the systems with air.

-Kevin
 
Looks like you get to do this one again... ;) You ALWAYS have to drain, first. Otherwise you end up with some "mix" of AF/water. You do have it a little easier than others, though, since you have a closed cooling system for your engine. That certainly helps. You can run your engine and add the AF through the (closed) seacock, or even just pour it into the appropriate hoses.

You didn't, by chance, "fog" by spraying fogging fluid into the intake, did you?

Thanks For quick reply Dennis.
Looks like you get to do this one again... ;) You ALWAYS have to drain, first. Otherwise you end up with some "mix" of AF/water. You do have it a little easier than others, though, since you have a closed cooling system for your engine. That certainly helps. You can run your engine and add the AF through the (closed) seacock, or even just pour it into the appropriate hoses.

You didn't, by chance, "fog" by spraying fogging fluid into the intake, did you?

Thanks for the quick reply Dennis.

To fog I used a remote fuel tank with 2 cycle oil and Sta-Bil. For Af I used propylene glycol formula from west marine. I used the cheap RV stuff for the water systems and AC.

I don’t understand the need to drain. Is it not a continuous flow from the strainer to the pump then the various thing being cooled? It sounds like you’re saying AF and water get churned together otherwise but I’m having a hard time picturing that. I’d really like to understand this and would appreciate your insight.

I inferred from the 8.1 manual that the drains were intended for temporary protection from freezing during an extended season.
 
Anyone know why it is in short supply?

MM
The guys at the store said HQ may not have ordered enough and were concerned about holding excess inventory but also said the local winterizeing shops bought up all their inventory. Hard to draw a conclusion because it affected every store in the area...Annapolis to Baltimore.
 
I don’t understand the need to drain.
winterizing antifreeze is best at 100%. Inducing into an engine system thats still full of water, dilutes the antifreeze, raising its freeze point. Draining the system insures that nearly 100% A/F is in the engine cooling system.
 
My 8.1 always took 5 gallons to get it out the exhaust.
Even on the closed cooling, you should drain the raw water side first. As mentioned, it will dilute it some unless you run plenty of excess through the system.
 
My 496s take 4.5 gallons without draining water first. I run it until I see purple and then run another gallon through for good measure. I was just in West Marine in Solomons MD, they had at least 50 cases yesterday.
 
I would drain it, then come back and fill it when you are able to get the correct anti-freeze. That way you are protected - air doesn't freeze. And like Dennis said, all pink anitfreeze is not the same, you don't want to use the ethylene/ethanol based.

Oh and even around here that stuff runs short this time of year - I usually pick it up at WM when I first see it in the late summer. Same with the Quicksilver oil, gear lube and filters, I think a lot of the smaller guys (not dealers) can buy the oil and stuff at WM as cheap as anywhere.
 
I would drain it, then come back and fill it when you are able to get the correct anti-freeze. That way you are protected - air doesn't freeze. And like Dennis said, all pink anitfreeze is not the same, you don't want to use the ethylene/ethanol based.

Oh and even around here that stuff runs short this time of year - I usually pick it up at WM when I first see it in the late summer. Same with the Quicksilver oil, gear lube and filters, I think a lot of the smaller guys (not dealers) can buy the oil and stuff at WM as cheap as anywhere.

Planning ahead is just so, uh uh uh, old school...

MM
 
So I had 7 1/2 gallons I managed to come up with to winterize two 8.1’s I used 3 1/2 gallons in the starboard engine and my assistant saw no pink coming out of the exhaust. Now incidentallly, I did not drain the water first using the air actuator thinking this was superfluous. The 3 1/2 must have been enough to work through the system; right?

Let us know in the spring how it worked out

With 4 gallons left, I moved to the port engine. This time, thinking maybe I skipped a step, I used the air actuated valve to drain the water in the manifolds. It went though the 4 gallons but the entire time there was no water/antifreeze exiting the exhaust.

Takes that much to fill a 8.1 it on average, but you did drain this one first

You should use the quick crack drain system, by removing the manifold hoses to insure the fitting is not blocked, you must also remove the quick connect at the block to insure drainage.In most cases you will find it blocked
Then simply pour the A/F into the motors and manifolds.

Many an engine has met is early demise with the no-draining,muff/sea strainer method. Springtime will be the real test for this method
 
West Marine is now fully stocked with anti freeze. I completed the port engine yesterday with 2 gallons.

I went back and re-did the starboard engine by first draining it and used about 4 gallons before pink was flowing from the exhaust.

Enjoy the winter everyone.
 

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