Canadian Yachting October 2020 - 52

5) Ethanol is an alcohol; it can damage
gaskets, carburetor ports and floats, fuel
lines and fuel filters
6) Ethanol is highly corrosive. It can
damage the metal components in the
fuel delivery system
Luckily, marinas have adapted
to the challenge, and most marina fuel
docks will offer ethanol-free fuel.
To combat the negative effects
of ethanol, it is recommended that fuel
tanks be filled prior to long-term storage. It only takes a 7 degree change of
air temperature for condensation to form
on the inner walls of fuel tanks - meaning that the difference between night
and daytime temperatures over the winter months could cause condensation to
form each day, accumulating water until
the fuel undergoes phase separation and
it becomes unusable. Keeping the tanks
full reduces the air space over the fuel
eliminating the space for condensation
to accumulate.
Just as important as keeping tanks
full, is the use of a fuel additive to combat ethanol's effects; an additive that
protects against corrosion, phase separation, and loss of octane.A number of
manufacturers have introduced fuel stabilizer products: ValvTect, K100 Fuel
Treatment, Quicksilver's QuickStor,
Starbrite's StarTron, Captain Phab and
CRC, to name a few.
Next, the fuel system should be
treated. The engine should be run for
a few minutes to run stabilized fuel
through the fuel lines and filters. With
the engine still running, the fuel tank
shut-off should be closed off - draining
the fuel lines and carburetor. As a final
step, fogging oil should be sprayed into
the carburetor, to leave an oil film on the
carburetor and cylinder walls, protecting these components from corrosion.
In fuel-injected engines (with no
carburetor) a mixture should be prepared in a remote fuel tank and the
engine allowed to run on this mixture
as a replacement for the fogging procedure. The recommended mixture is a
ratio of 10:1:0.15 of Gasoline, fuel stabilizer and 2-cycle outboard oil.
In a diesel engine, the same result
(coating the cylinder walls with a protective film of oil) is achieved by spraying oil into the air inlet as the engine is
cranked.

CANADIAN YACHTING

Treating a diesel tank is just as
important. Modern diesel fuels are ultralow-sulphur, which tends to hold more
water and go bad faster than older diesel
formulations. A modern diesel fuel additive should contain a biocide to prevent
and kill bacteria, corrosion inhibitors,
stabilizers, detergents, dispersants and
a cetane improver (cetane is, to diesel,
what octane is to gasoline - an indicator
of the combustion speed and the compression needed to fire).
THE COOLING SYSTEM
Engine cooling systems are of
two types: Open and Closed. The open
system draws seawater into the engine,
circulates it and spits it back out with
the exhaust. The closed system uses
ethylene glycol antifreeze (the toxic
orange/green/yellow, sweet smelling stuff found in car radiators). The
closed system circulates antifreeze and
works with the open/seawater system
to keep the ethylene glycol cool, via a
heat-exchanger.
Some marine engines have just an
open cooling system. Others use a combination of open and closed. In either
case, seawater is drawn into the engine
to cool it. If seawater is left inside the
engine to freeze, the water expanding can break or crack internal walls,
exhaust manifolds, engine blocks, and
bolt-on components.
The process of winterizing is
designed to remove the seawater and
replace it with an antifreeze solution
that is capable of protecting the engine
from freezing damage.
The modern engine block hasn't
changed a whole lot, but the bolt-on systems and the improvements in the efficiency of engine cooling has changed
significantly.
Engines from 20 years ago have
as few as 2 drain points: the engine
block and the exhaust manifold.
Modern engines can have as many as
9 drain points, including the thermostat housing, the power steering cooler,
the fuel cooler, water pump, block and
manifolds.
Step 1: Drain each of the drain points
and ensure that water has completely
drained from the engine. Crank the
engine over (without starting) in order to
purge any water trapped in the seawater

pump. Ensure that strainers, coolers and
mufflers are also drained
Step 2: Choose the correct antifreeze for
the job. A closed cooled system will use
ethylene glycol, but the open cooling
system (where water cools when in use)
should be winterized using propylene
glycol (also called RV antifreeze, water
system antifreeze, or 'the pink stuff').
Propylene glycol is readily
found, but not all mixtures are the
same. Mercury Marine recommends
that the glycol contains a rust inhibitor
and is recommended for use in marine
engines. Quicksilver and Starbrite make
a high-quality marine antifreeze.
Propylene glycol is available in
different strengths: -50 degrees F and
-100 degrees F are common options.
Keep in mind, though, that as the antifreeze is added to the engine (whether
drained completely or not), any water
it comes into contact with will dilute it,
lowering its strength. Test the strength
of the antifreeze as it flows out of the
engine using a refractometer to determine the temperature that the diluted
antifreeze will protect to.
Step 3: Remove hoses from thermostat
housing and fill with antifreeze until the
engine block is full. Reinstall hoses.
In many diesel engines, antifreeze
needs to be 'poured' in in various ways,
or run through. Always check the winterizing procedure in the service manual for your engine's make and model.
Propylene glycol can damage neoprene or nylon components - so ensure
that when pouring/running antifreeze
through a diesel engine the water strainer
and the impeller are protected from the
damaging effects of the antifreeze.
Step 4: In boats with stern drives, and
in outboard engines, leave the drive
trimmed all the way down/in.
Step 5: Test the strength of the antifreeze
using a refractometer. A sample can be
taken at the engine's exhaust port, or by
slightly opening a block drain plug. This
will allow you to confirm the maximum
cold temperature so that the engine will
not freeze. Similarly, in boats with a
closed cooling system, the ethylene glycol strength should be checked to ensure
that it will meet the low freeze mark.
Step 6: Seal off any openings (exhausts,
air inlet, water inlet) to prevent damp air
from causing damage.

OCTOBER 2020

Canadian Yachting October 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting October 2020