Winterizing Question - Anit-freeze.

[brose]

Thanks for all the great posts on winterizing. I've printed a few processes down and will be completing in the next few weeks.

However, I'm curious if I can REALLY simplify all this. Keep in mind that I'm in GA so I don't have to have the protection required in the Great White North. It's also important to note that I don't plan to run the boat in the winter. I'll just "winterize" once now, then "summerize" once next spring.

QUESTION
Is it possible to just do a gravity feed of several gallons of anti-freeze into a fake-a-lake, run the engine till you see pink out of the FAE, turn off the engine and let it sit for 5 months?

In theory, it would push a lot of the current settled water out and replace with anti-freeze in every cavity that water would sit.

OR, would it be best to do a combination of pulling the drain plugs, replacing the plugs, then doing this anti-freeze process.

Looking for feedback on this idea.....

Thanks!

[chpthril]

I may have just answered your question in another thread.

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13765

[brose]

Thanks chpthril, you did answer my question! Is there an easy way to open the termostat quickly and use the anti-freeze?

[chpthril]

Thanks chpthril, you did answer my question! Is there an easy way to open the termostat quickly and use the anti-freeze?

On some engines, you can just pure the antifreeze down the hose on top of the engine, but on most, it's best to pull the t-stat housing and pour it in. All you need is a gasket to put it back together. It would probably be easier to by a sheet of gasket material at the auto parts store and cut a new gasket.

For me here in NC, I never used antifreeze on the Tige because it was sooo easy to drain the system. Once drained, I had no worries. One advantage to the antifreeze is that it does prevent rust.

[geomaster]

brose,
it is easy to remove the thermostat assembly. on a merc 350 it's just 2 bolts securing it to the engine. I'd remove the 4 hoses connecting to it first and then unbolt it and then pour antifreeze in.

[brose]

I have the 6.0L. Does this change anything on the above t-stat comment?

[Timmy!]

Is the 6.0L a closed cooling system? I know some of them are.

[brose]

Yes, with the heat exchanger.

[chpthril]

Yes, with the heat exchanger.

Then the engine already has antifreeze, so you just need to make sure the raw water side of the heat exchanger is drained.