Winterizing 496 or 496HO or 496Mag

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11-06-2005, 11:17 AM

#21

4mulafastech

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Re: winterising 496

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Originally Posted by US1 Fountain

I made and used this setup on a buddies boat. I have about $10 in the y-valve and hose end adapters as the y- valve has the reverse ends as what is needed ie: male to female, female to male. Close the bucket side of the valve and open the water supply side. Start and run the motor. For non closed cooling motors, run until up to temp to open the t-stat, then let it run a bit more. Then while still running, close the water supply side and open the bucket side. The already suction/flow created while runing on the hose, will now pull antifreeze from the bucket. Peice of cake! The orange is a low water pickup muff I have, but I have the same as Sydwayz, a tee mounted in line in front of the sea water pickup because muffs suck and are not fool proof. I instead hook the y adapter to my hose connectors in the engine compartment. Both use on his boat and mine work the same, flawless.

Nice setup! I recognize that Y-valve. Had to replace one off a tow-behind sprayer. The original one cracked last winter because I didn't drain it properly and it froze over the winter.

Picked one up at Lowe's....

11-06-2005, 11:20 AM

#22

drypipetiger

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Re: winterising 496

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Originally Posted by yzbert

i would not mess with the antifreze, these engines are way to easy to drain.

I would not agree with the above... But the beer drinkin part I agree with whole heartedly.

11-06-2005, 11:26 AM

#23

4mulafastech

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Re: winterising 496

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Originally Posted by drypipetiger

Not exactly. You use the valve to introduce 100% water to warm the engine. Then you turn the valve and to 100%antifreeze and let it run.... Theoretically.

On my old 496 HO I didn't want any water to start or during the winterization process. So I used the pump, elimated the water, then introduced 100% antifreeze with the plactic tank pictured above. Any water scares me and leaves me unsure as to whether its all out or not.

I like the idea of draining as much water out as possible and then adding antifreeze. So when you introduce 100% antifreeze, how do you prime the water pump through the earmuffs? Using air pressure like Sydwayz does seems to be a good solution.

BTW, didn't mean to hijack this thread or anything, but I am taking delivery of a new 292 Fastech which has twin 6.2's and want to make sure it is winterized properly. I won't have the any 'T' fitting installed right away so will be doing through muffs...

11-06-2005, 11:27 AM

#24

US1 Fountain

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Re: winterising 496

Just don't mix up the beer and antifreeze! Boats don't like beer

11-06-2005, 11:30 AM

#25

4mulafastech

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Re: winterising 496

Quote:

Originally Posted by yzbert

open beer,use the pump, pull the blue plugs,drink beer, and repeat. 5 min. maybe total time to do both engines and drink beer. i would not mess with the antifreze, these engines are way to easy to drain.

Good point, but I have heard that the antifreeze also helps with preventing corrosion over those long winter months... Now the beer step goes without saying...

11-06-2005, 11:37 AM

#26

drypipetiger

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Re: winterising 496

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Originally Posted by 4mulafastech

twin 6.2's..

I thought people just took 6.2's out over the winter and set them on the coffee table in the living room??

Just kidding buddy....

11-06-2005, 11:54 AM

#27

LIOPA

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Re: winterising 496

We fully winterize the system on both the 496's and 525's. It is just another safety measure just in case part of the Mercury pump system fails in some way. Motors are WAY too expensive to replace for the effort of the additional steps. BTW we pump 6 gallons until the holding tank is near empty.

11-06-2005, 01:56 PM

#28

Sydwayz

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Re: winterising 496

You will not fully drain the motors by pulling all the blue freeze plugs. There are pockets.

Also, the pump proceedure works with the drain plugs IN, not out. Pump first, till it stops pumping water out, (there are pressure release valves that allow the water to come out), THEN pull the blue plugs... BUT:

I really trust my mechanics, www.offshore-performance.com , and hence I go for the antifreeze. (And yes, I did it myself, they were not drumming up winterization business.)

If you guys want pics of how mine looks with the mods, please ask, and I will get to it tomorrow.

Last edited by Sydwayz; 11-06-2005 at 02:23 PM.