[Public-List] winterizing the atomic 4 engine block

[Kris Coward]

As an aside, the inside diameter of that hose is about the same as the inside diameter of the mouth of a pop bottle. Back when I still had an A4, I got myself a length of clear hose with an OD that matched that ID, duct taped one end into the mouth a 2L pop bottle with the bottom cut off, and would just slide the other end into the intake line where the hose barb had been. Apart from being doable entirely with scrap and trash, this also allowed me to set up the mouth of the funnel close enough to the engine controls in the cockpit that I could shut off the engine with one hand while still pouring antifreeze with the other ;)

Afterwards I'd just let any surplus antifreeze drain into the bilge. Having seen one A30's keel rupture in the winter (and having heard of another), I've made a point of pouring a healthy quantity of antifreeze into the bilge whenever laying Candy Cane up on the hard, just in case of a leak in the fibreglass between the keel capsule and the bilge (which is my leading theory for why those keels burst).

Cheers,
-Kris

P.S. on the topic of winterizing A30s, my step-daughter hasn't done a damn thing to winterize Candy Cane thus far, so she's back on the market now, if anyone's looking to buy.

-- 
Kris Coward
https://unripe.melon.org/


On Thursday, November 16th, 2023 at 12:10, Gordon Laco via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:


> Sure… just pull the intake hose off the hose barb on the sea cock. That works fine, but is more bother than having the T fitting.
> 
> G
> 
> 
> Gordon Laco
> www.gordonlaco.com
> 705-527-9612
> 
> 
> > On Nov 16, 2023, at 12:09 PM, dterrell1 at charter.net wrote:
> > 
> > Gordon, Thanks. Do you have any thoughts on doing this if you do not have a t fitting?
> > 
> > David
> > 
> > From: "Gordon Laco" mainstay at csolve.net
> > To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" public-list at lists.alberg30.org
> > Cc: dterrell1 at charter.net
> > Sent: Thu, Nov 16 2023 09:35 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Public-List] winterizing the atomic 4 engine block
> > Hello David,
> > 
> > I put one of those T fittings in the intake hose of my A4’s engine. I bought it at a car supply store - they’re used to flushing lines in automotive cooling systems. The cap on the T fits garden hose ends, so it was easy to put one of those on a meter of hose. When winterizing, I put the T on, close the intake sea cock then put the end of the meter of hose in jugs of non-toxic antifreeze. You’ll be amazed at how fast the engine’s cooling pump slurps up the anti-freeze.
> > 
> > Once pink anti-freeze is evident coming out the exhaust, I shut off the engine (after shooting ‘fogging oil’ into the air filter) and open the various little brass cocks I’ve installed in the drain plugs on the manifold and engine block.
> > 
> > I have four of those short hoses with garden hose ends. Why four? Because three times I’ve not been able to find the damned thing and scrambled to make up another one when I came to winterize the engine. Then the old ones came to light again...
> > 
> > Gord
> > #426 Surprise
> > 
> > Gordon Laco
> > www.gordonlaco.com http://www.gordonlaco.com/
> > 705-527-9612
> > 
> > On Nov 16, 2023, at 11:19 AM, David Terrell via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org mailto:public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> > Over the years I have always had someone else winterize my atomic 4
> > engine, Now that there has been a management change in our boatyard, I
> > think it is good idea to learn how to do it. So what I would like some
> > precise direction about how to do it. I have the general idea, but need
> > the details on this procedure.
> > 
> > While looking at Moyer's maintenance manual, on page 9-2 I found a
> > reference to a "t" fitting that part of the process and something that
> > should be installed prior to the winterizing process. I know what it
> > looks like, but Moyer does not sell them and I did not find one on
> > Defender. Some directions on where to get one or if one even needs
> > one. Since I do not have one, it can not be necessary as the engine has
> > been winterized for 50 plus years.
> > 
> > Anyway, I welcome any help I can get.
> > 
> > Thanks David, 432
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