Winterizing every 3 months

[rbruce63]

I use my boat once or twice every 3 months in long journeys (5 hours at wot on a Boston Whaler Sport 11 and Chysler 20Hp). Should I prepare the motor for storage as I live in tropical conditions?

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Winterizing every 3 months

Yes.

 

[DuPont Spinner]

Re: Winterizing every 3 months

Wait a minute! Winterize (as in treat the gas and fog the cylinders)in the tropics? Non-sense. The fuel we use will be just fine, considering today's refinery techniques and additives. Given that your motors are two stroke and given proper preventative maintenance, you'll be just fine. DuPont

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Winterizing every 3 months

They DEFINATELY need to be fogged. Fuel stabilizer is useless even over a long winter, I've never used any and never had any problems. The tropics, however, are very humid, and if the motor is not properly fogged it will rust.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Winterizing every 3 months

Todays fuel starts losing octane after 45 days. It may be as old as 2 weeks when it hits your gas station.<br /><br />Treating the fuel in your case only makes sense.

 

[OBJ]

Re: Winterizing every 3 months

What Dhadley said and a little more. Looking at yer' address, Costa Rica, you probably do salt water. All the more reason to fog for extended lay overs. And be sure to flush it out with fresh water before laying up.

 

[Old Jarhead]

Re: Winterizing every 3 months

In the same set of circumstances I would prep the engine/fuel ... but then again what do I know?

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Winterizing every 3 months

Fuel stabilizer is useless. Huh?? I guess all the outboard manufacturers are wrong. The auto and small engine makers too.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Winterizing every 3 months

Originally posted by quantumleap:<br />Fuel stabilizer is useless. Huh?? I guess all the outboard manufacturers are wrong. The auto and small engine makers too.

Yep. Most people start freaking out when their gas is only a month old. I have NEVER used fuel stabilizer in anything. Every year I store several engines, 2 cycle and 4, full of gas for anywhere from 6 to 9 months. I have NEVER had any problems.

 

[DJ]

Re: Winterizing every 3 months

ZmOz,<br /><br />Not yet.<br /><br />Fogging is more important in the tropics than it would be a temperate climate.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Winterizing every 3 months

Over the years I've stored at least 50 different engines. NEVER a problem. Others on this board have said the same thing...no problems.

 

[BillP]

Re: Winterizing every 3 months

For only three months I personally wouldn't do anything. Just like ZmOz, I've stored engines every year for the last 30+ yrs without stabil and don't have problems. The only problems I ever had were from running the carbs dry when storing the engine for 12+ months. When I stopped doing that the annual carb cleaning routine stopped. <br /><br />If it makes you feel good then use stabil. Otherwise I don't see the need for a few months.<br /><br />EDIT: I just noticed you are in CostaRica. Fuel quality and octane ratings are iffy and unreliable there. Too low of octane is what kills the motor. OMC commercial motors were detuned specifically for this reason to run down to 67 octane. Use stabil.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Winterizing every 3 months

Well, for what it is worth, Bill an I do agree on a few things once in awhile. I do not use fuel stablizers either, I too feel it a waist for a few months. My boat lays up for abou 6 months and I have never had trouble with it or any other engine Ive had. I will admit that the fuel didnt smell all that well this spring though, but it started and ran fine untill I could sweeten it up. Now the fogging issue is something to concider, but I doubt I would do anything. It would be nice to be able to flush the salt water out if posible.

 

[BillP]

Re: Winterizing every 3 months

Lubedude...I double oil for storage and kill the motor with the choke. Needless to say, I don't have misquitoes.

 

[DuPont Spinner]

Re: Winterizing every 3 months

Well rbruce, as you can see the opinions vary. So, for what it's worth and imho, forget fuel stabilizer, fog the cylinders if you think it's worthwhile, but definately flush the engine. Like I stated earlier, maintain your engine according the manual and don't sweat the small stuff. DuPont.

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Winterizing every 3 months

Just because you guys haven't stabbed yourself by running with scissors in your hand doesn't mean it's a good idea to do. As fuel evaporates it leaves a ring of varnish as the tank, fuel bowls, gas lines etc. dry up. It's called Preventative Maintenance. You don't have to do it, but it's better to be safe than sorry IMO. You can find many posts from people with horror stories pertaining to bad fuel, not to mention the fact that untreated fuel will eventually absorb water from the air and you don't want to be running any amount of water thru an outboard. But it's easier not to do routine maintenance and say it's no big deal. Like I said read your owners manual!! I follow their recommendations and haven't had any trouble so far.