Forgot to winterize
 

I've got a friend that has a 496 HO in an Advantage that he either forgot or just didn't get winterized for whatever reason. The boat is in Iowa and is inside of a metal building (not heated though). We have had lows around -12 F already this winter and it has not been above freezing at all the last week.

Is it too late to save his motor?

I would think you are screwed at this point. But I guess you never know for sure until you fire it up.

He's screwed.
Probably exhaust manifolds and heat exchanger.

The engine is a closed cooling system so the actual engine block/heads will be OK. The bad news is the exhaust manifolds, heat exchanger, oil cooler, power steering cooler and even the raw water pump may have problems. Its a shame because this engine is really easy to winterize, hopefully it wont be an expensive lesson.

How cold does it get inside the building? If the building is insulated it may not get that cold, the building I keep mine in stays at least 35 degrees in the coldest outside temps. I still winterize my boat though. Good luck/

springtime things will look like a Sprinkler under that hatch

I think it all depends on the temp inside the building.

I'd at least take the time to go winterize it. That way if it spews all over the place you know you ****ed and can spend the winter saving/looking for parts. If it doesn't then you might have saved it.

get one of those thermometers that records Hi and Low ..Radio shack has one that has inside and outside readings .....put the probe in the bilge and the therm outside the boat ....see what kind of readings you get .....is there power in the building? I put 3 150 watt bulbs in my 311 and the temp never got under 46 degrees ....with outisde temp of 27* .....

Use the hand air pump on the front of the motor to try and blow out the water system. If water is able to be pushed out then you may be safe, if not it's probably already frozen.

I am in Iowa and the lows have been well below zero. many days, the highs have been single digits. Something is going to be busted. Hopefully the closed cooling will save the engine block.

He said the building is uninsulated. There is no way it didn't freeze inside. Before I insulated my shop, it would be the same temp inside as out in the winter.

A lot of enclosed buildings stay 38-40 all winter depending how tight they are, regardless of having insulation or not. I proved this to a few friends a couple years in a row with a thermometer, a glass of water and a 24' Baja that I didn't winterize. I did turn it over a few times because the impeller will bond itself to the housing. I think you're ok but I'd at least put a trouble light in the engine hatch for cold weather. Like I said, this depends how tight the building is!

That sucks. It takes about 2 min to winter the 496. I did a buddies a few weeks ago and it was just in the nick of time. Water was slushy, when I drained it. That was shortly after Thanksgiving.

I keep mine in heated storage, and still drain the water from everything. I'd be heading over there tonight, and checking it out.

Is the 32 that just arrived this summer?

sorry to hear that.

Ditto if its in a metal pole barn with no insulation its the same temp inside as out ,good luck ...

It could be above freezing in the engine compartment for a number of reasons. If there's power out there, or if he can run an extension cord I would heat the motor compartment with a small heater until the next day that it's bearable inside. At that point try a to winterize, worst thing you can do is figure out that you have a problem early.

Yeah, what they said about the closed cooling. The block should be filled with anti-freeze :) unless some tool put water in there :(. Heat exchanger is probably shot and they are not cheap. I would warm it up (not by running) and pull the drain plugs and pump air into the system which is all it takes to winterize the 496. Hopefully the exhaust had drained. Short answer, engine is fine. Raw water side not fine.

+1
Up til about a couple weeks ago it might have been
ok, now, it's definetely done.:eek:

That's what I was thinking. Something(s) may be/definitely are shot, but that doesn't mean everything is. There's still money to be saved by not totally neglecting the thing.

Except that usually when a manifold cracks it leaks water into the cylinder and rusts the rings to the walls etc..

If you guys trust that air system alone you will live to regret that.

You'd be surprised by how much water stays in that system. The air drains are kinda like idiot lights in your car...

You're an idiot if you trust them.

And by the way - I'm not bitter....

Merry Christmas!

:grinser010:

X2
It cost a buddy 2 heat exchangers.

No this is on a 27. You have probably seen it around, real flashy paint (yellow, blue, red). He's had it since 06' and never winterized it, but before it was in a heated shop. Crazy thing is it still has original oil in it!

:coolcowboy::lolhit::angry-smiley-038::cool-smiley-027::angry-smiley-044::cool-smiley-011:

Sounds well maintained...... At least it has a flashy paint job.

:party-smiley-004: doesn't sound like he deserves a good running boat!! :angry-smiley-038: if he can't fricken change oil???

Wow... well at least it's going to get some maintenance now! :lolhit:

Sorry, but it doesn't really sound like he "forgot" to winterize it if he's never had the oil changed in 4 YEARS!

Agreed!

Past weeks here in Iowa the motor had no chance in a metal building without winterization.
Sounds like the only thing he will be flashing around is Dollar Bills for repairs this spring.

Call your insurance company. When I was spinning wrenches at a shop in Ohio I replaced three 350's one Spring due to improper or un-winterized engines.
Two were covered under the owners insurance policy :o
Called my State Farm agent and asked if he covered stupidity and he said yes ;)
I had twin inboard cruisers for several seasons up north and did all my own work but heard everyone else's stories. Inside, heated storage and a blizzard takes out power. Now what?
Had 318 Chrysler's in the cruisers and would always just drain everything. Didn't know at the time that they were known to trap water in rear of block. Knowledgeable marina's knew this and stored those boats bow down so the blocks would drain. Mine knew but as I was a smart ass (doing my own work) they didn't tell me :o Had the boat sold the following Spring and when I fired the motors the 1st time they both blew water out of the bell housings!!! Luckily it just popped the freeze plugs. Turns out my marina made their money off me anyhow.

"Forgot" sounded better than ignored...:lolhit::lolhit:

1) Pumping the air out of the 496HO is not good enough for a full winterization: especially in those temps. There are dozens of posts on this in the past. The air pressure system is designed to extend your boating season. RTFM. The air pressure system will still leave pockets of water in the system; and that's if it's working right. The actuators go bad.

2) The most vulnerable part of the 496HO system is the heat exchanger. It's very thin inside and one tiny crack compromises everything. If you try and do anything with it now, you are likely to push water into the antifreeze system and then also destroy the block.

Wait until spring, and pull the whole thing apart and pressure check each component; especially the heat exchanger. However, it's almost definitely toast, er rather swiss cheese.

That BS drain system is the 2nd worst thing they did when putting that engine together.

There's so much bad info and bad advise regarding maintenance on this engine.

I agree. I'm not saying to start it up cold, or force air through it while there's ice in there. But the best thing you can do is to heat everything up (even slowly with a small heater in the engine compartment) and go ahead with a winterization.

Oh Dude, I mean really.............Forgot to winterize, havent changed oil in 4 years. Sounds like an adult needs to take the toy away.

sounds like you are talking about gordys

How is that oil not solid sludge now:picard1:

open the drains, and put 2 drop lights under the engine hatch (one on each side of the motor)and close it. Then cross your fingers

...If the guy that owns the boat doesn't seem to care...then why should we/me/us care...btw...this thread has effectively negated ANY chance of him recovering his losses from his insurance carrier...STUPIDITY IS covered in most cases...NEGLIGENCE is not...

Yep, I've seen it. Think I have a picture of it too, but won't post it. :party-smiley-004:

sorry to hear that. I hope it turns out inexspensive for him, but fear the worst.

I havn't really done much to mine, but I did drain the water, and keep it in heated storage. Also pulled the plugs, and sprayed a little fogging oil, only cause I did a leak down test.

I plan to start doing some work to mine after X-mas, so didn't see the sense in doing a full out winterization.

Even though this winter has been mild comparted to last 2 years, i am ready for summer. Missing the bikinis :evilb:

X 10:drink:

I would do it today. Not tomorrow! Today!! It might cost him $$$ for forgetting or beign lazy. I bring my boat back from Ozarks to Iowa and store it in my metal building and it is tooo cold for non-winterized boats!!! Im in SE iowa. I would heat that thing up and winterize it.

Missing the Bikinis - Every DAY man !!