Winterizing Help

[T-ProGuy]

Hopefully I do not have to winterize my boat and motor too soon, as I hope to get out a few more times.

For the first 3 years I have owned my new boat and motor, I have paid the dealership to winterize the motor for me...the problem is, I just can't quite justify paying them almost $200 again this year to do something that I could probably do myself.

What steps should be taken to properly winterize a 2003 Yamaha 90hp 4-stroke?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Norsky]

I've got that exact same motor, same year also. I bought it in 2004 so I've only winterized it once, but I filled the tank with non-oxygenated gas with stabil, ran the motor for quite some time with that, changed the oil and filter, fogged the cyclinders through each of the 4 spark plug holes (then turn the motor over a couple times without the wires attached), drain and refill the lower unit and that's about it, except for a little cleaning on the hood and greasing the zerks. However, the motor then ran perfect all this year up until July then it started making a whining or sqeeling noise at around 3000 rpms, the dealer said that some of these motors "just do that and it's nothing to worry about". They said it may be one of the bearings that sqeels once in a while. It doesn't do it all the time, but it's annoying when it does and seems to be doing it more often. It still runs and starts perfect and hasn't lost any performance. I'm glad I have the 5 year warranty. Has this happened to anyone else??? sorry to get off subject a little.

[Northlander]

Norsky you shouldnt have any squeeling from that motor. I know a lot of guys with the Yamaha 90's and 115's 4 strokes and none make any noises. You hardly hear them running.

If its under warranty go have it fixed and dont take no for a answer.

[fish2live]

are you supposed to fog 4 strokes? if so do you do it like the post above just spray it in and turn over a couple times?

[Jeremy airjer W]

If its going into storage it can't hurt to fog it. It doesn't matter if its a 2 or 4 stroke. Single or 12 cylinders. I use a product called deep creep (made by sea foam-another fine minnesota company). For my small engines I stabalize the fuel with seafoam motor tune, then start them up and let the stabalized fuel run through the carb, next I remove the airfilter and spray deep creep straight into the carb until it stalls. Last step I do is let them cool down, then remove the spark plug(s) and squirt a blast of deep creep in the hole and then put the spark plug back in.

[T-ProGuy]

My motor has run great from day one, but it does make some noise. At 1/2 throttle to wide open throttle, it has a high pitched whine...don't know if it is normal or not, but the dealer says that there is nothing wrong with it and to not worry about the noise. It also idles a bit rougher than I would like...nice and quiet, but rough. I routinely put sea-foam in the gas when I fill the tank, as I never know how frequently I will get to use the boat. Should I fill it completely and add more sea-foam prior to storing it?

Changing the oil and lower unitl are pretty easy deals, but I have never attempted to remove the spark plugs...is it a big deal to do?

[T-ProGuy]

bump

[Valv]

I don't want to offend anybody or hurt anybody's feelings, but if we have problems removing spark plugs I think it might be better bring motor to shop, it will cost $ 200.00 for it but it's peace of mind.

[Northlander]

If you can change oil and lower unit lube you can change out plugs. I hope!

[Norsky]

I called Yamaha and they also said that the motor shouldn't make any noise like that and to take it to a different dealer and it would be covered under warranty. They said it was either one of the two belts or the place where the power head attaches to the drive shaft??? I'll be taking it into Dan's Southside Marine next week.

[T-ProGuy]

Trust me guys...I am very capable of working on the motor! I simply asked the question because I haven't really spent much time looking under the cover of that motor...the one time I took a moment to look at things under there, it appeared that the plugs had some sort of small casing bolted down on top of them. Buying it new, I haven't really seen a reason to closely examine everything under there other than to change the oil.

Regarding the second part of this topic...the whining/squealing, I will definitely be talking to a different dealership/repair shop regarding this noise.

[Norsky]

Yes, there is a small plastic shroud with a few screws that covers the wires of the spark plugs, it's very easy to change the plugs as long as you have a torque wrench and a long extension for the spark plug socket.

[T-ProGuy]

Shouldn't be a problem, then...thanks for the help Norsky!