[C320-list] Winterizing in northeast

[Myron Welch]

Tony,

I went for about 10 years before I learned how to change the  
antifreeze/coolant.  I finally changed it when I had to replace the  
water heater, so I drained the entire system, including the lines to  
the water heater. I was always concerned about getting air in those  
lines, but managed not to somehow.  Now I just drain from the drain  
plug and add a little over a gallon a year. I never get it all, but it  
keeps the antifreeze/coolant in good condition and I don't have to  
mess with the heater hoses and potential air in the lines.  Hope this  
helps.

Myron Welch
Wind Instrument #238
Iowa City, Iowa
Grace Memorial Harbor, Elk Rapids, Michigan


On Sep 14, 2012, at 11:56 AM, Tony Murphy wrote:

> I’m no mechanic, but I would think the reason to change the oil before
> storing for winter would be to clear out the contaminants that have  
> built up
> over the summer in the oil.  This includes trace amounts of dirt/ 
> sludge and
> a larger amount (not sure how much) of acidic components resulting  
> from the
> combustion process.
>
> I would rather have clean oil sitting next to my cylinder heads for  
> 6-7
> months or more rather than all that other unknown stuff which react
> detrimentally with the inside of my engine.  In fact, I will  
> probably change
> my oil a few days before haulout when I can run the engine up to temp
> (easier to remove hot oil) and then run the clean oil for a short  
> period at
> least throughout the engine. This way, everything is as clean as  
> possible
> inside (sorta).
>
> A question for those experienced though... Do you really change out  
> your
> engine antifreeze/coolant on an annual basis?  I saw another poster  
> elude to
> this and didn’t think it was necessary.
>
> Ditto for tranny fluid??
>
> Tony
> Bella Sol #886
>
>
> On 9/14/12 11:33 AM, "Gene Helfman" <genehelfman at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Although we don't face the kind of winter here in the Pacific  
>> Northwest
>> that you frozen easterners/mid-westerners do, we still tend to lay  
>> up for
>> the winter because of relative cold and very windy winters.  Opinion
>> amongst my fellow sailors is to put off oil and tranny fluid change  
>> until
>> the spring, during recommissioning (why put in good oil if the  
>> engine isn't
>> going to be run).  Also, where do folks stand on the full (and  
>> preserved)
>> fuel tanks vs. empty.  Most folks here like to have the tank fuller  
>> to
>> prevent condensation, but with a preservative/algicide added.
>>
>> gene
>> Satori, #398
>>
>> On Fri, Sep 14, 2012 at 7:13 AM, <wflowe3 at aim.com> wrote:
>>
>>>>
>>>> I find it preferable to drain the water tanks, by-pass water  
>>>> heater and
>>>> blow/suck the waterlines dry with small shop vac rather than  
>>>> using any pink
>>>> stuff in the system.
>>>>
>>>> Top off water levels in batteries.
>>>>
>>>> Since the boat will be on the hard, leave all through hulls open to
>>>> gravity drain- make sure that stand/trailer pads don't obstruct a  
>>>> through
>>>> hull after the boat is pulled
>>>>
>>>> you need to run the engine with the raw water intake hose sucking  
>>>> from a
>>>> jug of antifreeze and the through hull closed. Depending on your  
>>>> plumbing,
>>>> you may have to remove the intake hose from the through hull  
>>>> fitting to
>>>> accomplish this
>>>>
>>>> Don't forget to pump pink stuff through the head.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: dprudden <dprudden at comcast.net>
>>>> To: C320-List <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>>>> Sent: Fri, Sep 14, 2012 5:31 am
>>>> Subject: [C320-list] Winterizing in northeast
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> So, I got to sail the new (to me) boat for a month, but it's time  
>>>> to think
>>>> about
>>>> winter. She is scheduled to be hauled in 3 weeks and I don't want  
>>>> to screw
>>>> up
>>>> winterizing. Frtom searching the list, here's what I have found  
>>>> for the
>>>> general
>>>> idea of what I need to do. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me what I'm  
>>>> missing
>>>> and/or
>>>> pass on your winterizing lists (I couldn't find an actual list  
>>>> that exists
>>>> anymore on the list).
>>>>
>>>> Engine-change oil (pump out thru dipstick), change coolant,  
>>>> tranny fluid.
>>>> Pump
>>>> "pink stuff" through raw water/muffler. I've done outboards many  
>>>> times, but
>>>> never an inboard/diesel.
>>>>
>>>> Drain water tanks. Pour pink stuff down all drains, including  
>>>> head shower.
>>>> Either bypass waterheater to save on pink stuff or plan on using 6+
>>>> gallons (can
>>>> be reused/recycled in spring). Never done this before.
>>>>
>>>> Make sure batteries are charged.
>>>>
>>>> Cover baby and put to bed for winter.
>>>>
>>>> What am I missing?
>>>>
>>>> The wife wants me to pay someone this year to make sure its done  
>>>> right,
>>>> but I
>>>> doubt I'd find someone. Anyone in Mass/RI want to make a few  
>>>> hundred bucks?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for the help.
>>>>
>>>> David Prudden
>>>> Teachers Pet II (#787)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>

Dr. Myron Welch
Director of Bands Emeritus
Professor of Music
Collegiate Fellow, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The University of Iowa