Slightly off topic, but still garage worthy. I am winterizing my boat. I used RV anti-freeze. It requires the subject tool to properly read the coolant ability.

This is the 1st time I have winterized in a certain manner and the "elders" on the forum I go to for the boat say to measure the stuff. They are so picky. They don't think I did it right.

They tell me the mini turkey baster with little balls in it ain't gonna work.

The damn tool is expensive, for a 1 time use thing that's for sure. I have asked a few mechanic friends and no one uses them anymore.

Look familiar?


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Anyone? I'll send you a UPS label, you find a box, and I'll send it right back.

Winterizing?

http://www.amazon.com/b?node=393272011

Al Gore is from TN, but we have not had the GLUT of warming that he has made so much money preaching about.

So yes, I am protecting my investment for when we have multiple days below 32*F. My old I/O runabout had several "accidents" thru the winter.

Freeze plugs pop, power steering cooler popped a few times, exhaust manifolds crack. It ain't new, but it is mine.

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5 minutes is all I need. $20 for five minutes? That is like a rate at a strip club.

20 bucks is the new 5 bucks nowadays. Grin and bear it.

Take a sample into your favorite menhanic to b tested?

Get a short piece of hose and a funnel.
Put the hose ok the suction cup water inlet things
Pour the antifreeze into the funnel, into the motor until it pours out the exhaust.
5 gallons will do it.

It is not a tuff process, and you aren't too far off.

But an inboard engine does not like water to be forced inside, it prefers to SUCK it up.
The engine needs to run, so the battery needs to be charged. So I have a rig with a 7 gallon bucket and the inlet hose.
A couple of screens to check, petcocks to cleanout, fog the carb, have a beer and your done.

I did find a mechanic that will help... not local, but the sample will be sent.

Too late I'm guessing but many machine shops use these to test the coolant of the CNC machines.

Couldn't hurt to ask if you have some local shop

I FORGOT TO POST THE RESULTS HERE SO.....

Results of the refractometer are as follows:

1.036 specific gravity

46%ppt

= what temp to freeze?

I understand the RV anti-freeze I used had an SG of 1.039 so would that be 99.X% of -50* or -49.9*F? should be fine with GLOBAL WARMING and all.

Thanks to TimothyND... he was my tester. Even sent me a picture.

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What kills me is the reply from the expert that said i did not winterize my boat properly. 1. He said that RV anti-freeze is not supposed to be diluted. My reply: 99.9% pure....JEEZE MAN!

and 2. "Well I hope you got good coverage in all the lower nooks and cranies". JEEZE MAN! You just can't please some people.