Mercruiser 305,350 5.0,5.7 V8 Winterization in 5 Minutes.

Today i show you a quick and professional way of draining your V8 or V6 GM stern drive motor to feel 100% sure that your boat will not freeze this winter. Hope the video helps. Please Subscribe if this helped you. Thanks, Josh

[whitecapmadness]

I run the engine on the hose til its warm. Then I put a plywood V shaped tub (home made) under the sterndrive, with anti freeze in it. Fire it up for half a beer, then fog out. Then re-use the anti freeze next year. Way easier.

[bobpike]

Thanks for showing me how to do my first winterization on my 260 Mercruiser.

[mdknightrider]

Super simple. Thanks for explaining the process. Followed this to the letter, went flawlessly.

[kirknichols]

I just followed your steps and was very happy with the results for now. Hopefully come Spring, I'll feel the same way😅 Thanks!

[The_Brew_Dog]

I take the thermostat housing off and pour the coolant down that way. It adds having to remake the gasket on the therm housing, but I keep some black RTV in my winterization kit. I suppose pouring it into the water pump works, but if I do it up higher k know it’s getting into the heads and intake manifold also.

[alexbucko]

Good video. Bought my first boat this summer had no idea what to do (car guy) explained very well

[jjasonsingleton]

Hey Man I think it's a pretty good vid but the only thing I think I would add is to close off the system and fill with antifreeze to protect against corrosion.
After watching a few vids, I think dump a gallon to the sea pump and trans cooler while fogging it after the majority of the gallon is in. Once it stalls then follow the vid and the close off and fill the block and manifolds with antifreeze. That's my 2cent comment.

[dh]

I just found this video and hope I'm ok with our efforts as it was 20 last night... I have an old 350 mercruiser engine, think 1985 vintage. We drained and replaced the 4 drain plugs out of the engine, carefully cleaning any gunk from the drains until they had fully drained clear. After that we pulled off the hoses at the top where the spring loaded balls are and poured 4 gallons of 50/50 pink AF till it came out the top. WE then cranked the motor over a couple minutes without starting it to make sure any water left was full mixed with the antifreeze. Are there any other hoses left that should be removed or drained? MY mercruiser outdrive is the original from 1984 or 85. It does not say alpha on it. Im thinking I may have inadvertently missed a lower hose or something. Hopefully the water pump and transmission cooler filled with some of the antifreeze. Thanks Dave

[jamiehankins]

I am certified by mercriser and that procedure is ok and does the job but is only a half way winterizing job. I'll be doing a correct full winterizing video shortly that was taught at mercruiser certification school. This will include the fuel system also and finishing anti corrosion process for engine and outdrive.

[skylar-]

The amount of times he says "uh" is over 9000! :)

[stephendycha]

Excellent video..you picked a great boat to demonstrate on and it is spot on with your explanation.. I use starbright -100. Thanks.

[davidsmith]

Thx! I am not sure if mine has power steering or not, didnt see anything that looked like that and mine is older 5.7L mercruiser.

[fike]

I would also drain the inhose that feeds to sea pump especially bravo 1 drive

[petewadnlk]

Hey I have a dumb question. What is the difference in pouring the antifreeze into the hose directly into the T-Stat housing or just removing the T-Stat hose and pouring it in until it comes out of the T-Stat housing? I assume both processes will work?? On my 5.0L I can't remove the T-Stat hose because the bottom end has a factory pinch hose clamp a one time use clamp and would have to cut it off and yes I'm sure I would end up cutting the hose. I plan on winterizing it next weekend so opinions good or bad would help. And no I won't run the antifreeze through the outdrive from a 5 gallon bucket. Did that last year with 5 gallons and it over heated went from 130 to 220 in like5 minutes.

[docktorleaky]

I have this same motor in an '86 Checkmate. It is not a five minute job. I'm moving the motor to the middle of the boat.

[sylvaincaron]

Thanks Schneids15 I have exactly the same engine in my Glastron CV23 1985. you made it extremmely simple !!

[kingtuck]

When you pour the antifreeze in and verify that it’s coming out the Block holes you don’t plug the block back up to keep antifreeze in?

[tomweiss]

What are your thoughts on Merc's single point drainage system? Can you solely rely on that to drain the entire system, or would one have to pull the plugs as well (I assume that's the intent of the single point drainage system, but have to ask how reliable that is)? Thanks!

[francoissamson]

Good stuff thx.
Is the coolant you use pre mix with water or straight coolant only?

[danatompkins]

How about the outdrive? Does this winterize it? Thank you for uploading.