Winterizing 454 crusader

fourreins · Post by **fourreins** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 2:27 pm

New to winterizing engines and just want to double check with all of you. I have a closed cooling system and am looking to winterize the raw water side by pulling the water pump hose and attaching it to a five gallon bucket of anti freeze mixed at a 50/50 ratio. Do you think this is enough coolant throught the system? Does anyone drain the heat exchanger first??? I was hoping to just pull the hose off the sea cock and push all the water out that way. Think five gallons is enough????

MTP · Post by **MTP** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 5:13 pm

I would suggest using the non toxic pre mixed anti freeze my model 270 crusaders take 3 gallons each

Wes · Post by **Wes** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 7:25 pm

I use 5 gallons of 100 degree on each of our 454's.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 7:35 pm

Make sure you use the non toxic stuff ( made for the freash water systems) as it will go in the water on start up

fourreins · Post by **fourreins** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:12 pm

does anyone drain the system first or just pump the antifreeze through?

LandVF36 · Post by **LandVF36** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:45 pm

I drain first. One plug on the bottom center of the block each side, and 3 plugs on each side of the exhausts. Then I put all the plugs back in and remote the raw water hose from the through hull and insert a large 1Gal funnel. I start the engine and pour in about 5 gallons. I think at three, its pretty good, but the extra two are cheap insurance that it filled up with the pink stuff.

Don't forget to drain your fresh water system and pump through a gallon of the pink anti-freeze there too. Last think, a 1/2 gal in the head and pump it out.

fourreins · Post by **fourreins** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 10:04 pm

I have a fresh water cooled system so the block and manifolds already have antifreeze in them. I was asking if anyone drains the raw water side of the system or do they just pump the antifreeze in pushing the water out the exhaust.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 6:38 am

run fresh water thru it to flush it then draining it and then running non toix ant freeze thru it would be the best .that what I would do . but you would be ok just running the stuff thru it .

fourreins · Post by **fourreins** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:13 am

Thank you all! I think next year I will drain the fresh water side first before I run the antifreeze through. Since I already pumped the antifreeze this year I will leave it as is. Many have said this will be fine. Thanks....

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:15 am

Winterizing...hmmm, not familiar with that word.

I have flushers on my strainers. After I drain the blocks and shut off the seacocks, I can flip the lever on the strainer lid, hook up a hose and suck the antifreeze from the jugs as the engine is running. Works well with no hoses to undo.