Winterization question

[asianlink37]

I was just wondering if anyone had any tips for the best way to run anti-freeze through the exhaust of my 2013 GTI SE 130. Tried attaching a short hose and funneling anti-freeze through it but just didn't really work the way I thought it would. This is the last thing I needed to do to put the ski away for hibernation so any suggestions are welcome. Thanks

 

[Coastiejoe]

Get something like a bilge pump and use a bucket. The pressure from the pump will push it through. Running the engine is only important to prevent the coolant from entering the valve area of the engine.

 

[asianlink37]

Any bilge pump brand name suggestions? Not looking to spend too much money but I would like it to get the job done...

 

[Coastiejoe]

Not really. What I would do is, buy one for my ski at around 500 GPH. Install it in my ski for summer use and pull it to use for winterize. You don't want a tiny pump as it needs to be able to lift the coolant and push it through the exhaust. 500 GPH is more than enough. I would think 300 GPH would work.

 

[devonte007]

Here is an older thread discussing the topic and some pics of my setup.
http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?54401-Pumping-antifreeze-speedster-winterization&highlight=winterization

I simply used an old bilge pump I found in the garage, not sure what size but it is on the small end. Size really doesn't really matter, the small pump I use works just fine and I am able to pump through 3 gallons in about 1 minute.

Just pump until you see pink coming out the jet pump and exhaust. Takes longer with the exhaust because you need to expel a few gallons of water sitting in the muffler/resonator. All in all it should not take longer than 2 min. total.

 

[LouDoo]

If you don't have an extra bilge pump one of these works very well.

http://www.harborfreight.com/multi-use-transfer-pump-66418.html

Lou

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

I use a 750gph monster bilge pump for winterizing boats and skis, works well. I don't think it's necessary though if you follow the seadoo winterization process correctly, the bilge pump just makes the job go much faster so I can do several boats before lunch using the pump and portable antifreeze tank.

 

[Rrm1387]

West Marine sells a boat winterization kit it contains a 5 gallon container and hose. I fill the container with anti freeze and place it on a 6 ft step ladder. When I run it I hook up my air compressor to the vent hole to pressure rise the tank. I place containers under my skis to catch the antifreeze. So I recycle 95% the antifreeze each year and it works really well.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

That's an excellent strategy, thumbs up! However, I want to note you can get into trouble by reusing the antifreeze without first measuring the specific gravity of the concentration. So for the typical home winterization job I recommend not recycling the propylene glycol antifreeze b/c most homeowners have no reliable means for measuring specific gravity of diluted propylene glycol antifreeze.

When recycling the PG antifreeze this way, you should be measuring the concentration of the antifreeze with a refractometer device, otherwise you won't know the burst point once it becomes diluted by water

Antifreeze Refractometer:

"Portable Coolant Refractometer, Coolant/Battery Acid, Range -60 Degrees to 32 Degrees Propylene Glycol Freeze Pt., -50 Degrees to 0 Degrees Ethylene Glycol Freeze Pt., 1.15 to 1.30 Spec. Gravity of Battery Acid, Accuracy +/-2 Percent, Resolution 2 Degrees F, 0.01 specific gravity, Function Measures the Freezing Point of Coolants and the Charge Condition of Batteries, Specific Gravity 1.15 to 1.30 (Battery Acid)"

 

[Rrm1387]

that's why I generally run five gallons through the machine. With a freeze point of -50 if I even add a quart of water I am probably only loosing a couple of degrees of protection .On long island we don't see temperatures any where near -50 so I hope I am safe.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Yep. Say for the typical stern drive type of boat for example or jetski, it's sufficient to drain the water (draining is mostly an automatic thing in case of jet skis if the block drain is working correctly) and then flush or fill the block with fresh -50 antifreeze to purge away the remaining water. For example in the case of my sportster it took just under 2 quarts to fill the 951's water jackets, and that was released out the block drain into the driveway never to be seen again. So I used 2 quarts of a one gallon bottle, so there's 2 years worth of antifreeze in a one gallon bottle.

When you're doing a quantity of boats you go through a lot of antifreeze (we leave the boat blocks filled and go through a little more than 55 gallon drum of -100) so recirculating the stuff through a catch tank is necessary. Thus we have to monitor specific gravity to be sure there are no warranty claims.