Is there a safe way to start the motor from the engine room.

[suss1173]

After I drain the engines and strainers, I spin this attachment I put together to the top of the strainer. I use one of those winterizer jugs and connect with a short garden hose. Fire up the engines to run about 5 gallons of -100 AF.

When I’m done I drain the mufflers. View attachment 61702

GP, any reason you don’t leave the AF in the motors so it’s not sitting dry. I’ve always thought that it was beneficial to keep them full and let it marinate inside as it would help prevent oxidation.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I’m

I’m not that mechanically inclined, but pulling out the fuel pump relay seems like a good idea to stop the engine (at least an EFI/MPI). I know my relay or harness died about 5 times when I first bought my boat and it would kill the engine in a heartbeat!

Except... best practice says to avoid doing things in a gasoline bilge that could make sparks. Bad things can happen!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Michael, with an MPI engine (even more-so than an EFI), you don't want to use fogging fluid into the intake. You can foul sensors. Instead, you would run what we call a "cocktail mix" of 2-stroke oil and stabilizer for a specific time and at a certain RPM (can search - been talked about quite a bit). This is what Merc specifically recommends. It can be introduced via the fuel water sep or via an external tank being plumbed in. Depending on which way you go, that can change how you introduce AF, as well. It can always just be simply poured in through the hoses with the engine off.

 

[KevinC]

I first warm up engines on fresh water. (If you have not already done the oil change then this would be a great time) Then I use a SeaFlush with snorkel setup and 5gal buckets with AF to sea strainers. Check your merc manual you probably do not want to spray fog. I use a premix in a portable tank. Its a gas, 2-stroke oil and stabilizer per mercs formula. I feed directly to the fuel system just before the spin on filter. Run the engines for a couple minutes while it takes in 5 gallons. (My vernalift is slightly different as I drain it after warming and then watch for the pink to flow.) After that I shut down and engine is protected and ready for sleep.

I bring along an assistant to fire up the engines. Same basic concept for both engines and genset.

-Kevin

 

[KevinC]

GP, any reason you don’t leave the AF in the motors so it’s not sitting dry. I’ve always thought that it was beneficial to keep them full and let it marinate inside as it would help prevent oxidation.

Draining the mufflers will still leave a little in the manifold system and unlike my old 5.0MPI these Horizons are fresh water cooled with AF already in the block.

-Kevin

 

[suss1173]

Thanks for the tip LazyDayz. I didn’t realize spraying through the intake could damage anything. I searched for the info on fogging an MPI and found it. I also assume I could pull plugs and just spray some into each cylinder as well?

Kevin, I took the boat for a ride Sunday and did the oil changes when I got back from the ride. I also topped off my fuel (I know there’s lots of data on storing full vs empty, but I’ve always stored with the tanks full of fresh fuel treated with Starton and Stay-Bil, so I’m sticking to that method). I got the gen set winterazation too.

The only thing left to do is pull her out, winterize the two motors and wrapping her up.

 

[KevinC]

... I also topped off my fuel (I’ve always stored with the tanks full of fresh fuel treated with Starton and Stay-Bil)...

I used to to do the top off however for some reason Merc recommends that only if you have alcohol free gas. Their recommendation per their Manual 30 is to store as low as possible and treat. (see attached) I am guessing this it to prevent the possibility of alcohol separating out even with stabilizer. I was told this by my marine surveyor also and it went against what I knew so I did some research and found him to be right.



-Kevin

 

[KevinC]

... I also assume I could pull plugs and just spray some into each cylinder as well?...

Some of my friends drop the spin off fuel filter and add an ounce or so of 2-stroke oil to the filter and start them back up. The 2-stroke oil is giving a coating to the engine internals.

-Kevin

 

[Lazy Daze]

Sure, Michael, you could also spray fogging fluid directly into the cylinders. Nothing wrong with that. Running the cocktail mixture gets all parts of the intake system, not just the cylinder side. But it won't hurt to ALSO spray into the cylinders.

PLUS... it is VERY important for that last, little tiny drip of fuel on each injector to have been "extra" treated with stabilizer. This is why Merc specs say to run the engine for exactly 5 minutes at about 1200 RPM - to ensure the cocktail mixture gets everywhere (since it won't immediately get into the system) and also doesn't get washed out by the new gas coming behind it (when adding the mixture to the filter). If you plumb an external tank, of course it's OK to run it longer, though.

 

[suss1173]

Great points. I will make the cocktail and feed it into the system.

Thanks for the help.

 

[KevinC]

Great points. I will make the cocktail and feed it into the system.

Thanks for the help.

I have the premix tank setup, not sure about your fitting sizes but let me know if you want to see or borrow it. I am hopefully pulling the boat tomorrow but will not get to use it until at least next week.

-Kevin

 

[cfd95]

Sea Flush system is the way to go on the motors.
You can leave the bucket on the deck and start the motors from the helm and shut them down when empty.
The generator i just flip the gallon jug of antifreeze upside down in the top strainer and start it.
Definitely do something for the fogging either by spraying in cylinders or the cocktail.

 

[Great lakes pirate]

GP, any reason you don’t leave the AF in the motors so it’s not sitting dry. I’ve always thought that it was beneficial to keep them full and let it marinate inside as it would help prevent oxidation.

Only reason I drain them is peace of mind. I like to see it come out nice and blue.

The rest of the system/engine is still full of AF. I only emptied the mufflers.

 

[suss1173]

I have the premix tank setup, not sure about your fitting sizes but let me know if you want to see or borrow it. I am hopefully pulling the boat tomorrow but will not get to use it until at least next week.

-Kevin

Thanks Kevin. I pulling out tomorrow too. I might send you a text, and check out your setup. We also need to connect B/C I want to order the fast back cover next time they go on sale.

 

[MonacoMike]

You guys have some innovative winterizing equipment in things thread.

MM

 

[KevinC]

Thanks Kevin. I pulling out tomorrow too. I might send you a text, and check out your setup. We also need to connect B/C I want to order the fast back cover next time they go on sale.

No need to wait for a sale - our prices are not based on Great Lakes Boat Top running a sale and are typically less expensive than their sale prices. However spring time is the busiest and their production times tend to take longer because off this. For anyone else interested PM me on CSR or my contact info is up at www.covemarine.com.

-Kevin

 

[KevinC]

You guys have some innovative winterizing equipment in things thread.

MM

Its all about make it easier.

-Kevin

 

[suss1173]

I got her winterized yesterday and all went smooth. At least I think it did...

I sprayed the fogging oil into each cylinder. I bumped the key/ motor w/o letting it start so each cylinder could get properly coated. This was the easiest way given the conditions. Next year I will feed it via the fuel system.

I used my 5 gallon bucket to feed the pink into the motors. I put the bucket on the deck and ran a hose from the bucket down to the raw water line coming “off” the sea strainer. I let the pink gravity feed into the motor/exhaust. When I finished with the pink I pulled 3/4 of the water out of the strainer, I could not get it all out with the hand pump (I was surprised there wasn’t a drain at the bottom of the strainer, like on my last boat, and I didn’t have a shop vac with me). Then I poured some pink in to the strainer, it’s probaly 75% pink and 25% water, and not all the way to the top either. Should I go back and vacuume it all out and refill, so it’s 100% pink?

Another question; when I was running it on the garden hose and when I was gravity feeding the pink. I noticed water and pink only came out the exhaust port on the bottom of the boat and my the prop shaft. However, it didn’t exit the exhaust port on the side of the boat. I assume theres not enough pressure from the garden hose or the gravity fead hose to allow either to exit the side exhaust and it should be fine?

FWIW- I don’t have the vernalifts.

Thanks in advance,
Michael

 

[KevinC]

Might be easier to vacuum/drain the strainer first and then just feed the AF into the strainer. That's how it works for us with the Sea flush system.

-Kevin

 

[wayne0]

I put a 1.5" hose on the intake side of the strainer and sink it into a 7 gal. bucket of pink. Start the engine and run until empty. You can watch from the helm on a 340. I've been doing this for the last 8 years we've had the boat with no issues with New England winters. BTW, I have a "half" system.