Lakeside Marine Two-Step Winterize Method
Lakeside Marine and Motorsports utilizes a two-step winterize method which starts with adding fuel stabilizer to the fuel tank first. We do this because while most service facilities do this right before they leave our method allows the stabilizer to spreading throughout the entire tank as well as get drawn into the fuel line – stabilizing not only the tank itself but the fuel lines, filters, injector rails, injectors, carburetor bowls – the ENTIRE fuel system. After stabilizing the fuel we start and run the engine(s) bringing them up to operating temperature. This ensures the full cooling system is “open” when the antifreeze is added.
We have discovered over the thousands of engines we have winterized that this method also significantly reduces impeller failure on spring start up. When the system is drained and the rubber impellers sit dry for months without moving the sudden cranking of them in the spring often shears blades off instantly causing overheats on the first moments of the first boat ride – not a way we want to start our boating year! We are proud to stand behind our quality work and ensure our winterizations safely protect your boating investment – both your equipment and your families time on the water!
We offer a few different packages here but remember – all our winterizations are done the same. The packages are just some different service packages to some of the most common things performed at the end of the boating season with some savings built in versus getting these done ala carte. If you need further services we would price them as usual and then apply a discount according to the level of service offered.
After the motor reaches operating temperature, our technicians remove all brass plugs, quick drain / blue plugs, quick drains, etc., (whatever style of drain your engine has) and drains the exhaust, block, manifold, etc. of all the “sea water” – meaning as much as possible that could freeze. Every single engine configuration has a “low” spot that will hold at least some water (another reason we only offer one method of winterization) so we re-install all the plugs and flush from the drive / lower unit intake up with antifreeze until the exhaust discharges the tell-tale pink meaning the antifreeze has backfilled the entire cooling system and is now overflowing out meaning the entire system is now protected.