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First time Cobalt R5 owner. We put about 42 hours on our boat this season. I’ve already performed the Volvo Penta quick drain feature. Is there anything else you veteran R series owners would recommend I do to prepare for the winter or should I just bite the bullet and have my dealer do their “complete winterization” (whatever that means) procedure.

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=48

Read some of these old threads on winterizing.

If u r in Florida I think you r fine. Anywhere else

ajcampen wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2019 1:49 pm viewtopic.php?f=27&t=48

Read some of these old threads on winterizing.

If u r in Florida I think you r fine. Anywhere else

Kentucky. You still need to winterize your boat.

I would recommend taking the batteries off the boat and keeping them in your home where they won't experience the extreme cold.

Norris_Boating wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2019 7:31 pm I would recommend taking the batteries off the boat and keeping them in your home where they won't experience the extreme cold.

Keeping the battery charged over winter can also add a year or two to its life. There are lots of options, but many people use the Battery Tender (now they have a full line, including multi-battery trickle chargers):

http://products.batterytender.com/Chargers/

John

I am curious for some advice here as well, since this is our first winter with our 2018 R5. We are in NY.

There is a lot of conflicting info out there even on these boards depending on what model/year the boat is. We plan to remove the batteries as well. But some say take the impeller out, change the gear oil, change engine oil/filter...

jalf wrote: Tue Oct 01, 2019 11:58 am I am curious for some advice here as well, since this is our first winter with our 2018 R5. We are in NY.

There is a lot of conflicting info out there even on these boards depending on what model/year the boat is. We plan to remove the batteries as well. But some say take the impeller out, change the gear oil, change engine oil/filter...

.
Hey jalf. Welcome to the Cobaltchat forum. So glad you found us!

What make and model engine do you have? There are two services you are talking about.

1 Winterizing is one service to mainly protect your boat over the winter from freeze damage and fuel going bad.

2. Engine maintenance— based upon a service schedule in your owner’s manual. This maintenence is normally accomplished after so many hours or after a certain amount of time.

Many folks combine their service schedule maintenance with the winterizing service to accomplish it all at once. Thus the apparent contradictions on what needs completed.


If you would be able to provide a little more info, we may be able to provide a little more insight. Is this a new 2018 you purchased or used? Any service accomplished yet? Again, make and model would be helpful.

Btw, any pics of your Cobalt?

Again, welcome aboard mate!

.

If you r comfortable doing things yourself it can be done easily. If you screw up then you r buy new engine

Also, are you going to do it right or cut corners. You need to mix gas and oil to fog the engine for storage as you put antifreeze in. Half my issue was making the storge tank and finding the fittings to change my fuel system to take fuel line off and attach second fuel tank. I have a thread somewhere about it

Thanks for the reply. Not looking to hijack this thread, but hopefully responses will help everyone.

We have a 2018 R5 (Volvo penta DP 350), purchased used about 6 weeks ago with about 60hrs. The seller was the original dealer who performed all the scheduled service and maintenance. The boat was basically new when they delivered it.

He felt that the quick drain system, while nice, was not sufficient to winterize. But he did not elaborate. Was also told not to fog the engine as this is a newer engine model.

We are happy to do this ourselves and of course want to "do it right", given what is at stake. I read the Volvo manual when we received the boat and plan to re-read it. Not looking to cut corners, and have a professional who is available to us to do the maintenance and service for us when the boat comes out. From reading these helpful forums, I suspect that this can be accomplished easily if appropriate attention to detail is followed.

Thanks again.

P.S. Pictures to follow.

jalf wrote: Wed Oct 02, 2019 9:37 am Thanks for the reply. Not looking to hijack this thread, but hopefully responses will help everyone.

We have a 2018 R5 (Volvo penta DP 350), purchased used about 6 weeks ago with about 60hrs. The seller was the original dealer who performed all the scheduled service and maintenance. The boat was basically new when they delivered it.

He felt that the quick drain system, while nice, was not sufficient to winterize. But he did not elaborate. Was also told not to fog the engine as this is a newer engine model.

We are happy to do this ourselves and of course want to "do it right", given what is at stake. I read the Volvo manual when we received the boat and plan to re-read it. Not looking to cut corners, and have a professional who is available to us to do the maintenance and service for us when the boat comes out. From reading these helpful forums, I suspect that this can be accomplished easily if appropriate attention to detail is followed.

Thanks again.

P.S. Pictures to follow.

Does Volvo have a customer service phone number? I would ask them but I would assume they will say fog it. Quick drain is NOT sufficient

Our first season with new Volvo engine too.
Our dealer makes it sound like all we have to do is drain, run engine maybe five seconds, and disconnect batteries.
Now I'm wondering also.

Krob1114 wrote: Thu Oct 03, 2019 4:13 am Our first season with new Volvo engine too.
Our dealer makes it sound like all we have to do is drain, run engine maybe five seconds, and disconnect batteries.
Now I'm wondering also.

DO NOT run the engine after you drain the block, it will fry your impeller in seconds.

In addition to the annual maintenance recommended by Volvo Penta, The owner's manual says this:

Page 153:

Long-Term Storage

For long term storage (more than two months), we
recommend that you have your Volvo Penta dealer
“winterize” your engine and drive. Your dealer will
provide the proper servicing and maintenance to
ensure that your equipment is treated and stored
properly.
Should you decide to winterize the engine and drive
yourself, carry out the following procedures, in the
order in which they are listed below:
Fuel system treatment as described in Preparing
the Fuel System for Storage, page 141.
Check coolant for proper fill level and freeze
protection level. See the Service and
Maintenance Manual.
Drain water from raw water side of engine cooling
system. See Engine Shutdown, page 94.
Pump the bilge dry and air out engine
compartment.
Store battery as recommended by manufacturer.


Page 141

Preparing the Fuel System for
Storage
If the boat will not be used for two months or longer,
the boat and engine must be prepared for storage.
Both the fuel in the tank(s) and the engine must be
treated with a fuel treatment (stabilizer) that counters
the negative effects of ethanol-blended fuels.
Use Volvo Penta Ethanol Fuel Treatment(4) to treat the
fuel in the tank(s). Add the treatment according to the
instructions on the label.
During storage the engine’s internal components must
be protected from corrosion. This is done by
introducing a Fuel Storage Mixture in to the engine.
Fuel treatment and two-cycle motor oil are mixed in
gasoline and then run through the engine. The oil in
the mixture coats the inside of the engine and
components with a light protective film.
See your Volvo Penta dealer to have the fuel system
and engine treated with the Fuel Storage Mixture
whenever the boat and engine will be stored for more
than two months.
The Fuel Storage Mixture is also covered in the Service
and Maintenance Manual.

Page 94

Draining the Engine
This procedure covers draining the raw (sea) water
from the heat exchanger and seawater pump. Draining
these components also drains the exhaust manifolds.
This is usually done to prevent damage to these parts
during freezing temperatures.
NOTICE! Risk of freeze damage to engine
components. If the water is not drained, during freezing
conditions expanding ice will crack and damage these
components.
NOTICE! If the engine is run with these damaged
components major engine damage is possible.
Draining the coolant (antifreeze) from the engine is
only done as part of scheduled maintenance. Do not
drain the engine block for storage or freeze protection.
Easy Drain
All engines covered by this manual are equipped with
Volvo Penta’s one point drain system; Easy Drain.
The system ties all of the engine drain points together
into one drain manifold, that is actuated by a handle on
top of the engine.
The handle is located on the port-side front corner of
the engine, behind the heat exchanger.
Easy Drain can be used with the boat in the water or
on land (trailer or storage rack).
Engine Shutdown
94

BobRae99 wrote: Thu Oct 03, 2019 9:56 am In addition to the annual maintenance recommended by Volvo Penta, The owner's manual says this:

Page 153:

Long-Term Storage

For long term storage (more than two months), we
recommend that you have your Volvo Penta dealer
“winterize” your engine and drive. Your dealer will
provide the proper servicing and maintenance to
ensure that your equipment is treated and stored
properly.
Should you decide to winterize the engine and drive
yourself, carry out the following procedures, in the
order in which they are listed below:
Fuel system treatment as described in Preparing
the Fuel System for Storage, page 141.
Check coolant for proper fill level and freeze
protection level. See the Service and
Maintenance Manual.
Drain water from raw water side of engine cooling
system. See Engine Shutdown, page 94.
Pump the bilge dry and air out engine
compartment.
Store battery as recommended by manufacturer.


Page 141

Preparing the Fuel System for
Storage
If the boat will not be used for two months or longer,
the boat and engine must be prepared for storage.
Both the fuel in the tank(s) and the engine must be
treated with a fuel treatment (stabilizer) that counters
the negative effects of ethanol-blended fuels.
Use Volvo Penta Ethanol Fuel Treatment(4) to treat the
fuel in the tank(s). Add the treatment according to the
instructions on the label.
During storage the engine’s internal components must
be protected from corrosion. This is done by
introducing a Fuel Storage Mixture in to the engine.
Fuel treatment and two-cycle motor oil are mixed in
gasoline and then run through the engine. The oil in
the mixture coats the inside of the engine and
components with a light protective film.
See your Volvo Penta dealer to have the fuel system
and engine treated with the Fuel Storage Mixture
whenever the boat and engine will be stored for more
than two months.
The Fuel Storage Mixture is also covered in the Service
and Maintenance Manual.

Page 94

This pertains to pg 94. To do it properly, you must disconnect the fuel line to the fuel tank right before the fuel filter and hook up a secondary storage tank. The older boat guys (pre-catalytic converter) advocate disconnecting and pouring the fuel mix into the fuel filter and running. With cats, if you run dry, you can supposedly do a lot of damage. Therefore you need to make an external fuel tank and connect. I found it hard to get the fuel hose off the barb connection and found a spin on spin off solution. You ca. Buy the one below for $100 or make your own. I redid the fittings to spin on spin off and it is simple to attach the external fuel tank now

Good tip.