Do you leave antifreeze in boat engine over winter?

Do you have to use antifreeze when you winterize your boat? You should use antifreeze to winterize your boat if you have an inboard engine or any systems with pipes or that carry water. You should also consider using it in your bilge. For outboard motors, you don’t have to use antifreeze.

How does a Mercruiser closed cooling system work?

MerCruiser engines may also be equipped with a closed cooling system. This cooling system is divided in two separate sub-systems: one uses seawater and the other uses coolant (called “fresh water”). The seawater system operation is similar to the standard cooling system previously described.

How do you drain antifreeze from a boat engine?

Steps to drain the coolant:

  1. Place a pan under the plug opening.
  2. Slowly open the drain plug or petcock.
  3. Drain the engine.
  4. If the drain pan gets full, close the plug, empty the pan into the waste storage jugs, then replace it under the drain and continue.

Can you start a winterized boat?

Re: Starting a Winterized Boat Probably smart to start it up beforehand and blow out the smoke from the fogging oil for a few minutes. Then change the plugs for a quick start.

How many gallons of antifreeze do I need to winterize my boat?

two gallons
To winterize the engine with antifreeze, you’ll need a five-gallon bucket, and enough antifreeze for your engine and related plumbing (at least two gallons). If your engine takes a lot of antifreeze, you might also need a helper to add antifreeze to the bucket as needed.

How much antifreeze do you need to winterize a Mercruiser?

To winterize the engine with antifreeze, you’ll need a five-gallon bucket, and enough antifreeze for your engine and related plumbing (at least two gallons). If your engine takes a lot of antifreeze, you might also need a helper to add antifreeze to the bucket as needed.

How many gallons of antifreeze does it take to winterize a boat?

If you’re going to winterize a boat you’ll need around a five gallon bucket and two gallons of antifreeze to protect your engine and all related plumbing.