First timer question

[lashk]

This is my first winter with my boat and so far I haven't winterized it 'cause it normally doesn't get real cold here. Well tomorrow night the temp is supposed to get down to 25 deg. so I'm thinking of taking off of work early and adding antifreeze to the engine per the manual. The only thing is where the hose goes into the block where you add the antifreeze looks like it would be hard to get to. It's partially hidden under the fuel rail on the driver's side of the engine and just out of reach of my short arms. I was wondering if I were to plug the flush hose on the transom and pour antifreeze in the top flush connection and then crank the engine, would the engine pull it through the system or does it require pressure like from a hose? I would probably only run it for about 30 seconds. Also, my boat stays in an enclosed garage but it is not insulated so it normally stays 5 to 10 degrees above the outside temp. My second question is how in the world do you work on anything in the engine compartment? Like I said, I've got short arms and can't reach anything just leaning over the seat. So, do you actually climb into the engine compartment to get to what you can't reach. Thanks. Sorry, put this under pwc when it should be under sport boats but I don't know how to move it.

 

[seadoosnipe]

Garaged.....

Garaged, you should be fine. Or. leave the engine compartment open and a light buld down near the block. But, only if you are sure you have no fuel leaks or vapor builup.........

I live over in Alabama and I don't winterize either.

The procedure your talking about might work on a standard 717 or 787 but not the DI model..........

I'm going to look at something real quick to see if there is a short cut to protect your block at a minimum...........BRP

O.K., this procedure is in the forum, somewhere. I remember doing this a few months back. You'll have to pinch the hose coming from your magneto cooling system and the lowest point drain line going back to the transom. Then, you can do as you said above. Pour the antifreeze in till you see it run out the exhaust pipe ...........or a good 3/4 gallon or so. When you take the hose pincher off, it'll all run out ...........

But, look in "winterizing" sections........this is quoted from the manual somewhere.

 

[DCKD]

Like snipe said...take a look around, there is a lot of valuable info on the site.

Here is a pretty good thread on how do an oil change on the 4-tec engines: http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?t=10931&highlight=oil+change

Hope that helps get you started. There is also another great 4-tec winterizing thread and I think it even has a some pictures to go with it.

Matt

Edit - Here is the link for the winterizing thread: http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?t=11355&highlight=winterize