angus99
Guru
First time winterizing this boat -- and any boat I've owned this far north (near Philly). I bought a refractometer and got a few surprises today when I read the "antifreeze" values.
Issue #1: The reading on the starboard Lehman 135 coolant was about +15 F (port was about -20F). I drained some coolant from the block so I could add more AF but the level didn't fall much at the filler cap. Could the thermostat be holding the level constant? Any thoughts on how I can increase the AF concentration with the boat already on blocks? Not sure how I can circulate/mix anything I add without starting the engine.
Issue #2: the RV antifreeze I ran throughout the raw water systems of the engines, genny, AC and freshwater systems reads about +23 to +27F. I ran a LOT though these systems, waiting 30 seconds after seeing pink before shutting down the engines or pumps. I found after the fact that it's faux propylene glycol with a lot of alcohol in it, so I'm draining every system, strainer, heat exchanger and muffler I put this crap in and will blow the freshwater lines out. (I also brought some of the EG and "PG" mixtures home and put them in the freezer just to see what will happen.) live and learn, I guess.
Anyone who blows out their freshwater system with a compressor: do you hook up the air at the faucets? Any guidance on your technique would be appreciated.
Issue #1: The reading on the starboard Lehman 135 coolant was about +15 F (port was about -20F). I drained some coolant from the block so I could add more AF but the level didn't fall much at the filler cap. Could the thermostat be holding the level constant? Any thoughts on how I can increase the AF concentration with the boat already on blocks? Not sure how I can circulate/mix anything I add without starting the engine.
Issue #2: the RV antifreeze I ran throughout the raw water systems of the engines, genny, AC and freshwater systems reads about +23 to +27F. I ran a LOT though these systems, waiting 30 seconds after seeing pink before shutting down the engines or pumps. I found after the fact that it's faux propylene glycol with a lot of alcohol in it, so I'm draining every system, strainer, heat exchanger and muffler I put this crap in and will blow the freshwater lines out. (I also brought some of the EG and "PG" mixtures home and put them in the freezer just to see what will happen.) live and learn, I guess.
Anyone who blows out their freshwater system with a compressor: do you hook up the air at the faucets? Any guidance on your technique would be appreciated.