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I have a 2001 35' Express with 370 HP Cummins. The owners manual says to drain the mufflers to winterize. I intend to do this before I run my 5 or 6 gallons of antifreeze through the system (better safe than sorry). I can't see a drain plug from the engine room. Do I need to crawl over and get closer and feel for a drain plug or do I need to remove an exhaust hose? Appreciate the help.
Rick
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Home Port: Stuart, FL
Vessel Info: 1988 36' Convertible with new 8.1 Crusaders.
Exceptional condition, inside, outside, bilges and engines.
When you run the 5 or 6 gallons of antifreeze through the system you will have winterized the mufflers if you see antifreeze coming out the exhaust. You are in salt water, that's hard to freeze. You do not need a liquid antifreeze to prevent damage. A slush will not crack anything. In my 10 years at Pt. Judith, R.I. I never drained my mufflers. Capt. George
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Home Port: Tierra Verde Florida
Vessel Info: 2002 38 Open w/Cummins 6cta's 8.3 450 hp
I agree with Capt. George...all the winters I lived in Connecticut, I never drained a muffler. HOWEVER, you must make sure that the antifreeze comes out the exhaust before shutting the engine or generator down. Antifreeze is cheap compared to engines, so don't skimp on it.
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Vessel Info: 36 Open Hardtop, 52 Express Hardtop
Same here. 10 years and I never drained them. Just antifreeze. Components are fiberglass from what I know, so there is no danger of corrosion.
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Thanks guys, that is exactly what I wanted to hear. Used this method for 20 years with my Detriots and Chris Craft mufflers, but they were more steight mufflers, not the big monsterous canisters Tiara uses.
