genset winterization

[tonyiiiafl]

What do you think of how I did? I shut off the sea clock for the strainer, then ran fresh water through the strainer and heat exchanger. Next, ran 3 or so gallons of ink through the strainer uniting pink came ou. I did not fog the Honda engine on genset. After I take the 20 mile run u the river to storage, I plan on running the genset again and dumping a couple more gallons of -60 through the strainer, just in case any water got into the exhaust port and settled in the muffler. Sound OK?

[mjk1040]

When on the hard open the seacock back up to let any trapped water out of that side of the strainer and valve, then run another round for safe keeping. I usually shop vac out the strainer with the Sea Flush funnel vac attachment, then I reverse the vac and try to blow what water out I can, then pink stuff application. Otherwise should be good.

[tonyiiiafl]

Thank you. Maybe overkill but a valuable piece of equipment.

[Viper]

Tony, do you get hauled out for the winter? If so, why not just wait until you're out and do it then so you're only doing it once.

[tonyiiiafl]

I do get hauled out. However, no fresh water to flush the heat exchanger. Next year I will just flush the heat exchanger while in the water and pour the pink stuff through when it is hauled. Didn’t think of it until I was done and saw how close the exhaust is to the water line.

[Viper]

While in the water, close the genny seacock and run enough fresh water through the genny until you feel you've you flushed the raw water circuit enough and displaced all the salt water in the muffler. Leave the seacock closed while heading to your final destination. You shouldn't have to worry about salt water getting back into the muffler if it's a lift muffler and plumbed properly. Once hauled out, drain the muffler, test your engine coolant, and run your antifreeze through the genny until the discharge is good and pink. How much antifreeze you use will depend on whether you drain the raw water circuit of the genny or not. Having said that, the amount of raw water in there to be displaced by antifreeze will be minimum. If your engine coolant fails the test, drain the closed cooling system and refill with fresh coolant at the proper mix ratio for your area. Open the seacock after your done, and leave yourself a note to run the genny in the spring not just to commission but to ensure the new coolant ends up at the proper level and that all air in the circuit is displaced.

Are your engines closed cooled too?

[tonyiiiafl]

Engines and manifolds are closed cooled. I let the marina do those.