Winterizing an Outboard

secondcurve · 08-17-2012, 06:42 AM

I know this isn't the most difficult job in the world to do but why chance it given the value of an outboard? Have a professional do the work.

Dave R · 08-17-2012, 06:58 AM

In addition to fogging, changing the gear case oil and draining the water, I would run it on stabilized fuel, but disconnect the fuel line and run it out of gas so little to no gas remains in the carburetors over the Winter.

DickR · 08-17-2012, 10:39 AM

Decades ago, someone at Shep Brown's advised lowering the motor after it was out of the water and cranking the engine a few turns, the idea being to let any water trapped in the water pump to drain out. Does this advice apply to today's outboards?

CozbyDog · 08-17-2012, 01:05 PM

Yes, lots of good advice here- shut the fuel off and run it (in the water or on muffs) till it runs out of fuel, pull it, trim it all the way down to drain any residual h2o and add fuel treatment to the tank. You can also pull the spark plugs and throw a squirt of mystery oil in each cylinder. Definitely change the lower unit oil. On a new, bigger HP engine - read the owners manual and follow it carefully as they might specify what to use to 'fog' the cylinders. No anti-freeze needed.

excavatenh · 08-18-2012, 06:38 PM

1) stabilize the hell out of the fuel because the new fuel is terrible.

2) fog the engine through the carbs while running untill you see a good amount of smoke. ( if its a johnson or evinude it may have a valve designed for winterization on the carburator thats vey easy to use)

3) when the engine / boat is out of the water change the gear lube for all the reasons in the prior post.

4) crank the engine just to get it to fire and that will drain all the water out of the engine. ( you do not use antifreeze on an outboard engine )

5) you can run an out board on muffs.

6) disconnect or pull the battery out.

08-17-2012, 06:42 AM	#1
secondcurve Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 1,358 Thanked 564 Times in 291 Posts	Stay Safe I know this isn't the most difficult job in the world to do but why chance it given the value of an outboard? Have a professional do the work.

08-17-2012, 10:39 AM	#3
DickR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 765 Thanks: 4 Thanked 260 Times in 172 Posts	Draining water from lower unit Decades ago, someone at Shep Brown's advised lowering the motor after it was out of the water and cranking the engine a few turns, the idea being to let any water trapped in the water pump to drain out. Does this advice apply to today's outboards?

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08-17-2012, 06:58 AM	#2
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,985 Thanks: 246 Thanked 744 Times in 444 Posts	In addition to fogging, changing the gear case oil and draining the water, I would run it on stabilized fuel, but disconnect the fuel line and run it out of gas so little to no gas remains in the carburetors over the Winter.

08-17-2012, 01:05 PM	#4
CozbyDog Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 13 Thanks: 10 Thanked 8 Times in 3 Posts	Yes, lots of good advice here- shut the fuel off and run it (in the water or on muffs) till it runs out of fuel, pull it, trim it all the way down to drain any residual h2o and add fuel treatment to the tank. You can also pull the spark plugs and throw a squirt of mystery oil in each cylinder. Definitely change the lower unit oil. On a new, bigger HP engine - read the owners manual and follow it carefully as they might specify what to use to 'fog' the cylinders. No anti-freeze needed.

08-18-2012, 06:38 PM	#5
excavatenh Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 8 Thanks: 4 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	1) stabilize the hell out of the fuel because the new fuel is terrible. 2) fog the engine through the carbs while running untill you see a good amount of smoke. ( if its a johnson or evinude it may have a valve designed for winterization on the carburator thats vey easy to use) 3) when the engine / boat is out of the water change the gear lube for all the reasons in the prior post. 4) crank the engine just to get it to fire and that will drain all the water out of the engine. ( you do not use antifreeze on an outboard engine ) 5) you can run an out board on muffs. 6) disconnect or pull the battery out.