496 MAg HO winterizing, should the end caps be removed
 

Hey I know there are many threads on winterizing here. I followed all the recommended steps, similar to whats in the manual. Run to temp on the hose. Change oil then use 2stroke oil in the filter until engine smoked. Run until antifreeze comes out exhause for a while,(used 2.5 gallons and it had been coming out exhaust for a while at that point). Then used air dump, all antifreeze came out. Pulled all blue plugs out, all antifreeze came out.
Only thing i did not see others talking about much is the end caps on the heat exchanger, should they be pulled off and left off? What are the odds that there is still raw water sitting in there after all that antifreeze seemed to run through. I am extremely paranoid and always think of worst case-scenario.

Have any of you ever experienced a damaged heat exchanger even after running system as full as possible with antifreeze then draining it as much as possible? (does the air dump actually drain the heat exchanger fully???)
+This is a colder climate temps will frequently be -10/-15 celsius, sometimes colder sometimes warmer.
Thanks for the help much appreciated!!

You should be just fine. However, I leave the antifreeze in my blocks. But to each their own.

I've never pulled the caps off of my heat exchanger, but I winterize as appropriate for Virginia, as such--not as cold as you.

Others on here have lost their H/E and not known it until the following year when there AF level rises after a run, and then they have introduced salt water into that side of the system. Yikes! Not the end of the world, but still sucks.

You won't hurt anything by doing it, except the paint on the nuts. You might opt for all new end cap and grommets as they do go bad after a while, especially the grommets.

No need to remove end caps. I have 7 seasons on mine in cold Illinois winters (down to -20 F air temp) with no problems.

I would remove the caps. Mine froze and broke. It only takes a second and is cheap insurance. The heat exchanger is not cheap

Thanks for sharing info.. when yours broke did you have the raw water side filled with a mixture of antifreeze or did you just dump the system with the air pressure pump?

I am thinking i will just pull the caps and blow out any liquid left inside there.

No need to remove. Just use the purple antifreeze.

good call on taking the caps off. Appears to be 100% water left inside exchanger. One of the 3 channels is empty and the lower two have the bottom half tubes filled with what looks like lake water. will have to get an airgun and blow it out. it is supposed to be 31 farenheit tonight hopefully it will be OK for a day longer.

I've never done the end cap step, nor is there any literature in the owner's manual alluding to it (that I've seen). What is everyone elses experiences who have taken them off with regards to finding a lot of water/liquid in them after doing the pump/purge? I know after pumping the manifolds there is never a drop that comes out of the drain plugs which I check compulsively regardless.