Forgot to tilt engine down prior to overnight deep freeze

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Author Topic:   Forgot to tilt engine down prior to overnight deep freeze

Flipper posted 12-06-2009 04:48 PM ET (US)
I tilted my engine down this morning to find a block of ice sitting in the exhaust cavity when I took the prop off. There doesn't seem to be any cracking of the gear case but who knows what's happened internally. Has anyone had this happen and suffered damage to anything?
Phil T posted 12-06-2009 05:19 PM ET (US)
I highly doubt it.
Damage is only caused when there is no room for the water to expand when it freezes.
Do you expect a day of sun and +1C (above freezing) soon? That will allow the ice to melt and dry out.
BobL posted 12-06-2009 06:43 PM ET (US)
I see boats in winter storage at boat yards all the time that keep the engines at an angle that water could collect in the gear case. If freezing water were a problem I think boats yards would be more careful. I would never take the chance with my engines and if I could not lower my lower unit to make it drain rainwater, I would either cover it up or put marine/RV antifreeze in it to keep ice from forming. I think your gear case will be fine.
Flipper posted 12-07-2009 12:27 AM ET (US)
Thanks Bob and Phil, I feel better - I usually am particular about tipping the motor down after pulling the boat, so when I saw this I wondered...I am towing the boat from Canada to Florida for a holiday next week after all!
weekendwarrior posted 12-07-2009 01:23 PM ET (US)
Keep an eye on the weather, it has been rainy here lately (S. FL). Not sure what the next week forecast is. Have a safe trip!
Jerry Townsend posted 12-07-2009 08:53 PM ET (US)
Flipper - you will be alright. I have left my 115 Johnson tilted during some winters where it got down to probably around zero - and have not had any problems.
A bit of ice technology. The maximum expansion during the freezing process occurs at -4F. If the housing/case/what-ever doesn't rupture at -4F - it will not rupture. --- Jerry/Idaho
Flipper posted 12-08-2009 01:42 AM ET (US)
Cool Jerry, I didn't know that about the peak temp. for expansion. More piece of mind!
John from Madison CT posted 12-08-2009 08:42 AM ET (US)
Sometimes I wonder if the "tilted engine" concept for the winter is a myth.
Just wondering if anyone has any first hand knowledge of that ice destroying the propshaft seals.
Buckda posted 12-08-2009 09:37 AM ET (US)
Nope. The area is "open" to the atmosphere, with plenty of space for the ice to expand up and out. Lots of boats here in the upper Midwest leave outdrives tilted all winter where snowmelt and rain can collect - and definitely freeze. We usually get a few days of solid below O degrees F with highs in the teens or even single digits.
The concerns about ice in the gearcase refer to the possibility of water INSIDE the gearcase housing, which is sealed and filled with oil. If that water freezes, it *Could* expand and rupture the seals or in the most severe cases, crack the gearcase housing.
If your temps just dipped below freezing over one night, it is unlikely that you have any damage anywhere due to freezing water.
You need a solid freeze - at least a day or two - to really worry about damage.
sosmerc posted 12-10-2009 08:05 PM ET (US)
We are experiencing unusually cold temps here in the Pacific Northwest.....conditions have stayed below freezing for days now here in Belfair...and are expected to continue cold for the next week.
I'm not taking any chances, my engines are left in the down position and that's the recommendation I'm sticking with. And yes, I have seen gearcases with cracks that I suspect were caused by freezing temps.

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Author	Topic: Forgot to tilt engine down prior to overnight deep freeze
Flipper	posted 12-06-2009 04:48 PM ET (US) I tilted my engine down this morning to find a block of ice sitting in the exhaust cavity when I took the prop off. There doesn't seem to be any cracking of the gear case but who knows what's happened internally. Has anyone had this happen and suffered damage to anything?
Phil T	posted 12-06-2009 05:19 PM ET (US) I highly doubt it. Damage is only caused when there is no room for the water to expand when it freezes. Do you expect a day of sun and +1C (above freezing) soon? That will allow the ice to melt and dry out.
BobL	posted 12-06-2009 06:43 PM ET (US) I see boats in winter storage at boat yards all the time that keep the engines at an angle that water could collect in the gear case. If freezing water were a problem I think boats yards would be more careful. I would never take the chance with my engines and if I could not lower my lower unit to make it drain rainwater, I would either cover it up or put marine/RV antifreeze in it to keep ice from forming. I think your gear case will be fine.
Flipper	posted 12-07-2009 12:27 AM ET (US) Thanks Bob and Phil, I feel better - I usually am particular about tipping the motor down after pulling the boat, so when I saw this I wondered...I am towing the boat from Canada to Florida for a holiday next week after all!
weekendwarrior	posted 12-07-2009 01:23 PM ET (US) Keep an eye on the weather, it has been rainy here lately (S. FL). Not sure what the next week forecast is. Have a safe trip!
Jerry Townsend	posted 12-07-2009 08:53 PM ET (US) Flipper - you will be alright. I have left my 115 Johnson tilted during some winters where it got down to probably around zero - and have not had any problems. A bit of ice technology. The maximum expansion during the freezing process occurs at -4F. If the housing/case/what-ever doesn't rupture at -4F - it will not rupture. --- Jerry/Idaho
Flipper	posted 12-08-2009 01:42 AM ET (US) Cool Jerry, I didn't know that about the peak temp. for expansion. More piece of mind!
John from Madison CT	posted 12-08-2009 08:42 AM ET (US) Sometimes I wonder if the "tilted engine" concept for the winter is a myth. Just wondering if anyone has any first hand knowledge of that ice destroying the propshaft seals.
Buckda	posted 12-08-2009 09:37 AM ET (US) Nope. The area is "open" to the atmosphere, with plenty of space for the ice to expand up and out. Lots of boats here in the upper Midwest leave outdrives tilted all winter where snowmelt and rain can collect - and definitely freeze. We usually get a few days of solid below O degrees F with highs in the teens or even single digits. The concerns about ice in the gearcase refer to the possibility of water INSIDE the gearcase housing, which is sealed and filled with oil. If that water freezes, it Could expand and rupture the seals or in the most severe cases, crack the gearcase housing. If your temps just dipped below freezing over one night, it is unlikely that you have any damage anywhere due to freezing water. You need a solid freeze - at least a day or two - to really worry about damage.
sosmerc	posted 12-10-2009 08:05 PM ET (US) We are experiencing unusually cold temps here in the Pacific Northwest.....conditions have stayed below freezing for days now here in Belfair...and are expected to continue cold for the next week. I'm not taking any chances, my engines are left in the down position and that's the recommendation I'm sticking with. And yes, I have seen gearcases with cracks that I suspect were caused by freezing temps.