Conference unifix::sailing

    
      We have an Atomic 4 , 30 hp in our Hinckley Sou'west Jr.  Your
    mechanic is right, keep the engine running with antifreeze going
    thru the intake hose until you see antifreeze coming out the exhaust.
    
      Another thing to do is put some mistery oil in the spark plugs-
    helps a little with rust and prevents the rings from sticking.
    
                                           Mary Ellen

    The amount of antifreeze required depends on the size/volume of
    your exhaust system. Older vertical shell and tube types often
    require more antifreeze. The best advice is to continue to run
    (taking in antifreeze) until you see a solid color change at the
    exhaust port. At $7 per gal. it is the cheapest insurance you
    can buy for the engine and exhaust system.
    

    Another approach (that I use on my atomic 4) is to remove the exhaust
    rubber hose from the exhaust line and return the water/anti-freeze
    into the same bucket you are taking the intake water out of.  First,
    I run the exhaust hose into another bucket until anti-freeze comes
    out, then use the first bucket.  In this manner, you
    are then recirculating the anti-freeze, ensuring that a good 50/50
    mix is in the engine, and the engine warms up more quickly.  I run
    the engine all Winter, about once a month, when-ever the weather
    is warm enough.  In this manner, I avoid having to fog the engine, etc.
    Running the engine for 5 to 10 minutes does not over-heat the exhaust
    hose, but does circulate oil, flex the impellers,etc. It is the
    easiest way to "Winterize" an engine. Good luck with your atomic
    4.  (Incidently, I added fresh water cooling , which comes as a
    kit for the atomic 4.) The above approach still applies for the
    salt water side, though.  Fresh water cooling keeps salt/rust out of
    the block, if you are not familiar with f.w.c.

    Regarding reply #3...
    
    DO NOT FORGET TO ADD WATER TO THE ANTI-FREEZE....!  I did my first
    year and filled up my old one lunger on just anti-freeze and cracked
    the water jacket.  A nasty, and costly lesson.  I was not aware
    that anti-freeze, by itself, would freeze so make sure you add at
    least 50% water.  You can imagine your surprise next spring when
    getting ready for launch, you see your power source "smiling" at
    you in a way you had not noticed before!
    
    Good luck!
    

    Some say to use anti-freeze, others say to use a 50/50% mixture
    because if I just use anti-freeze my water jacket will crack. I
    have used 1 1/2 gals of PRESTONE only until it came out the exhaust
    port.
    
    I am not aware that antifreeze will freeze and crack the block.
    
    
    HELP! HELP!
    
    WHO IS RIGHT?
    
    At this time my block is filled with plain antifreeze, batteries
    are in storage, head and water systems drained and winterized, and
    the boat covered and secured for the long winter nap.
    
    Have I screwed up in my procedures/
    
    Advise, Please, And Thanks
    
    PAul

er, ah, doesn't the label on the Prestone jug give the information you 
want? if not, why not call Prestone?

The label will show the protection available for various dilutions of the 
antifreeze.  The best protection ( lowest temperature) is at about 50 % 
dilution.  This is a case of more ( antifreeze) is not better.

Al

Antifreeze typifies common behavior of mixtures - that the freezing point is
depressed from the freezing point of either component. For ethlene glycol and 
water, the maximum depression occurs at about 50% dilution, but this isn't true
of all mixtures. Most antifreeze containers have a little table showing the
amount of protection at several different dilutions, and the difference between
no dilution and 50% is pretty dramatic (about 30 degrees F or more).

Note the same phenomenon applies to metals, which is why solder melts at a much
lower temperature than either lead or tin.

Ross Faneuf

    re .5	Who is right ?  Well, I am, of course.
    Yes, you screwed up.  Straight anti freeze MIGHT be slightly better
    than water, but don't count on it.  You've probably chucked the
    jug that had the neat little table that others have refered to,
    next time "read the _______ instructions", etc.
    RECOMMENDATION:	Take a sick day and get down there SOOOON !
    
    	R	{Happy sailing; hope its not too late}
    

    I'll be going down the day after thanksgiving to rewinterize the
    engine.
    
    Many thanks for all the inputs
    
    Yes your right, I didn't read the ________________________instructions,
    I just assumed the more the betterer, after all when I take my car
    to the garage to have antifreeze put in, all I ever saw them do
    was pour raw antifreeze into the radiator.
    
    Oh well, I'm still learning
    
    paul

    According to FIRST BRANDS, which is the manufacturer of
    PRESTONE, the freezing point of pure antifreeze is -8� F.
    The directions recommend not exceeding a mixture of 70%
    antifreeze.

    So, I guess more is not always better.
    	
    	- Lee

    What about the "failure mode"?  I believe anti-freeze, or a mix, tends
    to freeze as a mush instead of hard ice.  This may pop freeze plugs
    and make a mess but isn't likely to do substantial damage.
    
    Also, you may have a hard time getting the exact mixture desired
    throughout the block.  I think you are better off to err on the
    rich side for reasons stated above.
    
    Rick,

    Well. I rewinterized the bloddy engine last Friday. I was able to
    get two gallons of 60/40% mixture through the engine.
    
    I sure hope this will do it for this season.
    
    I sure learnt a lesson.
    
    Many thanks for all your inputs. Now if I could only get rid of
    the iron sail completely.
    
    Paul
    

    After just winterizing my atomic 4 this past weekend I have a question.
    My procedure consists of flushing the cooling system with fresh water
    for "a while" and then just before I stop the motor I add antifreeze
    (about a 50/50 mix) until it starts exiting the exhaust. While
    circulating the antifreeze I fog the engine a little by pouring a small
    amount of Mystery oil down the carb. When the exhaust turns green I 
    CHOKE the engine with mystery oil till it stops. I'm assuming this
    gives most of the internals a good coating. I then pulled the plugs to
    insure the cylinders got fogged. The first 2 plugs I pulled were wetter
    then my deck in 10 foot seas! The last 2 (I pulled them in order from
    front to back) were dry! Does this indicate some sort of problem or
    were the 2 dry plugs just the last 2 that fired before the engine died?
    This almost makes sense to me but I figured Ide get another opinion.
    
    Anyone?
    

>>> When the exhaust turns green .....

Uh, are you using Prestone or something similar? And is the antifreeze 
getting onto the ground? This is a definite no-no. Prestone (and other 
ethylene gycol antifreeezes) are toxic, and the EPA is, I hear, taking 
action against boatyards that allow the stuff to reach the environment. 
Better to use (full-strength) the non-toxic antifreeze used for drinking 
water systems. 

>>> The first 2 plugs I pulled were wetter then my deck in 10 foot seas!

Wet with what? Gasoline, oil, water? Regardless, sounds like a possible 
problem.    

    First things first. I catch the exhaust so as not to spew my prestone
    onto the ground. I'm a good boy.
    
    Second, I guess I didn't make things real clear. The wet plugs are
    wet with Mystery oil which is what I would expect. Since I literally
    choke the engine with the oil till it stalls, I assume things will get
    rather oily. The fact that 2 plugs come out dry after all this is what 
    bothers me a bit. As I said, the 2 wet ones were dripping with oil
    while the other 2 looked "normal". Would the fact that the dry two
    fired before the next intake stroke occured account for this? Thats my
    guess.