Winterizing my Merc 500, did I do OK?

[hotrod53]

Obviously lower unit oil change, that's a given.

Over the last 3 seasons I have done this the same way, I just wanted to see what the general opinion of my method is.

I did not run the motor and fog it, that was tough to do by myself. I opened the throttle 100% and stuck the fog oil straw in each carb throat, I sprayed through each carb twice and then put the Mercontrol back in neutral. I then removed the 4 plugs and checked the depth of each piston with the plastic fogging straw, I rotated the motor clockwise only until each piston was at the bottom of the stroke. I fogged each cylinder while pulling the straw out slowly, turned the motor by hand and did the next piston down. Once I did all 4 cylinders, I reinstalled the plugs. The only thing that I missed was spraying while the motor was running.

In 3 seasons no issues, am I doing it satisfactorily?

 

[GA_Boater]

I don't see anything wrong with your procedure. It's worked three winters for you. I do run the carbs dry after a fuel stabilizer is added to the tank and the motor is run long enough to get the stabilized fuel through the entire system.

 

[Starcraft5834]

I had a 500 few years ago,, did same thing as you did,,, i disconnected fuel supply ran it till it died,,fogged it. full trim down.. drain out,, good to go

 

[hotrod53]

Oh yes, I run StarTron in my fuel all of the time, so it is stabilized. I also run the fuel out of the carbs.

 

[MH Hawker]

How about the main and rod bearings and crank, your missing those.

 

[hotrod53]

Point well taken and I have thought about that. Spraying down the carb surely does not do that as well as it probably should.

 

[Chris1956]

Why are you unable to run the motor on the flusher and fog her at that time? In any case, your procedure is fine. You might pump some grease into the tilt and swivel fittings and clean and grease the steering rod.

 

[hotrod53]

I guess it's just difficult to fog while running as well as run the fuel out of the carb bowls when doing it myself.

I do grease the fittings on the tilt and change the lower unit oil in my procedure.

 

[444]

How about the main and rod bearings and crank, your missing those.

Oil clings to bearings for a long time, years. I wouldn't be too worried about it. Plus how about the other 99% of outboards out there that just get pulled out of the water and parked in the garage. Most of them are doing just fine.