Winterizing

[l008com]

I thought there'd be a winterizing sticky but surprisingly, nope.

So I have a 1989, 3cyl merc outboard. I plan on putting the battery in my basement, and the fuel will all get used. But what else do I have to do to the engine that's going to sit through a cold new england winter?

 

[starcraft1982]

Re: Winterizing

Drain lower unit oil and refill.Dont want any water in there.If oil is milky at all,youve got the winter to re- seal it.Get some fogging oil and spray into carb throat(s) in a few short bursts and then spray continuous until it dies.Do NOT run gas out of it.Treat gas w/stabilizer and run(before fogging)for a few minutes to make sure stabilized gas has reached the motor.Lastly,either completely drain tank or fill completely full and treat w/stabilizer.Youll be ready to run in the spring.

 

[l008com]

Re: Winterizing

Drain lower unit oil and refill.

Ummmm how do I go about this?

 

[starcraft1982]

Re: Winterizing

Click on search function on this forum and type it in.Or better yet,get the manual for this motor.This has been explained numerous times on this forum so just search and read.Manual is a must anyway.Get genuine merc manual.not seloc or other.More expensive but FAR better if you intend to do much of your own work at all.I assume the seloc would even explain lower unit oil change,though.Good luck.Its not hard and takes just 10min.,maybe.

 

[Crazyman1225]

Re: Winterizing

If you don't run stabilizer in the carb and fog them, you can drain it out. Plus pull the spark plug and spray a little fogging oil or equivalent into the cylinder and rotate it so it coats the cylinder wall to prevent rusting.

 

[starcraft1982]

Re: Winterizing

If you fog through the spark plug holes,you only get the cylinder.Going through the carbs w/motor running coats the internals(bearings,etc,).That is the proper,best way.

 

[red240z]

Re: Winterizing

Is there any water left in the water jackets when you stall the motor w/the fogging?

 

[milehighboater]

Re: Winterizing

No, if the motor is allowed to drain vertically then there should be no water left in the motor. If you havent done the lower unit oil yet my suggestion would to pick up one of the small hand pumps to get the oil into the lower. They are about 12 bucks but make it so much easier.