Table of Contents
How do you winterize a boat with 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.
Does an outboard motor need to be winterized?
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.
Do 2 stroke outboard motors need to be winterized?
Winterizing a 2-Stroke Outboard Motor Regardless of the season, you should winterize your outboard anytime it isn’t going to be used for more than a month.
How do you winterize a 2 stroke outboard?
For 2 stroke engines, while the engine is idling, spray fogging oil into the carburettor. This will coat the inside of the engine in a protective film of oil and will help to protect parts such as the big ends.
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.
How do you winterize a boat motor without starting it?
Two things need to happen: Oil Change and Anti-Freeze the Raw Water side of your motor. Oil Change works best if you can run the motor for 5 minutes or so and let it warm up. Helps make it flow easier and resuspends the particulates for easier drain/suck out.
What happens if boat is not winterized?
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.
Should I winterize my boat myself?
For the handy, self-sufficient boat owner, taking care of winterizing yourself is a great way to save money. Ironically, DIY can potentially even save you some time. Winterizing a boat can be done in less than an hour in many cases, less time than you’d spend just driving the vessel to and from the marina or shop.
Can 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.
Do I need to winterize my boat if I keep it in the garage?
Of course, as BOATUS states, the best winter storage space for your boat is “indoors, in a climate‑controlled facility with a backup generator.” This means that you need control over the temperature in your garage. A good garage door that seals out the cold will help keep your boat safe over the winter.
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.
Which side do you lay a 4 stroke outboard?
It’s almost never a good idea to lay an outboard motor down on its side or back. This is doubly true in the winter, when moisture from condensation needs to drain from the motor. Evinrude/Johnson emphatically states that four-stroke motors must be stored upright and recommends this for all other motors.
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.
Do you have to use antifreeze to winterize a boat?
Do you have to use antifreeze when you winterize your boat? You should use antifreeze to winterize your boat if you have an inboard engine or any systems with pipes or that carry water. You should also consider using it in your bilge. For outboard motors, you don’t have to use antifreeze.
What kind of antifreeze do I use to winterize my boat?
Non-toxic West Marine propylene glycol antifreeze is recommended for winterizing potable water systems and all engines. With -50, -60 and -100 degree antifreezes available, which should you choose? For use in winterizing your engine, we recommend the highest concentration available, the -100.
How much antifreeze Do I need to winterize my boat?
To winterize the engine with antifreeze, you’ll need a five-gallon bucket, and enough antifreeze for your engine and related plumbing (at least two gallons). If your engine takes a lot of antifreeze, you might also need a helper to add antifreeze to the bucket as needed.
What does it cost to winterize a boat?
If you winterize your boat yourself, it will cost you about $250. This price includes the cost of winterizing the engine, the other systems of your boat, and cleaning it, stem to stern, inside and out. However, if you have the work done at a boatyard, expect to spend $500 up.
