Winterizing 496 or 496HO or 496Mag
11-06-2005 | 11:17 AM
#21
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From: Washington, MO
Re: winterising 496
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.
Picked one up at Lowe's....
11-06-2005 | 11:20 AM
#22
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From: Lake Champlain, NY
Re: winterising 496
Originally Posted by yzbert
i would not mess with the antifreze, these engines are way to easy to drain.
11-06-2005 | 11:26 AM
#23
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From: Washington, MO
Re: winterising 496
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.
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.
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 | 11:30 AM
#25
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From: Washington, MO
Re: winterising 496
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.
11-06-2005 | 11:37 AM
#26
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From: Lake Champlain, NY
Re: winterising 496
Originally Posted by 4mulafastech
twin 6.2's..
Just kidding buddy....
11-06-2005 | 11:54 AM
#27
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From: LONG ISLAND-NY
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
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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.
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.
11-06-2005 | 02:59 PM
#29
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From: Washington, MO
Re: winterising 496
Originally Posted by drypipetiger
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....
Just kidding buddy....
lol... I know, I know... but hey, this is my first OFFSHORE style boat. You got to start somewhere. 
My last boat had engines that didn't need all this TLC. Just run 'em hard and put 'em away wet...
11-06-2005 | 03:01 PM
#30
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From: Washington, MO
Re: winterising 496
Originally Posted by Sydwayz
If you guys want pics of how mine looks with the mods, please ask, and I will get to it tomorrow.
Thanks Sydwayz, pics would be great!
BTW, nice Washington DC pics. Boating days like that in the fall are always a nice way to end the season....
Last edited by 4mulafastech; 11-06-2005 at 03:05 PM.
