Winterizing Cummins QSC 500

Matt DiMauro

Member
Apr 21, 2019
32
East Greenwich Bay, Rhode Island
Boat Info
44 Sedan Bridge 2007
Engines
Cummins QSC 500
Is it safe/recommended to flush fresh water through the engine (Salt Water) before you put antifreeze in them and put them away for the winter? Also what would be the best way of doing that?
 
You can and should. I touched on it in your QSC winterization thread that I replied to last week.

When I break out my winterization box I will take some pictures but its basically a 15 gallon rubbermaid bucket with a 1.25" hose attached, that I then made an adapter to fit the top of the strainer to flush with fresh water and then with antifreeze.
 
Found one of the references I saw before I built mine:

http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/420-44-db-owners-club.39333/page-17#post-525632

Mine does not use a pump it uses 1-1/4" (or 1-1/2" I cant remember which now) and gravity feeds. Also I have perko strainers not groco, so my strainer covers are not screwed in its a cover with a gasket. I made a plate from some scrap 1/2" starboard I had to hold the hose on. I will get some pictures when I drag it out of storage.
 
Photos of my flush box. If I were to do it again I would use 1" hose, I run with the valve partially closed with the 1-1/4" otherwise it will drain the box in 45 seconds. With this setup and the valve close slightly I can run for about 5 minutes. That is the water from the hose on full, the box full, and dumpling an additional 20 gallons in from buckets as it runs. I do this twice to flush then drain all the water and fill with 6 gallons of antifreeze pr engine.

I use the same box for the generator and A/C but don't need the extra buckets, the hose is plenty to keep up.
IMG_20191026_090007.jpg
IMG_20191026_090015.jpg
IMG_20191026_090645.jpg
 
Here's my setup on a 16 gallon wet dry vac. I simply attached a flexible coupling to the vacs existing drain. Its 1.5" tubing.
20191029_200213.jpg
20191029_200235.jpg
 
You have the groco strainers that have a screw on cap - makes the project MUCH easier!

I have perko strainers, so my caps are held down with two bolts with wingnuts, that is why I needed to make the flat plate with two holes.
 

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