Should I add antifreeze to engine
 

Hello,

i have 496ho. It will be a few weeks before I drop off my boat to my dealer. Temps next week for three days will be high 39 low 25. I will pump out water but I’m wondering if I should pump coolant through rest of motor. Will it be safe the next few days?

thanks

Your engine is closed cooled, therefore the engine is safe . But, raw water cools your heat exchanger, oil cooler, exhaust, and other stuff. A non led drop light (don’t rest it on anything) will keep engine compartment warm enough fir those temps, or drain raw water system snd suck some pink thru it quickly.

The 496 comes with a pump to drain the sea water. There is an air valve on the top right front of engine. Use the pump to open the lower drain valves.

As mentioned pump up your air drain valve to drain the seawater side. You will still have water in your heat exchanger. Remove the endcaps and blow water out of tubes with air compressor. OR as SB mentioned, put a non led 100w bulb in engine compartment.

Just use the air valve drain system, as described in the manual until it get's fully winterized. That's exactly what it is designed for; to extend your boating season for those last few warm days.