Wow! This helped me sooo much! I didn't realize the extent of winterizing and am a new boat owner and I have a crack in the manifold or block, I am not sure from this winter. I was getting everything that I knew to do taken care of and when I started it yesterday, water came out of the right side of the engine under where the oil goes. Shut off engine immediately and have really no clue what to look for. This at least helps me to be better prepared for next winter. I have a 1998 MAXUM with this engine. I'll be getting into it this weekend and hopefully will be able to find the problem. I'm super novice with this and want to learn. Thank you!
Damn. I have the same engine. I run 5 gallons of antifreeze through it with a bucket and the earmuffs, kill the engine with fogging oil at the end of it sucking down the antifreeze. 24 years old, still runs strong every year.
Good video, I just let the boat run till it’s at operating temperature (so thermostat opens) then I let the anti freeze run through my gardenhose (gets sucked up by the outdrive). After that I just open up the freeze plugs and let the antifreeze out. That way I don’t have to take anything apart.
I pretty much do the same thing, I let the engine run till the thermostat opens I use a submerable pump and move it from the water to a bucket of antifreeze and when I see pick come out of the water discharge I am done. Been doing it this way for years and never had any issues
Why would you replace a spark plug every year? Do you do that with a car? These engines don’t have that much wear and tear. Really a boat is mostly at idle and not very many hours each season. Good recommendations and walk through however.
I appreciate the effort. And I understand what you’re doing. But some of your recommendations are in accurate. Antifreeze 50:1? The brass plug is in the intake/exhaust manifold. And the blue plug is in the block. You missed the hose from the thermostat housing down to the outdrive. Fresh water supply if you will. Again I’m not trying to be nitpicky or dis your video But people who are novices rely on these videos. And if you’re giving inaccurate information it could be expensive to them.
Thank you for the reply and I do appreciate your comments. My video's are for entertainment and I always say....that I am not a mechanic! I'm also not scripted, so I will often say things incorreclty "like my antifreeze comment" should have said 50/50. Thank you for pointing out the hose from the thermostat to the outdrive. I do fill the thermostat housing and hoses completeley with antifreeze and have not had an issue with freezing. I'm location in northern New England, so it does get cold. Again, thank you for the comment.
What state do you live in? I live around Atlanta and plan on keeping my boat in a covered parking spot over gravel covered pad. I think the ground will provide some warmth. Secondly, mine is a little newer (2003) and has these hoses on the right side mounted up into a bracket. I assume those two go to the two drain plug holes? I agree with the other comments about the T-Stat. Since you can pull hoses on both sides, that should do it. I had no idea 100% anti-freeze was less freeze resistant than 50/50. I need to understand the chemical makeup on that! I was not planning on pulling plugs or doing the oil spray in the carb. I have so many pieces of equipment - like a large commercial pressure washer and lawn mowers that just start right up - sometimes after sitting for two years. But, I will follow your advice. It seems easy. I also was not planning on pulling prop. I changed it only about 2 months ago, so it will come off easy. Can you expand a little on why you do that? Thanks a lot for taking the time to post this. For me headed into my first winter, it was real helpful!
Thanks for watching and glad you found it helpful. This motor is a 1997 and very basic. Lake water in and out with no other cooling systems. I would recommend speaking with someone about your engine to confirm the other hoses you discribed
I pull the prop and lubricate it to stop it from getting fused to the shaft. You could put it back on for the winter and it would be fine, the importance is on removal and greasing. I actually need to send mine out to be rebuilt, which is why I left it off. If you ever have to remove the prop, you will be happy you did. I live in New Hampshire and the winter temps drop to the single digits regularly and often below zero. You may not need to be as concerned about your block freezing. I would consult with a local marina to see what they recommend. Also agreed on the suggestion about not having to pull the thermostat. It’s how my father taught me how to do it years ago! I guess we all have family habits like that! Thanks again for watching.
Do you keep the antifreeze in engine block or drain it. Ive been told to drain it because anti freeze that is 50/50 will still freeze. Im asking because we get -20 temps in connecticut,What do you do?
I’ve had this question a few times. I refill with antifreeze to prevent corrosion. We have significant fluctuations in temperature and moisture where I live. This causes significant condensation in anything that is even partially sealed. It is also the same reason I keep my oil levels full. I always want to be clear that I am not a mechanic. I winterize and maintain my boats by watching others and my father. I’ve never had any issues so it works for me, but I’m not a professional by any means. Thanks for watching!
First year boater here. What if my boat isn’t starting and I can’t afford to take it to shop till spring? Every video I’ve watched on winterizing shows running it for the fogging oil. Can I just drain water and fill with antifreeze and all is good or am I in trouble? Gets colder than a witches *ahem* up here in the great white North and don’t want a cracked block come spring.
You should be fine without doing the fogging step. The most important thing here in Canada is to make sure the block is full of antifreeze so it doesn't freeze and crack!
It's good that your trying to help people. But I've been a boat mechanic in Michigan for almost 30 years. No Pro pulls thermostat housing only shade trees. It is completely unnecessary just pull hoses. Also you never back flushed the intake water hose with antifreeze . If the engine has coolers that can freeze and break without that step. Lastly using a adjustable wrench on a brass drain plug is just asking for a disaster. Use a 7/16 six point socket and ratchet it's safer. Good luck a lot of mistakes were made that could cause stuff to freeze and break.
Thanks James I appreciate your experience and help. This engine is a 1997, very basic and I don’t believe it has coolers. I’ll take your advice and check the intake hoses.
Probably just misspoke, but the Antifreeze mix is 2 to 1, not 50 to 1. Also straight antifreeze, will freeze. You MUST dilute the Concentration to half and half. If you did this in the past without you block freezing, consider yourself extremely lucky
I may been a bit of a Richard the other day, sorry. Your 3.0L will most likely not have a power steering cooler but almost all V6 & V8 do. Some V8 also have an oil cooler. It is illegal to dump the types of antifreeze like you put in the radiator of a car in the water in most areas. So you should use Marine/RV antifreeze - 50 or - 100 straight and undiluted. Make sure it is propylene glycol based not alcohol-based to reduce corrosion. Lastly instead of pulling the thermostat just pour the antifreeze down the hoses. Leave your plugs out at first and you will see what I mean. The big hose will get the engine block (plug on the side). The hose going to the intake/exhaust manifold will get that (plug underneath). The last hose is coming from the transom and that where the water feeds in to the engine from the drive. Use a funnel and pour antifreeze in until it comes out the stern drive. Note applications with engine mounted sea water pumps may require a different method to back flush the coolers and drive with antifreeze. Hope this helps and thank you for trying to help people with a video.
not sure why you put antifreeze in it, if no water inside it can not freeze. waste of time folks that isn't necessary plus no need to remove prop. Please make sure you keep the outdrive completely down over the winter so not to damage the rubber bellows
I suppose that's why Mercruiser puts a drain plug on the exhaust manifold.... because it doesn't need to be drained. I look forward to seeing your video on how to repair a cracked block and exhaust manifold. Keep us posted on the release.
Thanks for the video man. Im no mechanic but work on everything myself and this was a big help!
Wow! This helped me sooo much! I didn't realize the extent of winterizing and am a new boat owner and I have a crack in the manifold or block, I am not sure from this winter. I was getting everything that I knew to do taken care of and when I started it yesterday, water came out of the right side of the engine under where the oil goes. Shut off engine immediately and have really no clue what to look for. This at least helps me to be better prepared for next winter. I have a 1998 MAXUM with this engine. I'll be getting into it this weekend and hopefully will be able to find the problem. I'm super novice with this and want to learn. Thank you!
Great video. Thank you from a first boat owner!
Great to the point video. Thanks a lot for showing how to do this!
Great video!!!! Thanks for detailed explanations and the recap.
Nice video. One way you can crank the engine without it starting, is to pull the center coil wire off of the distributor.
Metcruisers have a small red safety switch at the helm that disables ignition.
No need to pull wires.
Great instructional video ! ThANK YOU !
Damn. I have the same engine. I run 5 gallons of antifreeze through it with a bucket and the earmuffs, kill the engine with fogging oil at the end of it sucking down the antifreeze. 24 years old, still runs strong every year.
Good video. Thats the intake manifold by the way @9:30.
Awesome video 👍
Great video thanks.
Good video, I just let the boat run till it’s at operating temperature (so thermostat opens) then I let the anti freeze run through my gardenhose (gets sucked up by the outdrive). After that I just open up the freeze plugs and let the antifreeze out. That way I don’t have to take anything apart.
that's what I'm talking about!
I pretty much do the same thing, I let the engine run till the thermostat opens I use a submerable pump and move it from the water to a bucket of antifreeze and when I see pick come out of the water discharge I am done. Been doing it this way for years and never had any issues
Good video !! 👍
Excellent. Thanks!
Merci beaucoup ❤❤❤❤❤
Curious why don’t people just use a compressor or shop vac to blow out the water from the top hoses? Good video.
I think there is a cold water supply hose that has to be drained too. Takes water to engine from lake.
I just did mine but I did not pull the plugs. I did run the and shot fogger in the carburetor.
Great video thanks do you use gas stabilizer as well?
Hodge Twins! Yeeeeee Haaaaaaw!
Winterized this way, is there a chance there is still water in the impeller and intake connection tube?
Why would you replace a spark plug every year? Do you do that with a car? These engines don’t have that much wear and tear. Really a boat is mostly at idle and not very many hours each season. Good recommendations and walk through however.
I do plugs every year 🤷🏻♂️
That's the block drain and manifold drain
I appreciate the effort. And I understand what you’re doing. But some of your recommendations are in accurate. Antifreeze 50:1? The brass plug is in the intake/exhaust manifold. And the blue plug is in the block. You missed the hose from the thermostat housing down to the outdrive. Fresh water supply if you will. Again I’m not trying to be nitpicky or dis your video But people who are novices rely on these videos. And if you’re giving inaccurate information it could be expensive to them.
Thank you for the reply and I do appreciate your comments. My video's are for entertainment and I always say....that I am not a mechanic! I'm also not scripted, so I will often say things incorreclty "like my antifreeze comment" should have said 50/50. Thank you for pointing out the hose from the thermostat to the outdrive. I do fill the thermostat housing and hoses completeley with antifreeze and have not had an issue with freezing. I'm location in northern New England, so it does get cold. Again, thank you for the comment.
What state do you live in? I live around Atlanta and plan on keeping my boat in a covered parking spot over gravel covered pad. I think the ground will provide some warmth. Secondly, mine is a little newer (2003) and has these hoses on the right side mounted up into a bracket. I assume those two go to the two drain plug holes? I agree with the other comments about the T-Stat. Since you can pull hoses on both sides, that should do it. I had no idea 100% anti-freeze was less freeze resistant than 50/50. I need to understand the chemical makeup on that! I was not planning on pulling plugs or doing the oil spray in the carb. I have so many pieces of equipment - like a large commercial pressure washer and lawn mowers that just start right up - sometimes after sitting for two years. But, I will follow your advice. It seems easy. I also was not planning on pulling prop. I changed it only about 2 months ago, so it will come off easy. Can you expand a little on why you do that? Thanks a lot for taking the time to post this. For me headed into my first winter, it was real helpful!
Thanks for watching and glad you found it helpful. This motor is a 1997 and very basic. Lake water in and out with no other cooling systems. I would recommend speaking with someone about your engine to confirm the other hoses you discribed
I pull the prop and lubricate it to stop it from getting fused to the shaft. You could put it back on for the winter and it would be fine, the importance is on removal and greasing. I actually need to send mine out to be rebuilt, which is why I left it off. If you ever have to remove the prop, you will be happy you did. I live in New Hampshire and the winter temps drop to the single digits regularly and often below zero. You may not need to be as concerned about your block freezing. I would consult with a local marina to see what they recommend. Also agreed on the suggestion about not having to pull the thermostat. It’s how my father taught me how to do it years ago! I guess we all have family habits like that! Thanks again for watching.
Do you keep the antifreeze in engine block or drain it. Ive been told to drain it because anti freeze that is 50/50 will still freeze. Im asking because we get -20 temps in connecticut,What do you do?
im getting ready to do mine. I will be pouring anti freeze down the hoses and the drain the manifold
@kingmast1 thank you that's what I did.
Are the drains plugs on my 3.0 the same size
what is a point to fill empty from water engine parts with antifreeze? why you wouldn’t just keep it dry over winter?
I’ve had this question a few times. I refill with antifreeze to prevent corrosion. We have significant fluctuations in temperature and moisture where I live. This causes significant condensation in anything that is even partially sealed. It is also the same reason I keep my oil levels full. I always want to be clear that I am not a mechanic. I winterize and maintain my boats by watching others and my father. I’ve never had any issues so it works for me, but I’m not a professional by any means. Thanks for watching!
@@projectswithpetro7766 thanks for explanation! appreciate that
looks like alota work u should move to texas. last year was weird tho we got like 4 days of snow
First year boater here. What if my boat isn’t starting and I can’t afford to take it to shop till spring? Every video I’ve watched on winterizing shows running it for the fogging oil. Can I just drain water and fill with antifreeze and all is good or am I in trouble? Gets colder than a witches *ahem* up here in the great white North and don’t want a cracked block come spring.
You should be fine without doing the fogging step. The most important thing here in Canada is to make sure the block is full of antifreeze so it doesn't freeze and crack!
Is this in Wyoming? I ran into a guy at Walmart who looks just like you. Nice video btw
Not me, but he must be a good looking guy! Thanks for watching.
@@projectswithpetro7766 he was indeed a handsome fellah
If you leave the wires off, the engine won't start.
It's good that your trying to help people. But I've been a boat mechanic in Michigan for almost 30 years. No Pro pulls thermostat housing only shade trees. It is completely unnecessary just pull hoses. Also you never back flushed the intake water hose with antifreeze . If the engine has coolers that can freeze and break without that step. Lastly using a adjustable wrench on a brass drain plug is just asking for a disaster. Use a 7/16 six point socket and ratchet it's safer. Good luck a lot of mistakes were made that could cause stuff to freeze and break.
Thanks James I appreciate your experience and help. This engine is a 1997, very basic and I don’t believe it has coolers. I’ll take your advice and check the intake hoses.
Probably just misspoke, but the Antifreeze mix is 2 to 1, not 50 to 1. Also straight antifreeze, will freeze. You MUST dilute the Concentration to half and half. If you did this in the past without you block freezing, consider yourself extremely lucky
I may been a bit of a Richard the other day, sorry. Your 3.0L will most likely not have a power steering cooler but almost all V6 & V8 do. Some V8 also have an oil cooler. It is illegal to dump the types of antifreeze like you put in the radiator of a car in the water in most areas. So you should use Marine/RV antifreeze - 50 or - 100 straight and undiluted. Make sure it is propylene glycol based not alcohol-based to reduce corrosion. Lastly instead of pulling the thermostat just pour the antifreeze down the hoses. Leave your plugs out at first and you will see what I mean. The big hose will get the engine block (plug on the side). The hose going to the intake/exhaust manifold will get that (plug underneath). The last hose is coming from the transom and that where the water feeds in to the engine from the drive. Use a funnel and pour antifreeze in until it comes out the stern drive. Note applications with engine mounted sea water pumps may require a different method to back flush the coolers and drive with antifreeze. Hope this helps and thank you for trying to help people with a video.
@@lifewiththehamptons2191 I did miss speak....you are correct 2-1. This anitifreeze was pre-mixed.
@@James-eq8fs thanks again for your help. I’ll reference your comments in my next video.
just so you know straight antifreeze will freeze; at about zero so you need the mix
No
No Fuel stabilizer?
Good catch! I forgot to include that in the video. Yes, I do use fuel stabilizer and try to leave a full tank when stored. Thanks for watching.
@@projectswithpetro7766 Heading up to my cottage in Northern Ontario this weekend to winterize my Bayliner so refreshing my memory on the process
Fog sucks full stabilizer is most important bo not put gass in boat ever with out it .
not sure why you put antifreeze in it, if no water inside it can not freeze. waste of time folks that isn't necessary plus no need to remove prop. Please make sure you keep the outdrive completely down over the winter so not to damage the rubber bellows
There's a total of 5 plugs you're supposed to undo. You only got two on the left side. There's three on the right side
Can you explain where the three plugs are on the left side. I cannot seem to locate them. Are you talking about the Alpha 3.0?
I thought the 4.3L had the 5 plugs but the 3.0L only had the two.
You do not know sht the blue plug is all you have to remove thats it
I suppose that's why Mercruiser puts a drain plug on the exhaust manifold.... because it doesn't need to be drained. I look forward to seeing your video on how to repair a cracked block and exhaust manifold. Keep us posted on the release.