[C320-list] AC Winterizing

[Chuck and Kathy]

Jamie - I use a 5 gallon container that I got at West Marine. It has a valve
on the bottom, and I run a tube down to the inlet to the strainer.  After I
clean the strainer and drain the raw water from the engine lift muffler, I
connect the hose to the inlet and start the engine.  You can leave the tank
on the deck and watch the pink antifreeze run out, so you know that the
engine is getting coolant, and you can watch for pink in the exhaust.  I use
about 4 gallons, but that's probably more than necessary.  Then just shut
down the engine, close the valve, and reconnect the raw water line to the
strainer.

I don't have AC, but the refrigerator needs no service other than to run
antifreeze through the drain. 

Chuck Mueller
Northwind #676

Message: 12
Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2008 22:18:57 -0500
From: "Jamie Pett" <JPett at JP2ARCHITECTS.COM>
Subject: [C320-list] a/c winterizing
To: <C320-list at Catalina320.com>
Message-ID:
	
<8F3F1E03DCDCCB48830A02CCD4FAE4201F9359 at jp2server.JP2ARCHITECTS.local>
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Dreading the prospect of winter, I am nevertheless facing the task of
getting Bella Luna ready for the hard after our first amazing season with
her. 
 
I have a copy of Carl's very nice article on winterizing the c-320.  It has
been very helpful and I am working my way through winterizing - got the
water system done last weekend.  The tips on draining the hw heater by
releasing the pressure valve were very useful (amazed at how much water was
still in there), but his paper does not say anything about winterizing a
reverse cycle a/c heat unit.  
 
I thought I would simply close the thru-hull intake, open the strainer, and
add pink stuff with the unit running until it comes out the outlet - can
anyone add suggestions ? 
 
I also read somewhere that if you put the unit on fan only the compressor
won't run, but don't know why that matters ?  Do I need to do anything else
with the A/c compressor ? (or the Alder Barbour fridge?)
 
Also, on the engine - what is the best method for getting the pink stuff
into the system  - my strainer for the engine is inverted, so I guess I can
pull the intake hose and use it to pulll the antifreeze, but it seems awful
short to try to suck pink stuff out of a gallon jug , and switching jugs
mid-job seems difficult as well ? Any suggestions ? 
 
Jamie Pett
'Bella Luna' #614
 
 


End of C320-list Digest, Vol 265, Issue 1
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