www.iFourWinns.com

I think I winterized my Kohler Genset tonight.. but just wanted to check with the board to see if my method was the 'right way' It has closed cooling (green antifreeze like cars) but uses lake water to cool the exhaust. There is a water muffler and a heat exchanger that anti-freeze needs to run through.

I hooked up freshwater and ran the engine until it was hot, under load, and let it continue to run for about 5 minutes. Shut down, siphon out motor oil and change oil filter. Refill and install new oil filter.

(I treated the gas tank with a double dose of Sta-Bil so running it gave it a chance to circulate the treated gas too).

Restart genset. Let it run for another five or so minutes. This allows the new oil to circulate and the treated gas to enter the carb.

Shut down. Disconnect fresh water from the seacock. Fill container with 2 gallons of pink -50F antifreeze. BUT before I ran it through the genset, I took off both spark plug wires and cranked the genset until a helper told me water stopped coming out of the side. I wanted to get ALL the water out BEFORE running pink stuff through.

THEN I ran antifreeze through, all 2 gallons. Pure pink stuff was coming out the exhaust.

Does that sound like I did it right? I dont want any problems come spring and its my first year with this boat

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

I'd say you nailed it.

But, I do have a couple or five beers down range at this point.

John

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07 Azure AZ200,
Previous boat,
95 278 Vista,
And a lot of others.

Ontario, Canada

Its fine the way you did it but really is not necessary to get all the water out first and it wears out the impeller faster...unless you plan on changing the impeller every year. 2 gallons is more than enough to get all the water out, and make sure you drain the sea water strainer or backfill that with antifreeze also.

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Brian Borchik
The Winds of Cold Springs Harbor Marina
Baldwinsville, NY

Thanks! I did drain the sea strainer by leaving the seacock open and letting it all pour out the bottom of the boat. I left the lid off the strainer and am going to leave it like that for winter layup.

_________________
1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21