Table of Contents
Do outboard motors self drain water?
All of the water passages in an outboard will self drain. Turning the engine over on while out of the water is not going to expel any waterthat will only damage the water pump impeller.
Will an outboard motor freeze?
A very popular question asked by a concerned boat owner, (mainly outboard motorboats) is Will A Boat Motor Freeze? The simple answer is yes. If the temperature is low enough, it can freeze. Water, oil and other engine related lubrication coupled with freezing temperatures is the main culprit for freezing a boat motor.
How do you winterize an outboard motor?
Winterizing Your Outboard Motor Drain the crankcase oil (Four-stroke motors) Install a new oil filter (Four-stroke motors) Filling the crankcase with new oil (Four-stroke motors) Changing the lower unit gear oil. Stabilizing the fuel. Flushing the outboard with antifreeze. Fogging the cylinders.
Should I leave my outboard motor up or down?
You want to leave the engine in the totally trimmed down position. This will allow all of the water to leak out of the engine, midsection, and lower unit. Making sure that there is not any water in the Lower Unit that could rust gears or freeze and destroy the gear case by flushing the engine with fresh water.
Should you leave your boat motor in the water?
It’s best to tilt your outboard up when leaving your boat in the water to prevent marine growth from forming and from corrosion eating away at its metal parts. That being said, there are some instances when you may prefer tilting your outboard down.
How often should you change outboard lower unit oil?
Most sterndrive and outboard manufacturers advise you to change the gearcase oil in your lower unit every 100 hours or once a year (whichever comes first). Clean oil is critical for protecting the heavily loaded gears in your lower unit and preventing expensive damage.
At what temperature should I winterize my boat?
As soon as the weather gets below 32 degrees, water begins to freeze, with water with impurities or saltwater in it starting to freeze at 28 degrees. In most cases, the water will not freeze solid (leading to cracked engine blocks) until the temperatures stay below 32 for several days and nights.
What happens if you don’t winterize outboard?
If You Don’t Winterize Your Boat, Here’s What Happens: Water freezes and expands and can damage anything it’s trapped inside. Water may seep into unprotected spaces to do this. Acidic and corrosive wastes, salt and corrosion buildup can damage delicate parts in engines. Fuels break down or grow dirty.
Is it OK to store an outboard motor on its side?
It’s almost never a good idea to lay an outboard motor down on its side or back. Mercury Marine recommends upright storage to allow the water to drain from the motor, but Mercury also says that a motor may be stored on its side after the water has drained completely.
Can I leave my outboard in the water in the winter?
A boat can be left in the water during the winter or year-round if you take necessary precautions to tackle the challenges of a boat being in the waters for long periods. However, you need to keep in mind that there is always a risk correlated with storing the boat in the water than dry storing.
Do you need to run antifreeze through an outboard motor?
You do not need to run antifreeze through an outboard, period. They’re designed to drain completely in the tilted-down position, and do not need an ounce of antifreeze.
Do you have to winterize a 4 stroke outboard motor?
Like inboards and sterndrives, outboard engines are also subject to potential damage from freezing and from being laid up in disuse for months at a time. So outboards demand winterizing too. To serve as our example, we used a Yamaha F150 four-cylinder outboard.
How much does it cost to winterize an outboard motor?
If you bring your boat to a shop to have it winterized, you can expect to pay between $300 and $400.
Why should a boat gas tank never be full?
It’s important to never fill the tank of your boat beyond 90% full. This leaves room for gas to expand and avoids the potential for overflow. Ensure that all air vents and valves to the gas tank are open.
How long can you leave your boat in the water?
A boat can only safely stay in saltwater for about one week, but in most cases, three to four weeks in freshwater will not cause damage. When you leave a boat sitting in water, it never gets a chance for the construction materials to dry out.
Is it OK to start a boat out of water?
Starting a boat without water is not recommended. Most outboard and inboard engines use impellers (rubber pumps) to run water to the boat’s cooling system. Without water to cool off and lubricate, the impeller will heat up super fast and possibly damage.
Where does outboard exit water?
The cooling system on an outboard is a very simple and compact application. Water is inducted through the lower unit by a water pump impeller, and then forced upward to circulate throughout the powerhead, and eventually exits through the exhaust system.
How long can a outboard run without water?
What is the maximum amount of time you can run a boat motor without water? The maximum amount of time you can run your boat motor without water is between 2 and 10 seconds if you must.
What position should I store my outboard motor?
The best way is to either leave the motor on the boat or on an engine stand in an upright position, not tilted. If neither of these are an option, try to make sure that the engine is in an upright, self-draining position. If you can’t do this, be sure that the cooling system is drained completely.
