11 replies to this topic

[Vince]

I want to run my Sportster SCIC year around. I have some warm days in between freezing temperatures. I leave the boat on a lift at Lake Ozark. The Seadoo sales guy told me that as long as my collant tests out minus 20 degrees or colder. I need not worry about winterizing anything else. Is this true?

[drmarvell]

I want to run my Sportster SCIC year around. I have some warm days in between freezing temperatures. I leave the boat on a lift at Lake Ozark. The Seadoo sales guy told me that as long as my collant tests out minus 20 degrees or colder. I need not worry about winterizing anything else. Is this true?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong (because I'm really new to this) but from what I've read and heard, the 4-TEC's don't need to be "winterized" per say. The closed loop cooling system engines have antifreeze already. The only winterization needed is an oil change, fuel stabilizer, replacing/adding antifreeze, running the engines for 10-15 seconds to clear it out any residual water, and general maintenance. Am I wrong?

[stevenh]

I want to run my Sportster SCIC year around.  I have some warm days in between freezing temperatures.  I leave the boat on a lift at Lake Ozark.  The Seadoo sales guy told me that as long as my collant tests out minus 20 degrees or colder.  I need not worry about winterizing anything else.  Is this true?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong (because I'm really new to this) but from what I've read and heard, the 4-TEC's don't need to be "winterized" per say. The closed loop cooling system engines have antifreeze already. The only winterization needed is an oil change, fuel stabilizer, replacing/adding antifreeze, running the engines for 10-15 seconds to clear it out any residual water, and general maintenance. Am I wrong?

On the 155HP 4-tech the only fresh water is in the exhaust system. That might still require some level of flushing with anti-freeze since I would guess there are places water could hide in there that might cause problems. The SCIC 4-tech uses fresh water to cool air for the inter-cooler. I would guess this would have to be rinsed with anti-freeze unless they drain really well. My S200 (155's) is in the shop now getting winterized, I should have a list of services performed when I pick up the boat. I will update this post after I talk with them.

Steve

[Vince]

I want to run my Sportster SCIC year around.  I have some warm days in between freezing temperatures.  I leave the boat on a lift at Lake Ozark.  The Seadoo sales guy told me that as long as my collant tests out minus 20 degrees or colder.  I need not worry about winterizing anything else.  Is this true?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong (because I'm really new to this) but from what I've read and heard, the 4-TEC's don't need to be "winterized" per say. The closed loop cooling system engines have antifreeze already. The only winterization needed is an oil change, fuel stabilizer, replacing/adding antifreeze, running the engines for 10-15 seconds to clear it out any residual water, and general maintenance. Am I wrong?

On the 155HP 4-tech the only fresh water is in the exhaust system. That might still require some level of flushing with anti-freeze since I would guess there are places water could hide in there that might cause problems. The SCIC 4-tech uses fresh water to cool air for the inter-cooler. I would guess this would have to be rinsed with anti-freeze unless they drain really well. My S200 (155's) is in the shop now getting winterized, I should have a list of services performed when I pick up the boat. I will update this post after I talk with them.

Steve

I really appreciate the responses. Since the exhaust and intercooler are the only components that use fresh water, they might need to be winterized. The salesman, (who of course wanted to make the sale) insisted that these are self-draining , but that starting the engine dry for a couple seconds would clear out any residual water.

The dealers would like you to think that only they can winterize the machine, assuming they make $150 to $200 a pop. Still unsure.

Vince

[thumper]

vince - the only thing you need to worry about is whats the lowest temp the boat is likely to be out in? the scic uses lake or seawater to cool the exhaust and intercooler - if the water in the intercooler was to freeze it may do some damage - you cant be sure that it will drain entirely - so you have only really one option if you want to run the boat thru the winter - garage it so that it is not subjected to sub zero temperatures - or find some way of insulating the engine and exhaust from the cold??? -
sorry if this doesnt help much but you cant afford for the water in the intercooler or exhaust to freeze.

[Vince]

vince - the only thing you need to worry about is whats the lowest temp the boat is likely to be out in? the scic uses lake or seawater to cool the exhaust and intercooler - if the water in the intercooler was to freeze it may do some damage - you cant be sure that it will drain entirely - so you have only really one option if you want to run the boat thru the winter - garage it so that it is not subjected to sub zero temperatures - or find some way of insulating the engine and exhaust from the cold??? -
sorry if this doesnt help much but you cant afford for the water in the intercooler or exhaust to freeze.

thumper,

Thanks. Until I find out different, I will follow your advice. Since I have my boat on a lift in a covered slip, I'd like to find a way to inject antifreeze into the exhaust and intercooler. I suppose I will need to purchase a maintenance tech manual for sure. Did I hear that a tech manual could be purchased at the dealer for $65?

Vince

[thumper]

just make sure nothing freezesand by that i mean anything near 4degrees celcius as this is the temp at which water starts to expand.

[Serbmarine]

In short YES you do have to winterize the 4-Tec engine. Like some people have mentioned the IC and the exaust are raw water cooled and need to be flushed with antifreeze. This is very easy to do yourself if you want to use your boat during the winter. Simply hook up a hose to your flush adapter and pump antifreeze through (with a sub or drill pump) until you get antifreeze out of the exaust. If you are storing the boat on a lift etc. where it is hard to get to the flush adapter or you do not have a pump, I suggest installing the seadoo flush kit (or any other T fitting that will fit the line). This fitting is placed in-line on the flex hose the exits the top of the stainless exaust elbow. Simplty cut the hose and install the fitting. If you flush from this location it is much easier to gravity feed the antifreeze. Just get a 3 foot hose install a funnel on one end and hook the other to your T adapter and pour your anti-freeze through while the boat is running.....hope this helps......don't ruin your boat over 10 minutes work and 2 dollars worth of antifreeze.

[Vince]

In short YES you do have to winterize the 4-Tec engine. Like some people have mentioned the IC and the exaust are raw water cooled and need to be flushed with antifreeze. This is very easy to do yourself if you want to use your boat during the winter. Simply hook up a hose to your flush adapter and pump antifreeze through (with a sub or drill pump) until you get antifreeze out of the exaust. If you are storing the boat on a lift etc. where it is hard to get to the flush adapter or you do not have a pump, I suggest installing the seadoo flush kit (or any other T fitting that will fit the line). This fitting is placed in-line on the flex hose the exits the top of the stainless exaust elbow. Simplty cut the hose and install the fitting. If you flush from this location it is much easier to gravity feed the antifreeze. Just get a 3 foot hose install a funnel on one end and hook the other to your T adapter and pour your anti-freeze through while the boat is running.....hope this helps......don't ruin your boat over 10 minutes work and 2 dollars worth of antifreeze.

I really appreciate the advice. This sounds simple enough. I will "GIT er Done". Thanks.

[jon-x]

In short YES you do have to winterize the 4-Tec engine. Like some people have mentioned the IC and the exaust are raw water cooled and need to be flushed with antifreeze. This is very easy to do yourself if you want to use your boat during the winter. Simply hook up a hose to your flush adapter and pump antifreeze through (with a sub or drill pump) until you get antifreeze out of the exaust. If you are storing the boat on a lift etc. where it is hard to get to the flush adapter or you do not have a pump, I suggest installing the seadoo flush kit (or any other T fitting that will fit the line). This fitting is placed in-line on the flex hose the exits the top of the stainless exaust elbow. Simplty cut the hose and install the fitting. If you flush from this location it is much easier to gravity feed the antifreeze. Just get a 3 foot hose install a funnel on one end and hook the other to your T adapter and pour your anti-freeze through while the boat is running.....hope this helps......don't ruin your boat over 10 minutes work and 2 dollars worth of antifreeze.

Can I use a hand pump to pump antifreeze through the flush adapter (like the one we use for oil change, see http://www.canadiant.....luxe+Pump.jsp) or it isn't powerful enough? And do I need to run the boat while I'm pumping it or not?

Tks in advance!

Jon

[YuCrew]

Can I use a hand pump to pump antifreeze through the flush adapter (like the one we use for oil change, see http://www.canadiant.....luxe+Pump.jsp) or it isn't powerful enough? And do I need to run the boat while I'm pumping it or not?

Tks in advance!

Jon

I've always had the dealer do my boat but this year I plan to tackle it myself. Seems to me if you are "forcing" antifreeze through the flush adapter, the engine should be running (just like a normal fresh water flush). Start engine first, turn on flush, turn off flush, turn off engine.

Does anyone know if there is an additional process to winterize the intercooler itself on the SCIC engines? Thanks.