Question on winterizing a 2001 5.0 EFI with a BRAVO TWO

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Active Member
May 10, 2011
244
Huntington WV boating the Ohio River and lakes in
Boat Info
Sea Ray 225
Engines
5.0 Mercruiser
Manual that comes with boat says to drain all 6 blue plugs. I did that. However we were just reading in a Clymer service manual that stated both hoses on the water pump must be pulled also. THAT IS NOT IN THE SEA RAY MANUAL!! I was able to get one of the hoses off the pump and water came out but unable to get the second hose off. What's up with all the various conflicting ideas on winterizing this engine. Anyone know why this was not included in the Sea Ray manual. I know it must be important because water came out of the water pump hose!!
 
The Sea Ray owner's manual is only a general guide. It deals more with the operation of the boat's systems than it does with the engine. A Merc service manual would be more specific to the engine.

The part about 6 plugs is true... for an engine with an Alpha drive. And then backfilling with antifreeze through the hoses on the t-stat housing. All Bravo drives need to have the raw water pump cleared of water as it doesn't self drain like an Alpha. Pulling the output hose of the pump off, then bumping the engine a few times does that. THEN, when you backfill with AF, the AF will make it's way to the pump, further protecting it.

If the engine wasn't backfilled, there could be pockets of water left that could damage the engine.
 

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