Running Engine During Winter

[RonB]

Trying to learn all I can so that I know what my options are when we buy a boat ...

I understand one of the worse things to do to a diesel engine is to let it sit for an extended period of time without running it. For those of you who pull your boat out and winterize it, do you start your engine once in a while to keep things moving inside? How do you supply water to the cooling system when it's running?

Thanks,
Ron

 

[andrew]

Hi Ron, I have owned many diesel powered boats over the years, and if the boat is stored outside, it is important that antifreeze (RV plumbing type will do) is run through the sea water cooling system in the fall. You do not need to run it during the winter. Unlike many gas powered engines, diesels have an internal cooling system (use the engine manufactures prescribed antifreeze) and a sea water system with a heat exchanger, in which you can use the plumbing antifreeze.
In my experience, being laid up for six months, will not damage the engine.
Andrew

 

[pleeson]

Many industrial engines used in logging, farming, etc. are laid up for extended periods with no issues. Ideally with clean oil, winterized if necessary, and the battery(s) removed and/or placed on a trickle charge system. I have a 1977 bulldozer still going strong with none of these proper initiatives taken. If it's out of the salt water environment it's going to be happier even if it's not being run. Wash it down thoroughly with soap and water, rinse, let it dry in a nice day, flush the sea water cooling system with fresh water and then plumbing/RV antifreeze, put it indoors (or tarp it up), and be happy.

 

[sheral]

Just a question, not a criticism... For winterizing the seawater system, wouldn't proper coolant (antifreeze with corrosion inhibitors etc) be better than plumbing antifreeze?

 

[sheral]

Trying to learn all I can so that I know what my options are when we buy a boat ...

I understand one of the worse things to do to a diesel engine is to let it sit for an extended period of time without running it. For those of you who pull your boat out and winterize it, do you start your engine once in a while to keep things moving inside? How do you supply water to the cooling system when it's running?

Thanks,
Ron

Hi Ron.

To answer your question more directly, trying to run your diesel engine, say once a week during winter, living in Ontario is not going to be easy or even feasible. Supplying water to the cooling system, as you mentioned, requires running a hose to the seawater system. Even if you were able to do that each and every time you ran the engine, sooner or later the temperature will drop and damage could occur to the engine. I think the only option, when living in Canada, unless you are feeling lucky, is to winterize the boat. The seawater system is an 'open system' and at best it would cost you a fortune to pump antifreeze into it each time you run the engine and watch the antifreeze go sailing out your exhaust.

 

[LAKERtoo]

.. I'm not understanding something here .. I have a 2005 R21 Classic 3ym engine.. I think that when you say "Seawater" you are referring to the raw water system that enters thru the seacock ... is this system not drained entirely ? including the impellor removed and stored ? .. dosen't the anti-freeze just pertain to the closed fresh water system, including the block, heat exchanger, cabin heater etc ? Rob

 

[sheral]

Yes you can drain it entirely, if you wish too.

 

[Irish Mist]

Typically to winterize people ( including me ) have a helper and with the strainer lid off and seacock closed ,start the engine and have your helper feed antifreeze into the strainer until it starts coming out the exhaust ..then shut off the engine. That's it If you want to drain everything and remove the impeller, I would still run the antifreeze through first then do your best to drain. That way if you miss something it's protected.

 

[andrew]

Re type of antifreeze for the seawater coolant system When the boat is in the water and the engine is not running, the system is full of sea water (either salt or fresh), so using plumbing antifreeze is not a problem, it is far less corrosive than salt water. I have used it for forty years without any problem. I prefer to do this rather than drain the system, when you can never be sure you have got all the water out of the engine, and could cause freezing damage.Andrew

 

[LAKERtoo]

.. that makes sense if there is pockets that don't drain .. remember to catch that antifreeze from the exhaust or you may find some dead pets that go for the stuff for some reason ..