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February 15, 2025, 16:53:42 pm

Author Topic: Winterizing Vdrive  (Read 2334 times)

Gulfster

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Winterizing Vdrive
« on: October 15, 2014, 18:52:06 pm »
Hi, I am wondering if there is/are different procedures for winterizing a Vdrive compared to the direct drive? I just sold my X22 and picked up a SX.  I always winterized the X22 myself and would like to continue doing so on my SX.  Thanks, Josh

Epic4Life

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Re: Winterizing Vdrive
« Reply #1 on: October 15, 2014, 20:32:20 pm »
There is a vdrive winterization how-to you can download or view in the maintenance section here on the site...also a section in the owners manual covering it.
-Seth

2001 Epic S22 - Bend, Oregon

Gulfster

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Re: Winterizing Vdrive
« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2014, 00:37:08 am »
Thanks Seth.  I looked at the Vdrive maintenance procedure on the forum and it says it DOES NOT include winterization. I'm just wondering if there is something special/different between the direct and vdrive procedures.  Thanks everyone.  J :)

Supraman

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Re: Winterizing Vdrive
« Reply #3 on: October 16, 2014, 01:26:10 am »
In addition to winterizing the engine, you'll want to make sure you take care of the SX's ballast system.

I've always put made sure the tanks were empty, then poured at least a gallon of RV antifreeze into each tank through the overflow ports on each side (A car transmission fluid funnel works well for this). Then I back the boat down a hill to make sure the antifreeze gets to the rear of the tanks. The final step is to turn push the ballast empty button and let a small amount of antifreeze pump though. Have someone look under the boat and make sure pink comes out. This makes sure there isn't any water left in your ballast pumps or lines that could freeze and crack.

I also pump antifreeze through my bilge pump to make sure there isn't any water in it that could freeze.

Hopefully this helps. Let me know if you run into any problems and I'll try and help out.
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brad

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Re: Winterizing Vdrive
« Reply #4 on: October 16, 2014, 15:27:44 pm »
I do a combination of these two maintenance documents thanks to Pete and Derek:

Epic Winterizing Procedure-Direct Drive (PDF)
Annual Vdrive and Driveline Maintenance (PDF)

In addition, if you have a shower and a heater, make sure they are drained.
Brad

2002 Epic SX

cyclone

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Re: Winterizing Vdrive
« Reply #5 on: October 16, 2014, 21:06:47 pm »
The one thing that got me once is the inline transmission cooler located on the starboard side under the exhaust manifold. There is a 7/16 drain plug that you must remove. You can reach it (and the block drain on that side) by snaking hour arm in from the passenger compartment with the back seat and support panel removed.
Pete

'01 Epic SX

sxalberta

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Re: Winterizing Vdrive
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2014, 02:30:06 am »
ditto on the transcooler, now I pull the line right off after I cracked one.

Supraman

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Re: Winterizing Vdrive
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2014, 04:25:01 am »
Does anyone have a picture or diagram showing the drain spot on the transmission?

Also, I noticed that there is a water-line running into the V-drive. Do you guys drain the v-drive somehow?

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2 tall

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Re: Winterizing Vdrive
« Reply #8 on: November 05, 2014, 20:38:18 pm »
I am also looking for that same answer....Also just to add to this thread, is it possible or recommended to run anti-freeze through the fake-a-lake and through the motor before winter? I used to do this on my inboard/outboard volvo every year and let it sit all winter with the anti-freeze in the engine and never had a single issue. Even the impeller stayed soft and perfect after 9 years. Can I do this? Or is draining the best route to go? I feel as though there is still some water somewhere in the engine that is going to come back to haunt me. This is my first year with a Toyota Epic and I don't want to screw this up....
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ATXChris

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Re: Winterizing Vdrive
« Reply #9 on: November 06, 2014, 15:05:22 pm »
I think most people on here just drain the water out, but on the Epic's there is a drain valve behind the exhaust manifold that is particularly hard to get to and can be prone to leaking.

I keep my Epic in a heated garage, but if I did have to winterize I would consider running the engine off a hose to heat the engine up ( open thermostat, etc. ), then switch to a tub of 50/50 biodegradable antifreeze until green ( or pink ) comes out the exhaust.  Then I would crack the the drain valve open on the exhaust mainfold and bottom oil filter cooler hose to verify that the antifreeze made it into the engine.  The antifreeze techinque seems to be a popular winterizing option for other inboard boats so should be safe for ours too.

sailtl

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Re: Winterizing Vdrive
« Reply #10 on: November 10, 2014, 01:43:14 am »
I used to drain the block and take out thermostat and remove oil cooler hose and water strainer and drain the manifolds. Then add RV antifreeze as I put it back together. Ran RV antifreeze back into water strainer which also took care of transmission cooler. I did remove the drain plug once on the trans cooler and what a pain in the ass. I also added RV to manifolds.
Hope this helps.
Mine was an Epic 21 direct drive.
Terry

Supraman

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Re: Winterizing Vdrive
« Reply #11 on: November 11, 2014, 02:46:36 am »
Does anyone have a picture or diagram showing the drain spot on the transmission?

Also, I noticed that there is a water-line running into the V-drive. Do you guys drain the v-drive somehow?



Last weekend I got in the boat and double checked to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Once I was in there it became pretty obvious how to drain the transmission cooler... Turns out it's something I've already been doing every year.. You guys had be me worried as I've never seen it listed as one of the "steps". I've always disconnected the large water house from the back of the water pump which drains the tran cooler.
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cyclone

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Re: Winterizing Vdrive
« Reply #12 on: November 13, 2014, 02:09:38 am »
It seems like 90% of the water is gone when you pull the oil cooler hose. The trans cooler is below that point and can hold water so I drain it. You might have to find it via the braille method, but its on the drivers (starboard) side down under the exhaust manifold. The other think is the heater, the ballast pumps as well, I make sure they are drained. They are rule 1100 pumps, cheap thru this site. They can get very tiny hairline cracks in the pump body and suck air and not prime reliably

The antifreeze method works fine but its more of a hassle than draining in my opinion.

Fyi easy way to remember port vs starboard is that port and left have four letters. Ex navy;)

Pete

'01 Epic SX

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Re: Winterizing Vdrive
« Reply #13 on: November 13, 2014, 18:25:01 pm »
OK...I found the plug and followed everything else in the pdf's about "Winterizing"...the only thing I did not do is pull the water pump..I did remove the drain plug and the all the other plugs (manifold, transmission cooler, oil pump) then turned the engine over 5 times with the drain plugs open(off)...It got freezing cold so if there is any water in that water pump it is now ice...did I make a huge mistake by not pulling that water pump? I honestly couldn't even find it...
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brad

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Re: Winterizing Vdrive
« Reply #14 on: November 13, 2014, 23:07:21 pm »
I normally replace the water pump impeller which requires that you unbolt the water pump (fly wheel above the oil filter).  Usually a large amount of water drains from the intake hose since this procedure is after I warm the engine to suck the oil.  Not sure how much water is retained if the engine is cold.
Brad

2002 Epic SX