Countdown has begun

[Richard Carlisle]

About a month to go. I have QSC-500’s. ive never winterized before. In the past I shrink wrapped in the water and just ran bilge heaters. This year I’m hauling for the winter. I’m thinking after haul out remove the zincs and let drain. Replace zincs. Open strainers and pour in antifreeze with engine running until it comes out the exhaust. Does that sound about right?

Also have both main strainer valves that won’t close completely. I figure I’ll have to remove and repair or replace those before winterizing. Alternative is to hire a guy and watch him then do it myself next year. I'm fine changing the oil and winterizing the fresh water system, just never done a diesel before.

 

[Richard Carlisle]

Or would it be better to remove impellers, disconnect intake hoses and pump antifreeze through until it comes out of exhaust?

 

[Strecker25]

You won’t be able to pour fast enough. My 3126’s pull 7-8 gallons in like 20 seconds at idle

I have a 15g tractor supply bucket with a hose that I use to feed the intake, after the strainer, and just start them for that 20-30 seconds. I skip the strainer because it holds a gallon and I’m cheap, I shop vac it Dry

 

[Richard Carlisle]

You won’t be able to pour fast enough. My 3126’s pull 7-8 gallons in like 20 seconds at idle

I have a 15g tractor supply bucket with a hose that I use to feed the intake, after the strainer, and just start them for that 20-30 seconds. I skip the strainer because it holds a gallon and I’m cheap, I shop vac it Dry

Skipping the strainer works for me. So disconnect intake hose from strainer, run hose from that to a big bucket and run. 6 gallons should be plenty, right?

 

[Skybolt]

Skipping the strainer works for me. So disconnect intake hose from strainer, run hose from that to a big bucket and run. 6 gallons should be plenty, right?

I disconnect the intake hose from the pump intake and put a garden hose adapter on with a small piece of silicon hose to join them. Then flush the system with fresh water and then run 8 gallons of anti-freeze. I use that much because of the amount of water that the water lift muffler(s) hold. I use a 12 gallon tank with garden hose adapter with a knife valve.

 

[Strecker25]

Skipping the strainer works for me. So disconnect intake hose from strainer, run hose from that to a big bucket and run. 6 gallons should be plenty, right?

I'm not familiar with your engine or cooling circuit, so I'm not sure. I use 7 gallons and our 3126's are only 7.2L engines with raw water cooled aftercoolers. I'm guessing you're closer to 8-10g?

I also collect the exhaust in a big bucket below the boat and test it with a refractometer to be sure I pushed all the water out.

I know this is obvious but these are big expensive engines, it might be a good idea to pay someone year one and watch them closely, ask questions, etc. You don't want to be replacing cracked heat exchangers next year

 

[Richard Carlisle]

Thanks guys, I’ll get my winterizing kit together 0ver the next couple weeks.

 

[Alex F]

...Also have both main strainer valves that won’t close completely. I figure I’ll have to remove and repair or replace those before winterizing....

This thread might help.
It looks like I forgot to post the link:

Maintenance on seacocks.

I have the Apollo 3" flange mounted ball valve seacocks. They have two 1/8 caps, one on either side. Trying to get info from Apollo has been difficult but I am told they are to flush fresh water to clean out the salt. Does anyone out there have experience on doing this? Just curious on the...

www.clubsearay.com

Solve your seacocks issue and run the antifreeze the "normal way".

 

[ocgrant]

Someone sent me this from Key West last week.... God bless you guys that is a lot of work and no joke if you miss something.

 

[Skybolt]

Someone sent me this from Key West last week.... God bless you guys that is a lot of work and no joke if you miss something.

View attachment 152288

You suck ...