How to Winterize a 5.7-Liter MerCruiser
Your 5.7-liter MerCruiser engine needs special care and maintenance before storing your boat for the winter. Water is pulled into the engine by the impeller and used to cool the engine while in use. This water stays in the engine and must be drained to prevent freezing. If the water is left in the engine, the water can expand and crack the engine block. The supplies you'll need can be purchased at your local boat shop, and the process can be completed yourself in about an hour.
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Instructions
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1
Connect the outdrive muffs to a garden hose. Install the outdrive muffs onto the outdrive so that the muffs cover the vents on each side of the outdrive.
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2
Remove the engine cover and loosen the nut that secures the spark arrestor to the carburetor with a wrench. The spark arrestor is a round air filter that mounts directly onto the top of the carburetor.
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3
Turn the water on to reach the outdrive muffs.
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4
Start the engine and allow it to idle. Spray fogging oil directly into the carburetor until the engine stalls. Reinstall the spark arrestor and tighten the nut with the wrench.
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5
Turn the water off and remove the outdrive muffs from the outdrive.
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6
Remove the drain bolts on the bottom of the engine block with a wrench. Refer to your owner's manual for drain bolt locations as different model-year engines have them in different locations. Allow the water to completely drain from the engine block before reinstalling the drain bolts and tightening them with the wrench.
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7
Disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery with a wrench.
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References
- Photo Credit power boat image by Wimbledon from Fotolia.com
