Winterizing Vdrive

[2 tall]

Thanks Brad, I am planning to check that water pump tomorrow, but it is 0 (yes zero) at the moment here and I fear any water that may have been hiding is definitely frozen by now...I guess worst case scenario is I have to replace the water pump in the spring, but I want to make sure I got all the water/ice out of there so it doesn't thaw then freeze all winter...I know that is not good. I have some stress about this winterization since it is a new boat to me. I need someone to tell me it's all going to work out since I did everything except remove the pump.

[brad]

As you stated, the key is to minimize water in the event of freezing...  I just winterized yesterday (between 35-45 degrees during the day).  Snowing today!

Years ago I started doing the winterization myself with the help of the documents mentioned earlier.  For me, here are the keys:

 - drain engine block - 2 drain plugs; pull thermostat; oil cooler hose
 - drain manifolds - 2 drain bolts
 - drain water intake - empty sea strainer; pull water pump/replace impeller (this will drain water cooling trans)
 - blow out heater lines if you have this
 - blow out shower lines if you have this
 - drain ballast if you have this
 - drain bilge area

Others are welcome to pitch in if I've forgotten something (since I have a fresh water cooling system, I don't do a couple of these steps)

I also do annual maintenance including:

 - change oil and oil filter
 - change fuel separation filter
 - change spark plugs
 - fog cylinders (winterization step)
 - clean air/fire arrestor
 - clean MAF
 - fill gas tank and add Stabil (winterization step)
 - change gear oil (every other year)
 - change transmission fluid (every other year)

Hope this helps.

[2 tall]

It finally warmed up above 20 so I could go and pull the housing where the impeller is. It was a good thing I did. There was water(ice) from the impeller down the hose and into the next part (sorry...I think it is some kind of cooler, it felt like a radiator inside of it when I put my finger in there after the ice melted. It is long and skinny and runs on the starboard side under the manifold) I turned a heater on it and it melted slowly and I got a lot of water out of there. I also found out the impeller needed replacing as well so that worked out for me. Thanks for the tips and the great list of stuff to check.

[JIMBO]

2 engine block drains ? i thought there was only one on the port side bottom (brass thing with a short tube thing water comes out)

couldn't find the trans cooler either ? anyone have a pic ?

[tryme]

I don't know about the vdrive but the DD has one on each side.  I found out I could get to one on the drivers side and pulled the line for the oil cooler to drain the other cause getting to the drain plug is such a PITA. 

[brad]

Check this document in the Maintenance Tab has photos (VDrive and Direct Drive the same as far as winterizing engine goes--I've done both so have others on this forum)

Epic 21/22 X22 Winterizing Procedure

[JIMBO]

I never realized there was 2 ! i only drained 1 last year and everything seemed fine luckily. I have also never heard of the transmission cooler drain before, is that a pic of it in EM70?

[sailtl]

Item 1

http://www.epicmarine.com/figures/e_Fig_24.php

[JIMBO]

thankyou

[fyerfytr]

Does anyone use the rv antifreeze? I remove the t stat and suck up about 5 gals of the -75 stuff. It gets below zero here some years. Added measure i guess. I've done it this way for years, never a problem.

[Capt Rick]

On the side of the block were the hose goes to the oil filter cooler, you can remove the hose at the oil filter to drain that side of the block. ALWAYS reinsert the drains plugs after draining.
Also remove speedometer hoses at MDC or MMDC and blow out any water.
If you have a ballast or Shower or heater ( drain them).
Yes I suggest draining sea strainer and gear cooler. one for shifter on side of block and one on top of vdrive.

If you freeze our great Engines they will crack at the top of the block. Also replace oil and filter and spark plugs and clean mass air flow sensor.

Capt Rick