Winterizing Question. I’m sorry

[burtshaver2021]

looking for advice and opinions. Should the water box be removed for winterizing? Or maybe just take the hose off between it and the tuned pipe? Wondering if the water that’s left in the water box, if left hooked up would cause condensation? And possible long term damage to the pistons and bores? ???? I’m in Ontario Canada, used to be it would go below freezing sometime in November or December and wouldn’t be above zero until end of March or early April but for the last 15 years it can and will bounce above freezing mnt times. Antifreeze has been added, fogged while running through the mesh flame arrestor, then dogged the cylinders, will dry out the hull and store in my barn. What’s the thoughts on the water box?? Thanks for any replies,

 

[Spider4real]

Well on my 96 Challenger with a 787 engine which I had for 15 years I never touched the water box in my winterization process. I added coolent to the engine and muffler as per the manual and never had any issues. It was left outside all winter long for each of those 15 years (wrapped in tarps). My boat was stored in the Laurentians in Quebec so we did not have the temperature swings that you get in your area of ontario but it must have gone above zero a few times each winter. I don't think you need to worry about it.

 

[burtshaver2021]

Well on my 96 Challenger with a 787 engine which I had for 15 years I never touched the water box in my winterization process. I added coolent to the engine and muffler as per the manual and never had any issues. It was left outside all winter long for each of those 15 years (wrapped in tarps). My boat was stored in the Laurentians in Quebec so we did not have the temperature swings that you get in your area of ontario but it must have gone above zero a few times each winter. I don't think you need to worry about it.

Thank you, I’m not going to worry about it

 

[burtshaver2021]

Thank you, I’m not going to worry about it

I can have a look at the manual but are you adding antifreeze to the water box on your 787’s? I added my antifreeze this year to all the machines by taking the return line off the cylinder cover, hose with a funnel, start it and pour maybe about a cup or 2 if the biodegradable antifreeze in, so I would imagine it’s only a small amount of the antifreeze that makes it into the exhaust

 

[burtshaver2021]

Well on my 96 Challenger with a 787 engine which I had for 15 years I never touched the water box in my winterization process. I added coolent to the engine and muffler as per the manual and never had any issues. It was left outside all winter long for each of those 15 years (wrapped in tarps). My boat was stored in the Laurentians in Quebec so we did not have the temperature swings that you get in your area of ontario but it must have gone above zero a few times each winter. I don't think you need to worry about it.

The Laurentians are beautiful, love the view of them when we travel east to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. I’m just along the St. Lawrence about an hour from the Quebec border

 

[Spider4real]

I can have a look at the manual but are you adding antifreeze to the water box on your 787’s? I added my antifreeze this year to all the machines by taking the return line off the cylinder cover, hose with a funnel, start it and pour maybe about a cup or 2 if the biodegradable antifreeze in, so I would imagine it’s only a small amount of the antifreeze that makes it into the exhaust

The boat had a waterbox connected to the tuned pipe and then there was a seperate muffler attached to the waterbox. I never added anything to the waterbox. I added about 2 liters to the engine and maybe 500ml to the muffler. Not sure if your ski has the same setup. I just followed the operators guide. There are some lines that need to be pinched as well.

 

[burtshaver2021]

The boat had a waterbox connected to the tuned pipe and then there was a seperate muffler attached to the waterbox. I never added anything to the waterbox. I added about 2 liters to the engine and maybe 500ml to the muffler. Not sure if your ski has the same setup. I just followed the operators guide. There are some lines that need to be pinched as well.

Ok, thanks very much Spider for the replies, I will have a look at my manuals but I’m pretty confident that they will all be fine the way I did them

 

[Spider4real]

Ok, thanks very much Spider for the replies, I will have a look at my manuals but I’m pretty confident that they will all be fine the way I did them

I by no means am an expert, but if you only added one to two cups of coolent, that does sounds a little light to me. I just looked and my manual for the 787 says 2 liters. I just winterized my 92 XP with a 587 today and the manual also called for 2 liters. But I know there are lots of opinions and differing techniques out there. I just know that 2 liters has always worked for me and never tried putting less to see what will happen.

 

[burtshaver2021]

I by no means am an expert, but if you only added one to two cups of coolent, that does sounds a little light to me. I just looked and my manual for the 787 says 2 liters. I just winterized my 92 XP with a 587 today and the manual also called for 2 liters. But I know there are lots of opinions and differing techniques out there. I just know that 2 liters has always worked for me and never tried putting less to see what will happen.

I don’t disagree with you, i probably should have used more per machine but I’m still pretty confident that they will be good. I would never not winterize them but I think most of the water drains out of them as long as the engine drain hose is not plugged and all mine are clear, pissers are all pissing good, now that I think about it, I’m sure I ran a good liter of antifreeze through each one and then blipped the throttle good a few times. I only put the 1 liter because I don’t like to run them out of the water any longer than 20 to 30 seconds.

 

[Spider4real]

Ok, I never run them to winterize. I just pour the coolent into the engine where it sits until next year. I now understand what you did. I agree, you are good.