Winterizing

[marine_man]

If you're going to leave you charger plugged in over winter then I'd disconnect everything but that... if not, disconnect everything...

marine_man

[MurkyWaters]

Sorry, I'm pretty motor illiterate and I didn't plan ahead. It is my first boat, so maybe you can cut me a break, haha. I changed the lube in my lower unit a couple of weeks ago. So the lube in there right now is NEW. Since then, I ran fuel stabilizer through my motor in my driveway (using my suction cup thing and a garden hose). Do I need to re-change my lower unit lube to make sure there isn't any water in there? THANKS FOR HELPING A ROOKIE!

[marine_man]

You shouldn't have to... but it's somewhat dependent on how old your motor is...

I'd leave the top plug in, and loosen the bottom plug and let a little come out... if it's milky I'd change it again, but also seriously consider a lower unit seal job next spring or this winter yet...

marine_man

[eagleman]

Hi marine_man...I used fogging oil in each cylinder of my 200 horsepower Optimax per your instructions. However, the Optimax manual says to use 30 ml of engine oil in each cylinder. Does it matter which product you use to coat the cylinder walls?

[marine_man]

I think you'll be just fine either way.

marine_man

[snoozebutton]

I didn't realise they made the blue "marine" Stabill and used the red. Will that make any difference? (Kind of late to change it now.)

[marine_man]

The red will be just fine.

marine_man

[snoozebutton]

Thanks, kind of what I thought but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.

[jhol]

Do you really need to fog the motor if it is only going to sit for 3 months. I just put my boat away this week and I usually run down the river in March/April. I have stabill in the motor and gas tank, and already flushed my lower unit.

Thanks

[Wildabeast]

Rust in the engine isn't a good thing. You really do want to coat everything in the engine with an oily film, you're engine will last longer.

[mroyten]

Ok, I got a situation and need some advice.

Got a 20 hp '91 Merc 2 stroke and didn't get around winterizing it properly when the weather was above freezing. I have been running fuel stabilizer thru it though. I do plan on changing the gear lube, filling up the gas tank and removing the spark plugs for certain so other than that is there anything else I should do?

[boatfixer]

That pretty much covers it. When you say remove the spark plugs, I hope you intend on spraying fogging oil in the holes then reinstalling the plugs.

[Wildabeast]

Give your lower unit plenty of time to drain. I let mine drain overnight before refilling with fluid. Also, store the new lower unit fluid inside before you use it. It will flow a bit better. As for the engine, just remove the spark plugs and spray foging oil.

[JimBuck]

Hey guys quick question. I am storing my boat over the weekend and had a few questions regarding the good ol' winterizing process. Let me preface this by saying that the storage place is heated and this is the first time I've stored in a heated enivronment. My boat is a 87' backtroller with a 89' 45hp Mariner. What do you recommend I do? Typically I top the tank off and fill with stabil, then drain the lower unit. I also usually run all the water out of the engine and disconnect the gas line from the tank and run her dry. Should I still follow through with all of this if it's going to be heated? Thanks guys.

[marine_man]

I would still jump through all the hoops... too man iffs for me to take a chance on something happening with the heating - power goes out in a freezing rain storm and temps drop, etc. It doesn't take that much longer to do it all, and to have some peace of mind.

marine_man

[archgreen]

Gentlemen: 90HP Optimax

Question from a novice... Draining the fuel filter reservoir. The manual says to pull the hose off the right side fitting first, unscrew the hex screw on the left side to drain the filter reservoir. When I lossen the screw nothing drains. I nearly took out the entire screw from the housing, fuel wanted to come out the screw, but nothing comes out the hose.

What an I doing wrong?? Any comments are appreciated.

[Rost]

A service tech told me not to fog each cylinder on my 150 HPDI because it will trigger a sensor next spring. He recommended to simply run stabil through it and call it good.

I wonder who to believe?

[marine_man]

Gentlemen: 90HP Optimax

Question from a novice... Draining the fuel filter reservoir. The manual says to pull the hose off the right side fitting first, unscrew the hex screw on the left side to drain the filter reservoir. When I lossen the screw nothing drains. I nearly took out the entire screw from the housing, fuel wanted to come out the screw, but nothing comes out the hose.

What an I doing wrong?? Any comments are appreciated.

Is the hose plugged? If you pull it off completely is the hose clear of obstruction?

When you have the hose off the bottom, look up into the drain, is there anything obstructing the flow there?

marine_man

[marine_man]

Rost -

Take a look at your owner's manual and see what it says.. that's what I'd do.

Corrosion in the cylinder is not generally a good idea, and why most manufacturers (I'm almost 100% certain Yamaha is in the category, but I don't have access to a manual at this time to verify it) recommend using fogging fluid or oil in each cylinder.

marine_man

[archgreen]

I did not check hose for obstructions, but will. I'll also check the drain for same. Thanks for the comments.

archgreen

[snoozebutton]

With this cold weather, it might be time to charge your batteries. I did mine yesterday and it didn't take too long so they still had a pretty good charge on them. You don't want them freezing up on you.

[marine_man]

With fall starting to approach (gasp!) I thought it might be time to bring this back to the top.

marine_man

[bassNspear]

great idea. Getting closer and closer everyday!

[EricD]

I'm curious what other do with the boat itself. Does water stay in the bilge and livewell pumps? Are there lines in the boat that should be drained? Any help would be appreciated. Last year I took it to the dealer but I want to do it myself this year.

[marine_man]

Leave the boat plug out of the boat. The pumps will drain back.

The livewells should drain back, but I've heard of several on FM here that have had issues with that; so some RV AntiFreeze down the lines wouldn't hurt and should assure you won't have a frozen livewell hose.

marine_man