winterizing outboard

[RobertaM]

Can you use de-fogger and add some stabil to the gas to run through the motor while the outboard is still in salt water? Or should I take it out of my Cape Dory 25 and put outboard in a trashcan or use "ear muffs"? Thoughts please.


Roberta Moss

[psjanker]

After each trip I run the engine without the tank attached dry to preclude alcohol induced float issues. I don't take the motor off the boat I just put a five gal bucket over the intake while the motor is mounted to my stern rail. I don't use any other elements.

Pete

[Markst95]

Part of Winterizing is thoroughly flushing the motor with fresh water

[Northoceanbeach]

I have had some ethanol problems for my dinghy outboard so unplugged from the tank to run it dry yesterday. I thought it would just die. No! It kept running and running for like ten minutes at least!

But I'm not saying it's not a good idea, I'm sure it is, especially before putting it away for the winter.

What are some of the other things you are supposed to do? I guess depending upon how cold it gets where you are you you have to rev or fluids so they don't freeze and crack?

[Jim Davis]

What I do with my smaller outboards.

I bring it home and run it in a trash can for about a half hour to get it well flushed out. Then I disconnect the fuel line (or shut the fuel valve) and let it run dry. After it stops I pull the plug(s) and shoot WD40 in the cylinder(s) and then wet down the entire power head. Replace the plugs and gently crank it without starting it. With ethanol it is also a good idea to pull the drain plug on the carb and shoot WD40 up the drain. Oil or grease the various fittings and friction points and check/replace the engine oil and lower unit oil. Then put it in the garage, or shed till spring. If it has an internal tank like the 2.5's I will hold the motor upside down and drain the tank. I usually replace the zinc at this time if needed.

For the left over fuel I put it in my car and burn it while driving.

Not a definitive list but I've been using it successfully for a couple decades.

[Jim Walsh]

What I do with my smaller outboards.

I bring it home and run it in a trash can for about a half hour to get it well flushed out. Then I disconnect the fuel line (or shut the fuel valve) and let it run dry. After it stops I pull the plug(s) and shoot WD40 in the cylinder(s) and then wet down the entire power head. Replace the plugs and gently crank it without starting it. With ethanol it is also a good idea to pull the drain plug on the carb and shoot WD40 up the drain. Oil or grease the various fittings and friction points and check/replace the engine oil and lower unit oil. Then put it in the garage, or shed till spring. If it has an internal tank like the 2.5's I will hold the motor upside down and drain the tank. I usually replace the zinc at this time if needed.

For the left over fuel I put it in my car and burn it while driving.

Not a definitive list but I've been using it successfully for a couple decades.

+1

[RLW]

I burn only ethanol free fuel (E-zero!) and run my small outboards in a bucket of vinegar (prop removed) and then an internal fresh water rinse at season's end. Run the fuel out and park it.

[jen1722terry]

Interesting about the vinegar flush. We've had good luck using vinegar to keep the drain lines open for our Airhead composting head (we plumbed the fluids tank directly to the holding tank). Don't see why it wouldn't keep the coolant passages in an outboard clear also.

We also use hi-test or mid-grade gas which here in Canada does not contain ethanol.

But does an aircooled 2.3 Honda need a flush at all? Maybe, for there is a little hole above the lower unit that drains seawater each time we tip up the motor. The manual is not clear on this point.

Happy fall sailing to all!

terry