Antifreeze for intercooler RXT 215

[MJN]

Went to canadiantire to get some RV antifreeze. But noticed that anything there (three different brands) specifically said that it does not bond with water and if put with water then water will stay separated and will still freeze. This sounds like a problem. Can anyone recommend an antifreeze brand. Should I use something automotive maybe?

 

[qsilver23t]

I don't know what year your RXT 215 is, but this is from the manual for my 2010 RXT 215:

Recommended Engine Coolant
Always use ethylene-glycol antifreeze
containing corrosion inhibitors specifically
formulated for internal combustion
aluminum engines.
NOTE: When available, it is recommended
to use biodegradable antifreeze
compatible with internal combustion
aluminum engines. This will
contribute to protect the environment.

NOTE: Using a blend of 40% antifreeze
with 60% demineralized water
will improve the cooling efficiency
when watercraft is used in particularly
hot weather and/or hot water condition.
To prevent antifreeze deterioration, always
use the same brand. Never mix
different brands unless cooling system
is completely flushed and refilled. Refer
to an authorized Sea-Doo dealer.

I would assert from this that any brand will do, as long as it meets these criteria. Always check your specific manual first, though.

 

[speedster98]

Oreilly's has Prestone LowTox (environmentally and animal safe) antifreeze. I called up Prestone's tech line and they said it is safe in aluminum engines. I used it last winter in my 2 stroke and had no problems. Im planning on using it in my 4-tec at all times. A cool tip during winterizing is to use a bilge pump to supply water to the engine exhaust system while running it out of the water. Place the pump in a premixed bucket of antifreeze & water. This will protect your exhaust cooling system.

 

[MJN]

Below is a quote from canadiantire website in the Q/A tab for Prestone RV/Plumbing Antifreeze. The answer looks similiar to what is stated on the product label on the jug in store.


Quote from website:
-------------
Is it okay to dilute this product 50-50. Half water, half antifreeze. I don't need -50 C protection in my area.
by butchart - nanaimo bc11 months ago

Answer:
This product should not be diluted. Any water remaining in the lines and drains will cause the product to expand and damage water lines.
---------------

 

[MJN]

Thanks for replies. I should have been more clear about what I was doing. I am just doing winterizing on the 2008 RXT 215 so just pouring into the intercooler/exhaust manifold. Using the stuff specified in the manual would definitely work mainly because if its good enough for the close loop system then it will be good enough for the exhaust system. But there is an envirmonmental factor to deal with.

I will look for that Prestone LowTox stuff.


But I am concerned that other posts here and other forums mention that Plumbing/RV antifreeze is ok to use?

 

[MJN]

I found an interesting section from a 2004 dated Sea-Doo manual that described winterizing procedures.

Following is cut and paste from Sea-Doo manual:
-------------------
ADDITIONAL
RECOMMENDED
PROTECTION
Model(s): All
In cool regions (where freezing point may be
encountered), cooling system should be filled with
pure undiluted antifreeze.
CAUTION: Antifreeze must be fed in cooling
system, otherwise remaining water will freeze.
If antifreezing is not performed adequately,
engine/exhaust system may freeze and cause
severe damage. Always use ethylene glycol
antifreeze containing corrosion inhibitors
specifically recommended for aluminum
engines.
CAUTION: Use only undiluted antifreeze (100%
concentration). The pre-mixed antifreeze
available from Bombardier Recreational
Products Inc. is not suitable for this particular
application. Its concentration will be reduced
when mixed with remaining water trapped in
water jackets. Never use antifreeze for RVs
(recreational vehicles).NOTE: When available, it is recommended to use
biodegradable antifreeze compatible with internal
combustion aluminum engines. This will contribute
to protect the environment.
NOTE: The engine will not have to run during this
operation but should have been ran before, to
exhaust as much water as possible, from cooling
system components.

------------------

 

[Michael211_2000]

The Pink antifreeze is ok for winterizing the intercooler and exhaust system... the trick is to pump it thru the intercooler and exhaust cooling system in general so as to replace the water in there with the pink antifreeze. To do this, get the cheapest electric bilge pump you can find and a ~6 foot piece of waterhose with an end on it that you can screw onto the flush port of your PWC. Lengthen the power leads and put ends on them so you can clip them onto your battery. Take a gallon plastic jug (that's clean inside) and cut it so you can submerge this bilge pump with hose attached in the pink stuff (or use a clean pan if you have one that'll hold at least 1 gallon of antifreeze). Have about 2 gallons of pink antifreeze on hand for this job.

Note: You may want to spray fogging oil into the throttle body while performing the "pink flush" of the system described next... I do! There is a little capped line on top of your 4TEC engine which goes into the throttle body, it's purpose is for you to be able to spray fogging oil into the intake while the engine is running so as to coat the exhaust valves with an oily fog so they won't corrode during the winter. Locate the capped line (it's yellow on my '06 RXT with a little yellow cap) pop the cap off and stick the tube from the fogging oil spray can into the line making sure it will stay put... during the next step, while the bilge pump is pumping pink antifreeze thru the running engine's intercooler and exhaust system, you can spray fogging oil into the intake thru this line for about 30 seconds (it'll make the exhaust smoke pretty good once the spray reaches the cyclinders, which is by design it makes for a fog of oil in the exhaust to coat everything).

So now, with the waterhose from the bilge pump attached to the flush port of your watercraft, start your engine and THEN connect the bilge leads to your battery so that the pump begins pumping the antifreeze into the flush port of your Seadoo. As the container get's low on antifreeze add more from the 2nd gallon of antifreeze till the discharge of water out your exhaust turns pinkish (should take most of the 2 gallons to accomplish this). If you want be spraying fogging oil into the intake while the engine is running and pink antifreeze is flowing into the system. Disconnect the bilge pump and turn off your engine once all of the 2 gallons of antifreeze have been pumped thru the system. You're now done with this part or winterizing!

Don't forget to pull your spark plugs and spray fogging oil into each cylinder (HOLD the red spray tube of the fogging oil can with your other hand while spraying so that it doesn't pop off and fall down into the spark plug hole!!!!). Best to go back with brand new spark plugs at this time, then dry-crank (holding WOT) for 15 seconds or so to spread the oil around inside the cylinders. Now change your engine oil and oil filter as well (it should be changed at least once a year no matter how many hours you ran the engine).

Once fully winterized, don't start the engine again till next boating season!!!

Disconnect the ground battery terminal (or you may want to entirely remove the battery and take it into a temp controlled building for the winter in northern areas... here in Texas we don't get that cold for that long so I leave my battery in the hull but disconnected from the electrical system). Finally cover and store the SeaDoo for the winter, it'll be just fine now. Occassionally on pretty dryer days take the cover off and remove the seats for a few hours to let the hull "breath" (so it can get fresh air inside the hull and any moisture out of there... I try to do this every 2 weeks or so for 1 afternoon at least).

Every 3 years drain your engine's closed-loop cooling system and refill with fresh GREEN antifreeze (available whereever PWC's or ATV's are sold, any brand for PWC or ATV use will work just fine). Keep in mind when refilled the system will need to "burp" some air pockets out so fill to full on the bottle initially then check after first ~30 minutes of riding and refill to hot mark on bottle (the bottle will go almost empty as the system "burps" out trapped air pockets that 1st ~30 minutes of riding).

- Michael

Went to canadiantire to get some RV antifreeze. But noticed that anything there (three different brands) specifically said that it does not bond with water and if put with water then water will stay separated and will still freeze. This sounds like a problem. Can anyone recommend an antifreeze brand. Should I use something automotive maybe?

 

[MJN]

Great info. Thanks. The only problem I have with it is that the pink stuff is Ethylene Glycol based. So the first lake you put it in going to get two gallons of pure poison.

A couple brands of the biodegradable stuff that should work just as good:
1) Prestone LowTox (recomended by speedster98)
2) Sierra Antifreeze
These are Propylene Glycol based.

The Pink antifreeze is ok for winterizing the intercooler and exhaust system... the trick is to pump it thru the intercooler and exhaust cooling system in general so as to replace the water in there with the pink antifreeze.

 

[Coastiejoe]

I noticed today that the manual says to use 100% antifreexe in the intercooler as most antifreezes don't bond with residual water and it will dillute it even if it does bond as it is all but impossble to remove all the water from the intercooler...

 

[Michael211_2000]

I de-winterize in the spring, pumping fresh well water thru the flush port until it comes out the exhaust clear once we're past any freezes and before I head to the lake with it. The pink RV antifreeze is supposed to be environmentally friendly as I understood it... I don't have a gallon of what I used last year to verify right now, we're nowhere near freezing here yet I still plan 2-3 more outings with my SeaDoo.

I'll be sure and check the pink stuff's label when I go to Academy to get 2 jugs next month... I have no desire to allow my SeaDoo to freeze-up nor to harm the lake where I love going boating at!

- Michael