Winterization

[rfsod48]

Unfortunately we may not be able to go south for the winter, if I remove the batteries and put antifreeze in the pipes is there anything else I need to do to prepare for a Michigan winter? Can the engine go all winter without being run?

Roland

[manholt]

Flush your toilet, turn off your ice maker before you add the pink stuff.  Don't run the engine unless you can drive 50 miles, anti-gel in fuel tank (full tank)!  Since the last time, 1978, that's all I can think off.  

[jleamont]

Roland, all I’ve ever done;

Pump RV antifreeze through the system until I see pink on the hot and cold sides including washer.
Full tank of fuel prior to parking.

leave coach plugged into electric.

Add Fresh cab and Peppermint oil soaked cotton balls in the interior and basement (to keep mice away). 
I never started the engine in winter therefore I could care less if the fuel gelled. 
When we would get a warm spell (upper 30’s to 40’s) I would run my Aquahot on diesel and run the generator under load, each for an hour once a month. 

 

 

 

[richard5933]

No need to start the engine over the winter. Mine sits every year out behind the barn and starts right up in the spring.

I do my fall maintenance close to the point where I park for the winter, including checking the engine's antifreeze to make sure it has the correct mixture to protect against Wisconsin winters.

You can get dip strips at NAPA for testing your antifreeze. I keep mine mixed so that it's well protected even if temps get down to -30F. In Michigan you probably need to do something similar.

 

[rfsod48]

Thanks all, I was concerned about not starting the engine since I have to remove the batteries because there is no electricity where I store the MotorHome.