Winterizing this weekend...

B

belliswood

Member
Nov 21, 2011
320
Colonial Beach, VA
Boat Info
1996 370 SUNDANCER
NAME: DAWG HAUS 3
Engines
7.4 EFI 454
V-DRIVES
This is my list for winterizing I put together, Is there anything I missed?

WinterizingDone370 Sundancer
Cabin Notes
Bypass Water heater / drain
Suck out water around hot water heater
Fresh water pump under bed
Shower cold / hot
Bath Sink cold / hot
Toilet Flush several times with antifreeze
Leave antifreeze standing in toilet
Dump antifreeze down drains
Galley Sink cold / hot
Wet Bar Sink
City Water hook up
Hose connection
Winshield washers
Clean out shower sump/suck out water
Fresh water wash down on back cold and hot
Check the ice maker water line
Force air thru:
Bathroom Sink
Galley sink drains
Wet bar sink drains
Engines
Change Oil and Filter / check antifreeze
Change Fuel Filters
Drain Mufflers of water
Run marine antifreeze thru engines
Generator
Change out Zink in heat exchanger
Change oil and flter/check antifreeze
Change Fuel Filter
Run marine antifreeze thru unit
A/C units
Run marine antifreeze thru unit
Misc
Suck water out of bildge with shop vac
Shut off Batteries to engines / generator
Put out moisture absorbant canisters
Open all cabin doors
Take home all linnens/towels/Food/Drinks
Prop open frig door
 
I see under engines you have "Drain mufflers of water" Dont forget to drain the block(s) and manifolds too.
 
Add the following to the list.
Fog the engine.
Fog the generator.
 
I have fresh water cooled engines, do I still drain the block? Added the fogging to the list, thanks....
 
No, with a full closed cooling system you do not drain the block or manifolds, just run antifreeze thru the raw water side.
 
Thanks for the information, however I do I know if it is full or 1/2 system? They are 7.4L EFI/MP. Is there a cooling system diagram somewhere online I can look at?
 
My 2001 7.4 MPI is a 1/2 system. The easiest way to tell the difference is to look at the number of hoses going to the manifolds and elbows. If you have one hose on each side connected to the manifold you have a half system. The water will enter the manifold and go out the elbows to the exhaust. If you have a full system you will have two hoses going to the manifold (one may be connected to a riser if you have one) , and a third hose going to the elbow.
 
Ok so lets make sure I have this correct. 1/2 system will have 1 hose going to the manifold only, and a full sustem will have 2 going to the manifold and a third going to the elbow. Is this correct? Also how much 2 cycle oil should I put in the fuel filter to fog the engine?
 
macerator, I have never used it or even opened it. If I open it and pump out the tank will it suck everything out of that line? I guess I can pump the pink from the outside back thru the system to the tank, that would flush the line out. Any sugestions on how to it is done?
 
Also when winterizing the vacu flush, do I only need to put a couple bowls of the pink stuff thru to get the job done? Thank you all so much for helping me get this worked out.
 
belliswood said:
If I open it and pump out the tank will it suck everything out of that line? I guess I can pump the pink from the outside back thru the system to the tank, that would flush the line out. Any sugestions on how to it is done?
Click to expand...

There are duck bills associated with the overboard discharge pump, fluid can only go one way, overboard. The pump is a diaphram pump, and without the buckbills to act as a check valve, waste would just surge back and forth in the line with the action of the pump, and nothing would get pumped overboard.
So no, you can't suck the line out, or back flush through it from the thru hull.
I start with a rinsed clean, emptied tank, and I winterize my water system which includes pumping pink through the toilets. I place a 5 gal bucket under the thru hull right up close so everything goes in the bucket and not on the ground. I then open the thru hull and turn on the pump. Whatever pink was flushed through is pumped out, you may have to flush some more pink to get undiluted pink at the thru hull. Run the pump until no more pink is pumped out. Leave the sea cock open through the winter. Done. What you do with the bucket of pink is up to you....I carefully pour it in the toilet in the boaters bath house at the marina.
Have fun

P.S. don't forget the galley sink sprayer on your list.
 
Last edited:
belliswood said:
Ok so lets make sure I have this correct. 1/2 system will have 1 hose going to the manifold only, and a full sustem will have 2 going to the manifold and a third going to the elbow. Is this correct? Also how much 2 cycle oil should I put in the fuel filter to fog the engine?
Click to expand...

That is correct.

Here is the section of the Merc Service manual describing how to fog the engine.

6. Close the fuel shut-off valve, if equipped. If no fuel shut off valve is present, a suitable
method must be employed to STOP the flow of fuel from the fuel tank to the engine
before proceeding.

Prepare fuel system for extended storage as follows:
a. Allow engine to cool down.
b. Remove the water separating fuel filter.
c. Pour out a small amount of fuel into a suitable container, then add approximately 2
fluid ounces (60 ml) of Quicksilver 2-Cycle Outboard Oil to fuel in the water separating
fuel filter.
d. Install water separating fuel filter.
e. Start and run engine at idle speed until the water separating fuel filter and fuel injection
system are empty and engine stops.
f. Remove and discard water separating fuel filter.
g. Install new filter.

It has since been superceded by service bulletin 2001-15 which says to mix the following in a remote tank.

In a 6 US gal (23 L) remote outboard fuel tank, mix:
5 US gal (19 L) regular unleaded 87 octane (90 RON) gasoline.
64 fl oz. (1.89 L) Mercury or Quicksilver Premium Plus 2-Cycle TC-W3 Outboard oil.
5 fl oz. (150 mL) Mercury or Quicksilver Fuel System Treatment and Stabilizer, OR
1 fl oz. (30 mL) Mercury or Quicksilver Fuel System Treatment and Stabilizer
Concentrate.

I still use the fuel filter method myself.
 
Last edited:
Thank you so much for the fogging information!! So how long will the engine run till empty of fuel? Whould I run the antifreeze thru first and then fog the engine with aditional antifreeze? Or will it run long enough on the fuel / oil mixture to pump the antifreeze thru at the same time?
 
With the engine cooling system, If I have the 1/2 system which I believe I have, How many drain plugs are there on the manifold and on the riser/elbow?
 
Don't forget to add proper amount of fuel stabilizer to fuel tank and run for awhile to thoroughly mix. I usually take a spin in the boat, hit the fuel pier and fill up and have the holding tank emptied for the last time as well.
 
Thanks Everyone!!!

I will be making my last trip to the boat this weekend, Winterizing but only after one last fishing trip and a few beers!!!!!!!
 
Well the winterizing job is done! My list was very comprhensive thanks to you all helping to add to it. SO THANKS TO ALL YOUR INPUT, SUGGESTIONS, WAS VERY HELPFULL AND I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE............ Took me all day to do it but saved a lot of $$$ not having to pay someone to do it.

Barry
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,241
Messages
1,429,115
Members
61,123
Latest member
Tim Duncan
Back
Top