Winterizing the A/C

[JimG]

Winterizing the A/C and the Engines

I tried to do my A/C by running pink in at the raw water strainer but it would never take. I have a PVC fitting that replaces the strainer cap and then a large funnel attached where I pour the pink in. The pump was running but wouldn't take the pink.
This method worked great on the generator. :smt038

I have heard some say that you can blow the water out with an air compressor. How and where? Maybe take the output hose off the pump and push air in there? :huh:

 

[skolbe]

You have lost the prime in the A/C with the A/C I remove the strainer cap and then install a new cap that has a hose fitting attached to a tank - that keeps the prime in the system. Finalize winterizing sea cock and good to go. The A/C is less forgiving - the generator is easy.

 

[rcknecht]

What I have done is put a 3/4" T with a hose fitting and cap between the strainer and pump. I then attached the hose fitting the I use to blow my underground sprinklers out, on to the my AC hose connection... Then I attach my compressor and blow down the strainer. Then I shut off the RW intake, and blow through the AC pump, through the AC HE and out the side of the boat. It takes about 10 minutes. You can blow by the AC pump, but not the water pump. I use the compressor the water system, but don't blow through the pump...

 

[J.Wilt]

I was planning on using this same process, Do you need to have the strainer sealed? Same with running pink through the engine block, do I need a cap over the strainer before it will suck the antifreeze? This will be the first winter that Jack Frost meets my boat.:smt089

Jeff

 

[skolbe]

According to Groco when I ordered the caps and told them what I was doing they said I needed to buy the gaskets otherwise it wouldn't work well. So it needs to be a tight seal.

 

[Turtlesboat]

Groco also makes a flush adapter that screws onto the top of the seacock. Makes it super easy to winterized or flush without loosing prime.

 

[Pyrojodge]

I use the pink stuff and flush my system out reverse... meaning I hook up a pump and hose to the outlet side of the ac unit at the through hull. Run the pink reverse till you see it come out pink threw the intake and job finished... the first year I watched the marina do the ac's this way and was ticked they charged 120 bucks to do it... done it 6 years now with never an issue... just be sure it comes out deep pink...

Jason

 

[techmitch]

Don't forget to put some pink into your drip pan, enough so as to make the sump box fill and turn on the pump. Unless of course you want some cracked drain hoses. Ask me how I know.

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

I also pumped the pink into the discharge fitting until pink ran out the thu-hull pickup, but I found it helpful to blow the water out of the system first simply by using a wet vac to suck out the water. Too much water mixed with the pink will degrade its effectiveness!

 

[JimG]

You have lost the prime in the A/C with the A/C I remove the strainer cap and then install a new cap that has a hose fitting attached to a tank - that keeps the prime in the system. Finalize winterizing sea cock and good to go. The A/C is less forgiving - the generator is easy.

What I have done is put a 3/4" T with a hose fitting and cap between the strainer and pump. I then attached the hose fitting the I use to blow my underground sprinklers out, on to the my AC hose connection... Then I attach my compressor and blow down the strainer. Then I shut off the RW intake, and blow through the AC pump, through the AC HE and out the side of the boat. It takes about 10 minutes. You can blow by the AC pump, but not the water pump. I use the compressor the water system, but don't blow through the pump...

So there is another pump in A/C unit that has lost prime?

I use the pink stuff and flush my system out reverse... meaning I hook up a pump and hose to the outlet side of the ac unit at the through hull. Run the pink reverse till you see it come out pink threw the intake and job finished... the first year I watched the marina do the ac's this way and was ticked they charged 120 bucks to do it... done it 6 years now with never an issue... just be sure it comes out deep pink...

Jason

This sounds like it could work... not sure how to connect the hose to the thru-hull though.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I do it in reverse, as well. Just get a rubber hose off whatever pump (hand pump is fine) you want. If it's not the right size already (simply squeeze it into the thru-hull fitting), then just wrap some electrical tape around it till it's a tight fit.

 

[Alex F]

I tried to do my A/C by running pink in at the raw water strainer but it would never take. I have a PVC fitting that replaces the strainer cap and then a large funnel attached where I pour the pink in. The pump was running but wouldn't take the pink.
This method worked great on the generator. :smt038....

The difference is that A/C pump is not self primed, so you have to feed it with some force. I use 120v water pump that I connect one end to the container with pink and the other to the hose before the A/C pump. I turn the A/C on, then right away turn the water pump to feed the pink to the A/C pump and whala...the pink goes through the system and comes out of the A/C discharge. :thumbsup:

Groco also makes a flush adapter that screws onto the top of the seacock. Makes it super easy to winterized or flush without loosing prime.

Mike, is this http://www.pyacht.com/groco-engine-flush-kit.htm what you're talking about?

 

[Pyrojodge]

I put 4 gals of pink into my water tank... run it through the water system after bypassing the hot water tank. I have a wash down hose on the back deck after getting pink through the hose I place it outside the boat and I made a gasket from 3/16 neopreen. It is 4x4 with a half inch hole in the middle. Take the hose with the gasket and press agains the through hull and I turn my wash down nozzel on... 30 to 45 seconds later all is good and pink and I am finished... will try and get pics this sat as its my day... hope this helps...

Jason

 

[Henry Boyd]

I put 4 gals of pink into my water tank... run it through the water system after bypassing the hot water tank. I have a wash down hose on the back deck after getting pink through the hose I place it outside the boat and I made a gasket from 3/16 neopreen. It is 4x4 with a half inch hole in the middle. Take the hose with the gasket and press agains the through hull and I turn my wash down nozzel on... 30 to 45 seconds later all is good and pink and I am finished... will try and get pics this sat as its my day... hope this helps...

Jason

I use roughly the same process, but use a end of the hose valve with a garden hose to tubing adaptor. I believe it is 5/8" tubing. This can be inserted into the discharge hull fittings:

Henry

 

[Pyrojodge]

No need for my pics Henry has it going on... great job

Jason

 

[JimG]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

If I back flush it I will probably have to come up with some sort of seal against the hull fitting. My discharge fitting has internal keys that I assume are used hold it in place as the back nut is tightened, so just stuffing a hose in won't seal up. Maybe I can do a neoprene gasket like Pyrojodge uses.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

If I back flush it I will probably have to come up with some sort of seal against the hull fitting. My discharge fitting has internal keys that I assume are used hold it in place as the back nut is tightened, so just stuffing a hose in won't seal up. Maybe I can do a neoprene gasket like Pyrojodge uses.

Stuffing it in works better than you might imagine, even with the keys. It works. This is one of those areas where too much thinking causes more work.

 

[Vince_nj1]

After reading this thread I did a little search in You tube for winterizing a boat and found this. I may buy one. Update.. The price is $69. A little steep for a plastic funnel. I am not buying one.

[video=youtube;E0N-9Hrw9Pc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0N-9Hrw9Pc&NR=1[/video]
[video=youtube;Luxs1NdX2Fc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Luxs1NdX2Fc[/video]

 

[Sous]

After reading this thread I did a little search in You tube for winterizing a boat and found this. I may buy one. Update.. The price is $69. A little steep for a plastic funnel. I am not buying one.

[video=youtube;E0N-9Hrw9Pc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0N-9Hrw9Pc&NR=1[/video]
[video=youtube;Luxs1NdX2Fc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Luxs1NdX2Fc[/video]

Is it really this easy? This is my first year with the boat and was thinking of doing some of this work myself... maybe have the yacht yard to do the engine and outdrive service and I'll winterize the H20, AC, and head systems, especially if its so easy a 10 year old can do it. I have the technical capacity of at least a 12 year old :lol: so I should be good right?

 

[rondds]

10yo is about the only human that would fit in most of our bilges.

And YES, it is that easy. I use one of these filled with cherry juice...