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Post by coolchange on Jun 16, 2021 14:21:37 GMT -5
I recently purchased a 2004 Regal 3860 Commodore. fresh water cooled 8.1 merc inboard. My last boat had gas marine power and i only removed the intakes and ran antifreeze through to winterize manif/riser. The mercs have blue removable caps attached to block. can anyone advise if i need to remove to winterize? or are they for winterizinng only raw-water cooled blocks? Thanks in advance for any guidance -Tim
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Post by hawker63 on Jun 16, 2021 14:50:37 GMT -5
On our 8.1, the blue plugs are where it’s sea/lake water in the engine. Cool fuel module and the exhaust elbows. They are there so if water freezes, they are sacrificial. I had one fail last year so my new rules is replace every year. I believe you remove them and use the small air pump there clipped to front of engine to force all fresh water out of the engine
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Post by faverod on Jun 20, 2021 7:40:24 GMT -5
I use the block drain system to push all the water out of our inboards utilizing the air pump. I then remove all three of the blue plugs and let drain completely. I put those plugs back in, run antifreeze into the sea strainers with sea cocks closed with enough run time to get 3-4 gallons in. I then pump it up with air pump again, drain, and then pull the blue plugs out for the winter. Also, remove the plug from the exhaust muffler. Outside of running some fuel stabilizer, that’s pretty much all you need to do to winterize an inboard 8.1.
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Post by gofast24 on Jun 21, 2021 9:53:34 GMT -5
I use the block drain system to push all the water out of our inboards utilizing the air pump. I then remove all three of the blue plugs and let drain completely. I put those plugs back in, run antifreeze into the sea strainers with sea cocks closed with enough run time to get 3-4 gallons in. I then pump it up with air pump again, drain, and then pull the blue plugs out for the winter. Also, remove the plug from the exhaust muffler. Outside of running some fuel stabilizer, that’s pretty much all you need to do to winterize an inboard 8.1. Why not leave 3-4 gallons of antifreeze in engine? Interesting subject for June unless in southern hemisphere  |
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Post by faverod on Jun 23, 2021 6:58:35 GMT -5
I guess I always assume the mixture of water to antifreeze is always at an unknown ratio so I’d rather have it all out then have a chance to have a spot freeze. We’re up in Vermont so we get below zero for extended periods over the winter. If we were further south I’d probably just leave it in.
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Post by jnelson90 on Jun 23, 2021 10:22:42 GMT -5
Assuming you are using pink that is for engines; it contains corrosion and rust inhibitors. I believe that having this left in the engine passages is better because of the risk of corrosion if pumped out and air has access. Just my 2 cents.
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