Looking at winterizing a 350 Mag w/Alpha drive with "open" cooling system (did not do it last year and paid the price with cracked block, heads and exhaust). Have researched and plan the following process (boat stored on a trailer in unheated storage facility in Georgia (near Lake Lanier).
1. Add stabilizer to fuel.
2. Connect fresh water via "muffs" (garden hose) and start boat.
3. Let run till up-to-temp and thermostat is open.
4. Shutdown engine and remove flame arrestor.
5. Connect 5 gallon container, with coolant, via short garden hose to "muffs" (container higher than "muffs") and run till coolant is seen running out of the exhaust pipes.
6. Spray "fogging oil" into carb till engine stalls.
7. Open all drain values and drain new mixture.
8. Remove each spark plug, spray each cylinder with fogging oil and reinstall plugs (plugs only have 20 hours on them).
9. Top off fuel.
10. Lower outdrive when parking for season.
Question that I have are:
Step 7: Should I drain as much of the new mixture or leave full until spring?
Step 9: Read to just go 3/4 of a tank for "expansion" but feel that full would be better to stop moister within the fuel tank and not worry about "expansion" since it will be colder than when filling tank.
Should I remove pipefittings plugs from risers too (if I am draining block)?
I realize that I should change the oil but it only has about 4 hours on it and the outdrive just has 20 hours on the drive fluid.
Any input would be great......