Winterizing

[Madbigdog2003]

I do alot of mechanic work at a boat shop, and the number one mistake is running ethenal in an outboard motor. (Use Premium Fuel only). Run Stabil year round, then when its time for winterizing you are ready. Check and change your lower unit oil, change your 4 stroke motor oil and filter. If you choose to fog your motor, you my do so though the air intake as it is running on the muffs. Make sure it is smoking good and cut the motor. Grease the motor. Make sure to leave the motor down in order for the motor to drain the water.

Should be good to go. Shrink wrapping your boat is also a great idea (only $10/foot at Jeffs Outboards). Protect your boat, and prevents the heavy snow from sitting on your tarp and tearing it.

 

[all4eyes]

anyone know where to get the gaskets for the lower unit plugs?

Jeffs sport shop across from s&k meats has them. Think they are under $5

 

[DirtyMike]

Jeffs sport shop across from s&k meats has them. Think they are under $5

I found some at Vallelys (sp). $1 a piece. For that price, I'm good for the next 5 years.

 

[Captain Ahab]

I do the exact same steps as you. I have not fogged my engine in years as this big 225 has plugs that are difficult to get to.

My trolling batteries are underneath the rod locker, and a narrow one battery opening, so removal and replactment is a bitch with my 36 volt. This year I have a big garage on my new house so the boat will be stored in a heated garage, no more 3 hour battery removal for me. In fact I will likely leave everything in the boat(rods, tackle, towels, batteries, etc.) and just trickle charge a couple times this winter.

The lower unit oil is about all I will switch this year.

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Guy the reason to change the lower unit oil in the fall is if there happened to be excessive water in the oil it might expand and bust up gears and stuff.

You are going to like the heated garage for your boat. My Lund gets Sea Foam in the tank for the last few runs of the season and that's it. Check lower unit lube here and there throughout the year. It doesn't sleep very long though. Mid November to about April 1st.

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BTW, ethanol fuel has never made into any of my boats. That stuff is evil.

 

[Enslow]

I do alot of mechanic work at a boat shop, and the number one mistake is running ethenal in an outboard motor. (Use Premium Fuel only). Run Stabil year round, then when its time for winterizing you are ready. Check and change your lower unit oil, change your 4 stroke motor oil and filter. If you choose to fog your motor, you my do so though the air intake as it is running on the muffs. Make sure it is smoking good and cut the motor. Grease the motor. Make sure to leave the motor down in order for the motor to drain the water.

Should be good to go. Shrink wrapping your boat is also a great idea (only $10/foot at Jeffs Outboards). Protect your boat, and prevents the heavy snow from sitting on your tarp and tearing it.

Exactly dont fog from the plugs like johnr erroneously alluded to earlier. #badideamkay

 

[DirtyMike]

I have the heated garage. It just isn't big enough for three rigs. I'd rather not leave the pickup outside all year and telling my wife to leave her car outside would go over like a fart in church.

Heres what I found last nights:

 

[johnr]

Um yeah that is a fairly significant leak.

Or did you spill your milk?

 

[DirtyMike]

nope. just a bad leak. New oil in and new seal kit is ordered for the spring.

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Luckily, that fill plug didn't have a single metal shaving on it.

 

[guywhofishes]

synthetic fishing line is the devil for seals

 

[DirtyMike]

I did get wrapped up in line pretty bad one time. I know its a problem, never new how much it destroyed seals though.

 

[guywhofishes]

I did get wrapped up in line pretty bad one time. I know its a problem, never new how much it destroyed seals though.

how did I know?

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I can tell you why - I've spent 40 years making a bunch of mistakes. ;:;banghead Ha ha ha.

 

[You]

mine came out thick and blue..........first time ive winterized. that's a good thing right? i let about 1/4 oz out then quit.

thinking of silver tarping over top of my regular tarp. wrapping is SO DAMN EXPENSIVE

 

[Up Y'oars]

Fogging my 2-stroke Mercury 175hp was simple. The nipple was right there in front and I could easily feed in the fluid as I heard the engine die off. Can't do that with my Yamaha now. Shop boys say a person could pull each plug, but be careful to apply the proper tightening. So, the past three years I haven't fogged anything. That can of fogging fluid only got used twice and is sitting in my garage cupboards.

Any suggestions for secondary uses? A guy can't leave a flammable can all alone for years, can he???:;:muahaha

 

[johnr]

its a treat like gold paint.