Outboard

[JBA]

Hello all,

What is the recommendation for leaving or removing fuel from an outboard (Mercury 2 cylinder 4.5) during the winter?
What, if any, additives?

Thanks,

JBA

[Oswego John]

Ask this question to six boatowners and you might end up with seven separate answers.

Most owners have their own favorite methods based on their personal interpretation of their owners manual.

At the end of the boating season, I generally disconnect the remote tank and use that fuel in another piece of power equipment. Then I run the engine dry with any fuel left in the engines built in tank.

Next, I put a spoonful or two of 10W30 motor oil in each spark plug hole and pull the starting rope enough times to distribute the oil throughout the upper block. Doing this will also help to get rid of any water which might still remain in the engine cooling system. Make sure to replace the spark plugs at least hand tight.

Follow your engine manual for complete winterization tips.

Good luck,
O J

[Mike Wainfeld]

Leave the tank full with fuel stabilizer added. "Fog" the cylinders-With the spark plug removed, spray fogging oil into each cylinder while cranking the engine.
Mike

[Mike Wainfeld]

Hey John-How funny; we posted simultaneously and just as you predicted, with two opposite answers! I've still got about a month left here in LI before winterizing my outboard. It must be getting cool up North. Enjoy the off season-Mike

[Oswego John]

Hey John- It must be getting cool up North. -Mike

Hi Mike,
Actually they are calling for freezing temps tonight. We tend to keep our boats in as long as we can. Usually the city doesn't pull the floats and finger slips until after mid October so we have a little sailing time left. Once the salmon run is over, the marinas close up, too.

BTW, I was born and raised on Long Island. Hempstead Harbour area.

Best wishes,
O J

[JimL]

The plastic tanks that come with the new motors will crack at the fuel/air level. Some kind of acidic reaction from the ethanol in our gasoline. When you see the dark line form in the plastic (looks a little "smokey") the reaction has started.

Drain those tanks dry, every time you plan to leave them for a while!

Also be aware that the 4-storke outboards will rot out the muffler area, of the lower unit, very quickly. I'm not sure how to solve that one!

Regards, JimL

[henry hey]

I have a nissan/tohatsu 8 and have been stabilizing the fuel in the tanks and fogging for several years with no issues. My engine starts and runs well the following season. This is as I was instructed to do by many -- including the local outboard shop. My tanks are the orange plastic type and they have been fine.

As a side note, I have been told that we should always be running some stabilizer in our fuel year-round as most fuel is now supplemented with ethanol and it can break down rather quickly.

just my 2c