Yanmar Pleasure Boat Marine Engine Help

Winterizing the engine.

For many of you, this is the sad time of the year, when the winter storms or ice floes in the harbour wont let you enjoy boating. The boat is on the hardstand and we're going to put the engine to bed for the next few months.
You may also want to do this while you are otherwise occupied and cant use the boat for a while.
The engine should be run at least once per fortnight until it is up to operating temperature. If you need to leave it for two or three months I recommend you 'winterize' it.
First: Buy rum and coke, CRC 'Longlife', Rags- cotton- old, cleaning stuff, bucket, assorted tools.

• RAW WATER COOLED ENGINES:
• Open the cylinder block, exhaust mainfold and waterlock drains, leave them open.
• Drain the water intake filter and leave the seacock open.
• Remove the air cleaner, open the decompression levers. While turning the engine over with the starter motor, spray CRC 'Longlife' into the air intake for about 5 seconds per cylinder.
• Close the decompression levers and refit the air cleaner. Put a plastic bag or similar over the aircleaner so air can't get in.
• If you have an exhaust outlet valve at the transom, close it and put the engine key on it !
• If you dont have a valve, put a rag up the exhaust and seal it with plastic and tape or something so that air can't get in. Do something clever with the engine key so that you remember to remove the obstruction before starting the engine !
• Wipe a thin smear of grease over the control cable end where it attaches to the engine. Do the same for the stop cable.
• Remove the battery and take it home to charge it occasionally. ( For goodness sake, tie it down in the car, 'him / her indoors' will be really pissed if it falls over ! ) If you can't remove the battery at least remove the terminals and give them a light grease, leave them off till Spring.
• Clean the engine room
• I think it's time for a rum and coke

• FRESH WATER COOLED ENGINES:
• If the engine is a turbocharged model, if possible, during the last run of the season, ' turbowash ' the engine.
• If the coolant needs replacing, do it now. N.B. You need to be able to run the engine to do this properly.
• Open the raw water drains on the heat exchanger manifold, gearbox oil cooler and where ever else they are on your engine. Open the waterlock drain.
• Remove the silencer. While holding the stop button, press the starter button and spray CRC 'Longlife' into the air intake. Take about 10 seconds per cylinder with stops every 10 seconds to admire the view. ( and let the starter cool down )
• Refit the silencer, cover it with a plastic bag and seal it.
• Blank off the exhaust outlet and put the engine key somewhere clever so that you remember to remove the obstructions come Spring
• Wipe a thin smear of grease over the control cable end where it attaches to the engine. Do the same for the stop cable.
• Remove the battery and take it home to charge it occasionally. ( For goodness sake, tie it down in the car, 'him / her indoors' will be really pissed if it falls over ! ) If you can't remove the battery at least remove the terminals and give them a light grease, leave them off till Spring.
• Clean the engine room
• It's definitely time for a rum and coke

If you have any ideas or 'What about ......' , please email me.

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