winterize my 2000 GTX

[Texasbbq]

O.k. I'm a new jet ski owner this year and its been a blast! I'm wanting to winterize my ski and wanted to ask a few questions.
1. Being from Texas it doesn't stay that cold for long but we do have a few freezes every year. Do I need to add antifreeze to the system? If so what are your recommendations for a pump to use so I can pump it thru the water inlet with a hose?

2. What I read was all I needed to do was fog the pistons, and put fuel stabilizer in the tank. And run it thru the gas lines. And maybe antifreeze... Anything else?

Thanks for any advice. I don't want to take it somewhere to do something that I think I can do myself. Oh by the way its a direct injection. 951 I think. Thanks again!

 

[Wes-1993]

2000gtx? Is it a Millenium edition?

 

[Texasbbq]

Yes, its the millennium edition.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

If you want to pump the antifreeze through you can put the antifreeze into a 5gallon bucket and drop a large bilge pump into the bucket to use as a pump I use a 750GPH or larger bilge pump.

pick RV antifreeze is not toxic, -50 degree type unmixed with water. That's what I use b/c it's okay to splash onto the ground and in the lake.

The other option is to pull a hose or two off the engine and using a funnel just pour the antifreeze in. I do it this way for onesy-twosy jobs away from the shop (like at on sight winterizing at the customer's home).

In all cases, locate the lower block drain tube and pinch it off with hemostats while feeding the antifreeze in or else you'll waste most of it b/c it will be draining out the bottom onto the ground as you put it in. Then remove the hemostats and the antifreeze in block will drain onto the ground.

I think using the large bilge pump in a 5gallon bucket is the slick way. At the shop, I use a 55 gallon drum cut in half and half full of anitfreeze on a wheeled cart that I roll under the back of ski with a large bilge pump in the bottom and all the antifreeze being circulated comes out the back of the ski and returns to the 55 gallon drum sitting below the ski. Even so, it's impossible not to spill some antifreeze on the ground and into the environment so I use the pink non-tox stuff for potable water systems. Never know when someone's thirsty dog might happen by for a sweet drink, or something like that. Plus the pink stuff washes down well with a hose, better than that nasty ethylene glycol automotive radiator antifreeze that will make a dog or cat sick.

 

[CReynoldsMIZ]

http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?67608-1996-XP-Winterization

This should pretty much be the exact same for a 951, I just use a funnel and a hose. Way cheaper and does the exact same thing as the pump.

 

[kardoctor]

There is utube video that cover that really good info

 

[Texasbbq]

Cool thanks for some advice! I'm looked at some bilge pumps online and they aren't really that expensive only about 35$. This next week I'm going to go by Northern Tool and check out what they got. Other than flushing with antifreeze, spaying the pistons with fogging oil, and putting fuel stabilizer in is there any thing else I need to do?

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Yep, you could probably even put the bucket of antifreeze under the jet pump and catch a good bit of the antifreeze as it's being circulated.

 

[- BiRkS_]

I do mobile winterizing. I use a cheap 10$ high flow drill pump and an 18V cordless dewalt drill. I do about 35 boats/seadoos a year and it works great. I normally buy a new pump every other year or so just to avoid it failing. It supplies enough water to run through seadoo's and alpha/bravo merc legs, but not good for an aux water pump with through-hulls on larger boats. For those I disconnect the hose off the through hull and stick it in a 4 gal jug of pink stuff and run the engine.

For your GTX, you will use about 1/4-1/3 gallon of antifreeze. I start the ski up, rev a little to get any residual water out, then shut it down. I hook up my drill pump to the flush port and get it primed. Then remove the airbox to get access to the carbs to fog. Fire the machine up and let it idle, then run the drill pump. Pump until it comes out of the jet pump, not just the exhaust. Once it goes through, quickly fog through the carbs until it starts to smoke out the back, then shut it down. Re-install the airbox, shut off fuel, remove battery. Check jet pump oil and lube driveshaft bearing. Your ski is now winterized. Oh and stabilizer in the gas. I sometimes have the customer get some and put it in on their last ride and work it through the system.

 

[Texasbbq]

Its a direct injection so no carb. So I was thinking of first putting stabilizer on gas, then pump antifreeze thru the water hose connection port until antifreeze comes out the back, remove the plugs and disconnect from the wires, cover the plug wires with a towel and spray the top of the piston with fogging oil and hit the start button a few times in the process. Spary plugs, and put back in. Does all that sound right? Also you said to service the jet pump. Do I need to remove it and change oil? If so I might be in over my head! I don't know how to do that. Thanks!

 

[- BiRkS_]

I would still try to fog through the air intake. Reason being, you want to lube up the crank bearings as well when you fog the engine and remove any condesation that may be in there. As an added bonus you can fog through the cylinders but you cant rely solely on that. especially for a 951. Bottom ends are the weakest link.

 

[GTX RFI]

Hi There, can you post a picture of the line that should be pinched off when winterizing with a pump