VRO winter storage,drain or not?

[Quin]

Hi all, great site,I can't stop reading it! Here is my ? I have a 1995 70hp Evinrude and living up in Canada winter is coming soon,I will be storing my boat outside for the winter,tarped.Should I drain the oil tank for the VRO or should I top it up so no moisture gets in? TIA

 

[walleyehed]

Re: VRO winter storage,drain or not?

If you don't have one, it would be a good investment to get a manual. It gives instructions for storage, and recommendations as to that.<br /> If it were me, I would put stabilizer in the gas as recommended on container, run engine for 20-30 minutes, then follow procedures for storage by manual or competent dealer.......

 

[seahorse5]

Re: VRO winter storage,drain or not?

It's best to keep the oil tank full, just like your gas tank, to cut down on condensation accumulation.<br /><br />If it has not been checked in over a year, use a turkey baster to pull an oil sample from the bottom of the tank to see if there is any water or sludge in it. If so, drain and flush the tank out.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: VRO winter storage,drain or not?

Quin <br /><br />Drain and refill it in the spring no matter what. Check all the oil lines to the motor for cracking or loose connections and check the warning horn to be sure it's working. For now, as suggested, just top it off. Lack of maintainence is the main problem with most VRO units!