winter use of I/O

[daves4.3]

How difficult is it to winterize a 4.3 liter? I am new to I/O motors and I live in Southwest Virginia and would like to use my I/O the same way I did my outboard. Is there a quick or simple way to keep it from freezing? My outboard was always in the water and ready to use but from what I hear pulling my pontoon out for winter is advisable. Thanks

[badmoonrising]

What year is it ? If it's not real cold out, all you have to do is drain the block and manifolds. Newer Mercs have the quick drain system, just pull the blue marked t-handles and both drain into the bilge. If the temps are sustained under 32, you need to winterize. I posted a tutorial for the 3.0 liter, 4.3 is similar:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1006&p=5902&hilit=w ... rial#p5902

[smltooner]

Hi Dave............welcome to the club.
Sorry, I can't be any help with your question, I have an outboard.
Where are you in SW Virginia? We are on Smith Mtn. Lake.
Maybe we can get together sometime.
These are a good bunch of people on this forum.
If they can't answer your questions, no one can.

[layne4]

We usually winterize ours sometime in November, we have the Mercury quick drain but i still winterize with anti-freeze and fog the motor. A heated storage building would solve everything!

[daves4.3]

Its a 2004 Premire and I am on South Holsten Lake. It looks like winter is coming early to the mountians with low temp tonight in the upper 30's. I will look tonight and try to find the drains. The motor sets very far down and visibility is not great. Thanks

[jafo9]

did you buy the 04 of craigslist recently? looked like a nice boat in the ad.

[daves4.3]

Thats the one, picked it up in TN. Great boat and the sellers were great also.