Volvo Penta Closed Cooling Winterization

Newbie question and I am sorry if it has been asked: I have a brand new Penta 350 with closed cooling and easy drain. I can’t get a straight answer from any technician or the internet, or even Volvo, on whether something has to be done to winterize the engine in addition to performing the easy drain function. One tech tells me you still have to winterize the closed cooling system because it mixes with raw water which i seem to think is completely wrong. Bottom line, do I have to do anything to winterize this engine other than allow all the raw water to drain using the Easy Drain system on the new Volvo?

Comments

  • mattiemattie Member Posts: 1,322 ✭✭✭✭
    https://www.volvogroup.com/en-en/news/2017/may/boating-magazine-names-volvo-penta-easy-drain.html

    Looks like a pretty slick new system. There’s a link in the article to a YouTube video.
    The closed coolant system doesn’t mix with raw seawater. It has coolant in it all the time.

    You just have to do the easy drain. Double check with your VPenta manual.
    246BR, 276BR, H310BR current
  • PickleRickPickleRick Member Posts: 4,333 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Does he my chance mean the heat exchanger where the raw water cools the engine coolant?  
  • Bassman1282Bassman1282 Member Posts: 8
    Does he my chance mean the heat exchanger where the raw water cools the engine coolant?  
    I thought the same thing but I’m pretty sure raw water doesn’t interact with the coolant in the heat exhanger either. And pants says in their videos that easy drain drains All raw water from the engine. And I think that includes the heat exchanger. 
  • Aqua_AuraAqua_Aura Member Posts: 2,702 ✭✭✭✭✭
    This should drain everything as it opens the bottom area so everything will drain. 

    I don't know what type of tech would tell you raw water mixes with antifreeze in the system. There must have been a miscommunication somewhere. 
    1997 Bayliner 3988
  • Aqua_AuraAqua_Aura Member Posts: 2,702 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 2020
    You could use the air connection we discussed in this thread to hook into the Volvo hose connector in the engine bay to quickly blown out the raw water side. 

    https://rinkerboats.vanillacommunities.com/discussion/12050/winterize-with-air-compressor

    1997 Bayliner 3988
  • PickleRickPickleRick Member Posts: 4,333 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Does he my chance mean the heat exchanger where the raw water cools the engine coolant?  
    I thought the same thing but I’m pretty sure raw water doesn’t interact with the coolant in the heat exhanger either. And pants says in their videos that easy drain drains All raw water from the engine. And I think that includes the heat exchanger. 


    Raw water doesn't "mix" in the heat exchanger but it does enter one portion of the heat exchanger and cools the fresh water portion.
  • Bassman1282Bassman1282 Member Posts: 8
    Aqua_Aura said:
    This should drain everything as it opens the bottom area so everything will drain. 

    I don't know what type of tech would tell you raw water mixes with antifreeze in the system. There must have been a miscommunication somewhere. 
    Frankly I think it’s the type of tech who wants to charge me to winterize my boat. 
  • Handymans342Handymans342 Member Posts: 10,375 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My yanmars were easy. 4 plugs for fresh water and leave the antifreeze in the engine. Done
  • Aqua_AuraAqua_Aura Member Posts: 2,702 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Well the easy drain is easier then that Handy so 😋.....I think it just seems to simple that it's leading them to believe there must be something else. 

    1997 Bayliner 3988
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