Trojan Boat Forum

Consider this; a fresh water cooled vessel (large Cats) gets hauled out for the season, is winterized by draining raw water side and pumping non tox through, only to find out after the fact, that the anti-freeze in the engine block is no longer fit for protecting the engine over the winter. The question is, do you just drain the block and other hardware of anti-freeze and leave it empty ‘till getting launched in spring and then refill, or do you replace it now knowing that you will have to run the engine to circulate through everything? Would of course have to feed water through the strainers to run engines and then winterize again. Thoughts?

"no longer fit for protecting the engine over the winter" ? The freezing point should not change . But what you could do is drain it and refill it with pre mix( 50/50) that way you don't have to worry about running it to mix it . A empty block will rust faster . Of course you will have to run it in the spring to get all the air out .

If the Cat has sleeves you need to use a HD coolant with a SCA in it or add it .

"Bad anti-freeze"???

Whats that mean Big D?

Green or Red?

The anti-freeze is red, so I guess it's long life. Apparently in checking it's strength, it was only good to -5 deg celcius...not good up here, we need to be good to at least -40.

prowlersfish wrote:"If the Cat has sleeves you need to use a HD coolant with a SCA in it or add it .

Paul, can you explain. I assume HD is Heavy Duty, how about "sleeves" and SCA. Maybe just familiar with different terms. I'm thinking though that CAT anti-freeze will be used so I expect it will meet requirements.

SCA "Special Coolant additive " Cat coolant will have it . Coolant as it is pump through the engine can cavitate this can cause hot spots or erosion on the sleeves . Sleeved engines are sensitive this condition some Parent bore engines are not but some are . Better safe then sorry .SCA's are made to stop Cavition.

Humm - don't mix red (Dexcool) and Green anti-freeze either - BAD juju.

Your old engines used the "old" yellow/grene anit-freeze.

You must flush to change to the Dexcool anti-freeze. But why? No advanctge - stay with the old "Green" in my opinion.

No w- let the discussion begin ...

The Cat coolant may be red As are some Cummins coolants ( not dexcool) Some of the Diesels coolants are Blue (DD)

Update Did some Checking
Cat Extended Life Coolant Is red and is ok to use in older Cats .

For anyone wondering why mixing different types of anti-freeze .they react to each other and form a thick goo in your engine.

For reference:

1) Green is NOT DexCool.
2) DexCool is Red.
3) Some Non-DexCool is RED.

make sense? hell no - b

But if its red, make sure you know what it is. If its green, don't mix with DexCool.

I just winterized my engines with the " RV PINK" stuff.....I was a little concerned being my 1st winteriazation on V8 boat motors.....So after i winterized, I took a sample of the "PINK" stuff to test......My automotive anti freeze tester registered -5c at best......Now Im freaked out...So I took it home and thru it in the freezer......-20 iand it still hasnt froze......My conclusion...I dont think the auto anti freeze testers work with the "PINK RV STUFF"... Why I dont know.........

17ty15 correct two different testers.

Don't know - it doesn't get below +25deg F here ...

rossjo wrote:Don't know - it doesn't get below +25deg F here ...

There you southern guys go again....rubbing it in!

Ha haa...Well at least we only put up with salt on our roads rotting our cars and not our pride and joy Trojans......