How to properly winterize a marine diesel engine?
Winterizing Your Marine Diesel or Genset
- Stabilize the Fuel. Check your fuel-water separator for sediment and water, and clean or replace the elements as needed.
- Change the Oil. ...
- Coat the Cylinders with Oil. ...
- Winterize the Cooling System. ...
- Two Types of Antifreeze. ...
- Three Levels of Concentration. ...
- Check the Exhaust System. ...
- Inspect Hoses. ...
- Seal Engine Openings. ...
- Miscellaneous Jobs. ...
How do you winterize a mercuiser engine?
Winterizing Your Gas Inboard or Sterndrive
- Clean Fuel and Clean Filters. Step one of winterizing is to fill the tank with gas and add the fuel stabilizer of your choice like Star brite EZ-Store EZ-Start (or ...
- Adding Antifreeze. ...
- Putting in the Antifreeze—Sterndrives. ...
- Fogging the Engine. ...
- Adding Antifreeze and Fogging Oil to an Inboard engine. ...
- Changing the Engine and Transmission Oil. ...
How to winterize ETEC outboard?
Winterizing an Evinrude E-tec Outboard engine is amazingly simple. Be sure to use a quality fuel stabilizer as directed before performing the steps in the video. It is considered good practice to check the gear oil in the leg for moisture contamination before it sits for the winter.
How to winterize your RV generator?
Top 9 Tips for Winterization
- Drain Tanks and Water Lines. To prevent burst pipes during freezes, you need to remove all the water from your RV plumbing system and possibly add antifreeze.
- Clean Your RV. The first step to prep for storing your RV is to clean the inside and outside deeply. ...
- Prepare Appliances. ...
- Cover Openings. ...
- Motorhome and Generator Engine Maintenance. ...
Does an outboard motor need winterizing?
Winterizing your outboard motor is one of the most important maintenance you can perform as a boat owner. It ensures safe boating in the spring, and also helps to keep your outboard(s) performing well.
Do you need 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.
What happens if you don't winterize your outboard motor?
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.
Do you need to winterize a 2 stroke outboard?
Winterizing any piece of power equipment is an important step in ensuring it is ready for the next season. Your 2-stroke outboard boat motor is not exception. It's very easy and only takes about 20 minutes to get it ready for the off season.
Do I need to winterize my boat if I keep it in the garage?
Many people wonder whether you still need to winterize a boat even if it's stored in a garage. The answer is yes, you should still winterize your boat, even if it's stored in a garage for the winter. While winterizing your boat with a mechanic will cost you a little bit of money, it's money well spent.
Are outboard motors self-draining?
All outboards have a self-draining cooling system. There is no reason to start the motor with the notion that you are going to purge the last drops from the water pump housing.
At what temperature will a boat motor freeze?
Unwinterized boat engines can freeze any time the air temperature is below 28°F (-2°C) - for an extended period. Freshwater cooled engines without proper coolant can freeze below 32°F (0°C). The good news is you can prevent freeze damage fairly easily.
How do you winterize a 2 stroke outboard motor?
Winterizing a 2-Stroke Outboard: Fuel SystemAdd fuel stabilizer to your outboard's fuel system.Run your outboard for a few minutes so the engine draws stabilized fuel into the fuel lines and the fuel system. ... As the engine begins to splutter, spray fogging oil directly into the carburetor's throat.
How do I keep my outboard motor from freezing?
How To Keep An Outboard Motor From FreezingMake sure you have a fuel tank almost full, just leaving enough space for adding a fuel stabilizer into it. ... Get the outboard motor out of water. ... Stabilize the fuel. ... Drain out all the water.More items...•
How do you store an outboard motor for the winter?
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.
How do you winterize a Mercury outboard motor?
0:193:52How to winterize a Mercury 60 HP EFI outboard | My Boat DIY - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWith the engine warm remove the cowl and pose. And set out a pan for the oil and remove the drainMoreWith the engine warm remove the cowl and pose. And set out a pan for the oil and remove the drain plug from the mid case and let the oil drain.
How much does it cost to winterize a boat motor?
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.
How do you winterize a 4-stroke Mercury outboard motor?
Winterizing Your Outboard MotorDrain the crankcase oil (Four-stroke motors)Install a new oil filter (Four-stroke motors)Install a new fuel filter (Four-stroke motors)Filling the crankcase with new oil (Four-stroke motors)Changing the lower unit gear oil.Stabilizing the fuel.Flush with antifreeze & fog the cylinders.More items...
How do you winterize a 4-stroke Yamaha outboard?
Change the engine oil and filter by removing the 7/16th-inch crankcase bolt on the starboard side of the leg and letting the oil drain into a pan. Replace the oil and secure the crankcase bolt back into place. Start the engine/motor. Run it for about 15 minutes to increase the temperature to normal operating level.
How do you store a 4-stroke outboard motor?
Storage tips for small 4-stroke outboardsLay the engine on the correct side. All portable 4-strokes have supports to indicate which side they should be laid on the floor. ... Drain water cooling systems. ... Preventing corrosion on cylinder bore and piston rings.
How do you winterize a Honda 4-stroke outboard motor?
0:042:43How to Winterize a Four Stroke Outboard Motor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLet's end it right now the first thing you need to do of course is give the motor a good freshwaterMoreLet's end it right now the first thing you need to do of course is give the motor a good freshwater flush now in some cases you'll need a pair of ear muffs.
How to coat piston and cylinder with fogging oil?
Pull the starting string a few times to coat the piston and cylinder with the fogging oil while keeping the spark plugs in position and their boots off.
What is an O-ring in an outboard motor?
The O-Rings restrict liquid or gas from escaping. It will be inserted into a groove and squeezed between two surfaces in an outboard motor.
How to fog an intake?
Spray the intake with a tiny quantity of fogging oil while the engine is running.
What happens if an impeller is spewing water?
Note: This is also an excellent opportunity to inspect the impeller’s operation. If the impeller is spewing out water, it is performing its job; otherwise, it has to be replaced.
What is marine gear oil?
Unlike any automobile gear lubricant, marine gear oil is designed to emulsify water. It keeps water from damaging the working components of a boat motor, providing lubrication and preventing the motor’s lower unit from freezing.
Does marine grease fail in water?
So it doesn’t fail when running in the water, use marine-grade grease.
Why is it important to winterize an outboard motor?
Proper winterization protects against corrosion and freeze damage that can occur while your motor is in winter storage.
Why do you change gear oil before winter?
The gear oil needs to be changed before winter for the same reason as the crankcase oil: There are contaminants in it. Drain the old gear oil, and replace it with fresh oil before you store the motor.
How to keep fuel from going bad in winter?
Cold weather is hard on fuel. To keep your fuel from going bad over the winter, treat it with a stabilizer that will prevent it from getting gummy. Once you add the stabilizer, be sure to circulate it through your engine by attaching flushing muffs with a hose to provide water. Make sure you let the motor run for 10 minutes when you add stabilizer.
How to store a motor?
Make sure you store the motor in an upright position. This will ensure that water drains out instead of collecting and freezing.
How to prevent engine corrosion?
Treating the engine with fogging oil helps prevent engine corrosion. Ideally, this is done while the engine is still warm and involves spraying fogging oil directly into each cylinder of a four-stroke engine. If you have a two-stroke engine, instead of fogging oil you’ll use outboard oil, but the process is the same either way.
What happens if you don't winterize your boat?
In the worst-case scenario, if you don't winterize your boat and you store it in below-freezing temperatures, water left inside engine cavities can freeze and expand, cracking parts of the engine. Even if you store it in a garage or basement, old fuel left in the engine can gunk up carburetors and not burn well when you start in the spring. Dirty oil with acidic deposits can damage metal components, and salt left inside cooling and circulation chambers can cause buildup or corrosion. Or both.
What is winterizing an engine?
Most of the "winterizing" procedures are "long term storage" procedures to protect the engine from disuse. It's not like winterizing a fresh water system or large block engine, you're fighting corrosion and gunk buildup more than freezing, expansion cracking, and breaking.
What if I'm Going to Use My Boat?
Some sailors say there there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing. If you live somewhere with year-round sailing or winters mild enough to sail wearing warm clothing, you have a few different considerations.
What Are the Steps to Winterize?
We have created an entire checklist for boat winterization (pdf), which you can download for free in this article.
How to flush outboard engine?
Flush the engine with fresh water. Using an outboard flusher (or "earmuffs," as some call them), put them over the raw water intake of the engine and connect a hose. Turn on the water and start the engine. Let it run long enough to flush a fair amount of fresh water through the system to clear the salt. Additional de-salting or de-scaling products are not usually needed at this step, at least on smaller or newer engines. Larger outboards may have flushing ports built in.
How to clean an outboard motor?
Rinse and clean the engine. Clean and flush the outside of the outboard well. Make sure you knock off all the salt and as much of the dirt and accumulated crud from the season you can. A wipe with a rag will take off more grime, if it's the oily sort.
How to winterize a 4 stroke engine?
Change the engine oil. For four-stroke engines, change the engine block oil. Changing it at the end of the season ensures you don't leave dirty oil - which may have acids and contaminants - in contact with internal engine parts. You may drain the oil and leave it empty if you prefer, but make a clear note for yourself so you remember to fill it in the spring. Starting the engine without oil will quickly destroy it. To avoid this terrible mistake, I recommend putting the clean oil in when you winterize just to be safe.
How long does it take to winterize a boat motor?
Your 2-stroke outboard boat motor is not exception. It's very easy and only takes about 20 minutes to get it ready for the off season.
How to warm up a gas engine?
Connect Earmuffs and Warm up the Engine. Attach a pair of ear muffs or flush muffs to the water intake ports on the lower end of the unit and connect it to a hose. Turn the water on and start the engine. Let the engine warm up for about 5 minutes to treat the entire engine with stabilized gas mix.
How to fog a carburetor?
Fog the Engine. Remove the engine cover and find the carburetor's air intake port. With the engine running, spray a small amount of fogging oil into the intake. The engine will want to die, but keep it running by opening the throttle. Continue to fog the engine until it dies.
What is winterizing an outboard motor?
Winterizing is an essential process for protecting outboard motors stored in climates that experience freezing temperatures.
When winterizing an outboard motor, do you replace the fuel filter?
Don't forget to replace all the fuel filters and the water-separator filter when winterizing your outboard motor so the entire fuel system is in perfect shape for storage .
How to clean outboard motor in salt water?
Using water muffs, run the outboard and flush the motor with fresh water for several minutes to remove all deposits from the cooling system. If you use your outboard in salt water, run and flush it for at least 10-15 minutes. Once the engine is flushed, let it drain out. If any water is left in the powerhead or water lines, it could easily freeze and cause damage to the engine over the winter. Do a final engine flush using marine antifreeze so that any traces of liquid left behind won't actually freeze.
What happens when an outboard sits idle?
When an outboard sits idle, the oil coating the internal surfaces gradually drains down to the bottom, leaving metal surfaces exposed. This leaves moisture in the cold air corroding the metal and doing untold damage to your motor.
Why fill a boat with marine fuel?
Fill your tanks with marine fuel to prevent water from accumulating within the fuel itself. Marine fuel doesn't contain ethanol, so water molecules are not attracted to it and water doesn't build up within it. If you can't find boat fuel, fill up with regular ethanol fuel and treat it with a marine-grade fuel stabilizer. Fuel stabilizers prevent water from forming, and stop the fuel from breaking down and leaving behind varnish-like deposits.
How to prevent water corrosion in fuel tank?
To prevent water corrosion within your fuel tanks, fill them to the brim with fresh fuel, leaving no areas exposed to the air. Filling the fuel tanks and fuel system also prevents gaskets and O-rings from drying up.
What causes corrosion in outboards?
Salt and other contaminants generate corrosion and blockages within your outboard's cooling channels.
