winterizing ???

[bones774]

I have a 1988 Cobalt with a Merc 260(350 GM) and will be winterizing for first time. The owners manual of the day says to empty fuel tank and store, I read lotsa posts here saying fill tank and use stabilizer.
I know gas line components have changed(rubber hoses), fuel formulations have changed, alcohol is now added,.
I know empty tanks promote condensation and that small aircraft always park with full tanks, leaving gas in carb creates gum deposits.
So who is right??What is correct logic?
Thnaks

 

[ziggy]

Re: winterizing ???

i've done it both ways. my first boat (a jet ski) i'd empty the fuel tank. it was a plastic fuel tank. i didn't have any issues doing it that way. my next ski had a plastic tank too. that one i filled up and used sta-bil. no issues that way either. both real boats i've had have had metal fuel tanks. those i've filled up and used sta-bil in for just the reason you've stated. no room for condensation. my second boat it was close for having to pull and clean the tank too. when i got my boat it'd been in storage for a long time (15 years allegedly). must not have been full of fuel as i fought the rustys on my fuel filter for two years. after several fuel filters over the years, i'm now down to one a year. so to me. full is the way to go. rust certainly formed inside my fuel tank over those years of storage. when it went back into service the rust got washed up stream from the fuel tank and caused issue.

 

[Schmoe]

Re: winterizing ???

Kind of depends on your location and how long your going to winterize it. I mean, if you know your not going to take it out next year and it will sit for two years, then you'd want to empty the tank as much as you can and add stabil, regardless. Now for condensation, that's not a problem here in Oklahoma and storing your boat inside and covered. But, I would fill up the tank for a one season layup. On the gas, at least here, they have to put a label on the pump telling you it has ethanol in it. There are gas stations around here that still pump "regular" gas, you just have to look around. Here's what I typically do. I get a gallon jug of gas and stabilize it and put it on the boat. Drive the boat around close to your ramp and let it run out of gas. Then dump the gallon in the boat and head to the ramp. That way, you know for sure you got stabil running through the lines.

 

[bones774]

Re: winterizing ???

I'm in the northeast, outdoor storage and season begins in May.

 

[joe_nj]

Re: winterizing - Oil Filter

Re: winterizing - Oil Filter

I too have an 88 Cobalt that I'm going to winterize for the first time. It has a mercruiser 4.3L V6, 175 HP. I have the owners manual and the shop manual and neither one tells me what oil filter to use. Can someone point me to a guide on selecting the filter? - I finally found it on the merc site - it says there's one filter for all v6s.

I liked the posting about using Synthetic oil - I use it in my cars. Since the boat didn't have synthetic for the first 21 years of its life, what's the views on switching now with 330 hours on the engine?

Good info here on draining vs. stabilizing the gas. Thanks.

 

[Grand Larsony]

Re: winterizing - Oil Filter

Re: winterizing - Oil Filter

Seen this debated for years and years (here and in real life).

Bottom line: Doesn't matter. Add Stabil or your choice of additive to low, half, or full tank. Run engines before haul out. Put boat away. Top off with fresh gas come spring.

My mechanic, and most of my boat friends, agree with this statement.

By far the biggest problem with water in fuel comes from bad gas (at the pump) not from your winterization routine.