Should I run engines with Bilge heater over winter?

[ZZ13]

I have decided to follow the lead of some of my dockmates and get a bilge heater rather than do the engine winterization thing. FYI, Jan/Feb are the real threatening months in my area. Not much concern the other months. Anyway, I plan to idle the engines in the slip once a week Dec-Mar until they heat up, for a good 10 minutes thereafter. My thought is to keep things lubbed and cleaned out, especially since I won't be fogging.

I saw a thread on doing/not doing this with diesels. But for gas engines, is this a good idea? Do the hot blocks do OK when the t-stat opens and 40 degree water goes through the cooling passages?

 

[Henry Boyd]

The strategy when storing cars for the winter is to not run the engine. The rationale is that although the oil has just been changed before storage, running the engine for a short time will not cook off any moisture from combustion. This will then condense and create acid in the oil. It is a policy I've always followed when storing cars for the winter. I have no idea whether its correct, or not, but my stunted knowledge of chemistry suggests it is possible.

Henry

 

[Larry&Leisa]

Pretty much what I've done for the past 3 seasons. Havent had any ill effects ( that I'm aware of ! )

 

[themikehyde]

My only concern about relying on a bilge heater alone, with no winterization is an extended poweroutage. Anyone around Eastern VA remember the ice storm in 94?

 

[ZZ13]

My only concern about relying on a bilge heater alone, with no winterization is an extended poweroutage. Anyone around Eastern VA remember the ice storm in 94?

Good thought. I am close to the marina. I do plan to use 3 pt drain to clear the engines (and possibly pull hoses to fill with the -100 stuff) should there be a prediction for a hard freeze for a while, or should we lose power.

 

[Loneranger]

I use a bilge heater it the cobalt and I sometimes do not run the engine for several months and it has done fine now about 17 years old. When I do run the cobalt engines it is when I get it down and run it for an hour or so when we go for a winter cruise.

FYI I experience water condensation in the oil filler cap on my Toyota tundra during the winter sometimes since I am 1.2 miles from work it will sometimes go for several weeks without heating up significantly. The underside of the filler cap will look like caramel.

John

 

[ZZ13]

I use a bilge heater it the cobalt and I sometimes do not run the engine for several months and it has done fine now about 17 years old. When I do run the cobalt engines it is when I get it down and run it for an hour or so when we go for a winter cruise.

FYI I experience water condensation in the oil filler cap on my Toyota tundra during the winter sometimes since I am 1.2 miles from work it will sometimes go for several weeks without heating up significantly. The underside of the filler cap will look like caramel.

John

Thanks John. My insurance layup period is Dec 1 - March 1, so I have three months I can't take it out for a lengthy cruise and have insurance coverage. So we are looking at a potential 3 month layup with no engine starting, no fogging and no antifreeze in the lines, with bilge temp between 40-55 degrees. FYI, there are boats in my marina that go more than 3 months without being used during the boating months...

 

[Kendall]

Thanks John. My insurance layup period is Dec 1 - March 1, so I have three months I can't take it out for a lengthy cruise and have insurance coverage. So we are looking at a potential 3 month layup with no engine starting, no fogging and no antifreeze in the lines, with bilge temp between 40-55 degrees. FYI, there are boats in my marina that go more than 3 months without being used during the boating months...

This layup would kill me....especially if I kept my boat in such a beautiful area....might want to look at a different insurance carrier as Boatus never said anything to me about a layup.

In regards to running the engine there is really no need to do this if you will only be out of commision a few months. I would not worry too much about a power outage and the bilge heater as I assume you are sitting in water that is above 40 F...the possibility of your block freezing is pretty remote with a boat kept in warmer water.

I have used a bilge heater for several years and have had no issues to date. Our 260 is kept on a lift about 3' from the water level. We still use our boat every couple of weeks in the winter so she has never sat for too long a period.

 

[Southpaw II]

I've used a bilge heater for several years on 3 different boats. I crank up and run to temp about once a week, and if there's a nice weekend day, I go out and enjoy it. I keep foam in the ER vents, and a remote thermometer in the ER to monitor things....rarely drops below 45 degrees. It gets cold here, but never for long. A few years ago we had a freeze that lasted for several days and the marina froze over....my boat heat froze up and I had to use an electric heater in the cabin; but only for a few days.

Don

 

[JimT]

I have a bilge heater bit still run the engines up to temp once a week when it's too cold to go out on the water. I also run the generator a couple of times each month.

 

[sdarc]

I kept 2 boats in the water last year with bilge heaters. Along around mid Nov. I winterized the the fresh water, ac, and waste systems. Now it was a warm winter so we got to use the boats. I actuaaly used the old boat more because I was trying to sell at the time. I think I used it more than when it was my only boat. LOL

I kept a small ceramic heater in the cabin. And a remote thermometer in the engine room to record temps. Also I had vent covers made to keep the cold wind out of the ER.

 

[RobnBern]

I'm on the Occoquan as well, and I use a bilge heater. I rarely start up during the off season, but I do go down and check the boat often. I had considered stuffing then ER vents but that's a great idea. I'm under a covered slip, so I don't get the benefit of the sun warming up the boat during the day but that's about the only negative. Being only 40 miles from the boat means I can keep a close eye on her.

 

[ZZ13]

I'm on the Occoquan as well, and I use a bilge heater. I rarely start up during the off season, but I do go down and check the boat often. I had considered stuffing then ER vents but that's a great idea. I'm under a covered slip, so I don't get the benefit of the sun warming up the boat during the day but that's about the only negative. Being only 40 miles from the boat means I can keep a close eye on her.

I am at Belmont Bay Harbor at the end of the Occoquan. No cover over the slip. Last year I used the cockpit cover all winter. This year I am going to try the front/side panels with the factory slant back aft curtain to make it easier for me to work on cockpit stuff and to get that good greenhouse effect going.

 

[Russ Calasant]

I'm not sure what starting the engines will do to help anything regarding temp. If it gets cold enough, long enough to freeze anything even during that period it would only delay the freezing, no? If it does not get cold enough, long enough then there is nothing to worry about. Am I missing something?

 

[ZZ13]

I'm not sure what starting the engines will do to help anything regarding temp. If it gets cold enough, long enough to freeze anything even during that period it would only delay the freezing, no? If it does not get cold enough, long enough then there is nothing to worry about. Am I missing something?

My idea to run the engines has nothing to do with that. It is simply to keep the combustion part (plugs, cylinders, etc) exercised.

 

[Loneranger]

I'm not sure what starting the engines will do to help anything regarding temp. If it gets cold enough, long enough to freeze anything even during that period it would only delay the freezing, no? If it does not get cold enough, long enough then there is nothing to worry about. Am I missing something?

"Anyway, I plan to idle the engines in the slip once a week Dec-Mar until they heat up, for a good 10 minutes thereafter. My thought is to keep things lubbed and cleaned out, especially since I won't be fogging. "

He is not running the engines to prevent freezing but to improve engine performance by not letting them sit idle for too long and allow gas to gum up.

John

 

[RobnBern]

Belmont is a nice marina. My jet ski is there. We're just up river at FFX Yacht Club. Good to know there's another CSR member so close!!

 

[Mikemapva]

I'm also on the Occoquan at FFX Yacht Club. B Dock. I kept my boat in the water there one year, but had it winterized and shrink wrapped. I usually pull it though and store it on land as I am about 45 minutes away and spent the time worrying about something happening while hardly anyone was around.

Mike

 

[hottoddie]

For anyone that keeps the boat in the water and doesn't winterize their engines, check your insurance policy. If it specifies a lay up period then it may require that engines are winterized and SEA COCKS CLOSED. If you have an insurance claim during that time and they find the sea cocks are open your claim "may" be denied. Call you agent and review your policy.

 

[Russ Calasant]

My idea to run the engines has nothing to do with that. It is simply to keep the combustion part (plugs, cylinders, etc) exercised.

Ah okay, I did miss something!