Fogging Oil Substitute

Renken2000Classic

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 10, 2022
Messages
237
Could a guy just say, dump some trans fluid or the like down the carb?

My 7th winterization's coming up and I've only done this once (several years ago), with StaBil aerosol, and then I didn't take the plugs out; so I'm not real worried about it, but thought I might make a minimal effort...

Best of my memory it dies pretty quick when you spray it in the carb. Can't remember if it's at idle or what. The Sta-bil spray leaked all over my shelves early on and I just chucked whatever was left the other day (lol).

I do want to get some Sta-bil in the gas tank this year, and run through the carb, if nothing else.
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,126
Could a guy just say, dump some trans fluid or the like down the carb?

My 7th winterization's coming up and I've only done this once (several years ago), with StaBil aerosol, and then I didn't take the plugs out; so I'm not real worried about it, but thought I might make a minimal effort...

Best of my memory it dies pretty quick when you spray it in the carb. Can't remember if it's at idle or what. The Sta-bil spray leaked all over my shelves early on and I just chucked whatever was left the other day (lol).

I do want to get some Sta-bil in the gas tank this year, and run through the carb, if nothing else.
I don’t even bother with minimal effort anymore….lol

Still have half a can of OEM fogging spray from when I bought the boat …….2001
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
70,976
Could a guy just say, dump some trans fluid or the like down the carb?

My 7th winterization's coming up and I've only done this once (several years ago), with StaBil aerosol, and then I didn't take the plugs out; so I'm not real worried about it, but thought I might make a minimal effort...

Best of my memory it dies pretty quick when you spray it in the carb. Can't remember if it's at idle or what. The Sta-bil spray leaked all over my shelves early on and I just chucked whatever was left the other day (lol).

I do want to get some Sta-bil in the gas tank this year, and run through the carb, if nothing else.
Ayuh,..... If it makes you feel better, sure, go for it,......
For short term(annual) storage, I think it's unnecessary,....
If yer looking at decades, it might be a good idea,....
 

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
12,756
This is really a matter of climate. If you’re in a dry climate with minimal temp swings I agree prob not needed for short term storage. I do it because we are a very damp climate, sometimes wide temperature swings and outside storage. Example: open up the boat cover & engine lid I often find the engine covered in moisture from condensation. That can happen in cyls too. So I do fog the boat however my power equipment I don’t because of inside storage, no condensation.
The generator which is outside under my back porch gets started at least once a month, so no need to fog.
 

tpenfield

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
18,069
2-stroke oil may be a good choice in a pinch. That is what's used to fog MPI engines.
 

Renken2000Classic

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 10, 2022
Messages
237
Yeah, I probably won't mess with it then.

My shelves are well-preserved now, so don't need any more Sta-bil for the garage : ).
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,132
Fogging oil is not that expensive, why worry about a substitute ? It would be pennies compared to the cost of owning and operating a boat !
 

Renken2000Classic

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 10, 2022
Messages
237
Fogging oil is not that expensive, why worry about a substitute ? It would be pennies compared to the cost of owning and operating a boat !
You're right. My thought was, I'm not buying that again if it's gonna leak all over the place, but I could just use it and throw away the can immediately...

The engine's likely gonna outlive the boat, regardless. My biggest concern right now is I got some rain in the boat last night (our rain too often comes behind a big wind here, and the tarp got displaced), and there are a couple of holes in the top of the (bilge pump pad?) that I see water in; water that didn't get there from above I don't think, but from some unseen pathway.

I've known about that for a few years, but they've been dry for some time. I'll siphon it out when this rain is done (prob get a cup or so out), and just know that the clock is ticking...
 

flashback

Captain
Joined
Jun 28, 2002
Messages
3,974
I use my shop vac. Much easier than syphon. No fogging necessary if just over winter.
You're right. My thought was, I'm not buying that again if it's gonna leak all over the place, but I could just use it and throw away the can immediately...

The engine's likely gonna outlive the boat, regardless. My biggest concern right now is I got some rain in the boat last night (our rain too often comes behind a big wind here, and the tarp got displaced), and there are a couple of holes in the top of the (bilge pump pad?) that I see water in; water that didn't get there from above I don't think, but from some unseen pathway.
 

Mad Dog 2

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 19, 2013
Messages
40
You want to protect your cylinder walls, valves and fuel system. If not going to use the boat for more then 3 months you want to fog it, put a weather resistant cover on it, remove the hull drain plug and disconnect the battery.
Always fog a carburetor inboard engine with Marvel Mystery oil. (Check owners manual)
Outboard motors use a name brand aerosol spray to fog the engine. After fogging pull the spark plugs and spray each cylinder with the fogging oil and roll the engine over gently couple times.
You need to treat the gasoline with a stabilizer, If you have a spin on gas filter add a little unmixed 2 stroke oil to the filter and then run the engine to get the oil into the carbs. This keep the carb passages from clogging up.
Next time you go to use the boat no drama.
Often boat owners think they are going out next weekend and suddenly they have not used the boat for a year.
 

Renken2000Classic

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 10, 2022
Messages
237
That sort of reminds me of my third time out this year. Boat hadn't run in 2mos. Started up fine, launched, made a little circle with some mild RPMs on it, docked, and killed it while I put the trailer away.

Had some misfortunes on the docking part, and ended up tied to a (oh, what's the tiedown thing called, lol?) that I couldn't reach from inside the boat (long story...). Well, I loosed it and stepped in to start it.

It started but was barely idling, like just a few hundred RPM. I advanced the throttle as we slowly drifted away from the dock (lol) and there was a slight, unhappy delay before that did anything.

Maneuvered away, opened it up (in gear) and ran it up to 3,500 or so for a few seconds after that, and the rest of our time was great - ran and restarted perfectly. It was just suffering from infrequent use I suppose.

I should've started it first it to verify running right, before untieing like that. And just cut that cheap rope and gotten it on our way back in.
 

Bierdaddy

Recruit
Joined
Nov 9, 2024
Messages
1
Agreed with others here, you never know when life keeps you from boating. It’s been over a year since starting my boat’s omc 5.7. I’m glad I fogged it, but fear problems with the old gas. Take the time and spend a few dollars to store it properly. Upper Midwest winters temps fluctuate 40 degrees some days with windchill. Can of fogging spray and a few gal of -100 AF is cheaper than fixing a cracked block/repowering.

I run pink AF through the water cooling system and shut it down when only pink comes out the exhaust. I run the engine one more time and fog the carb until it quits. Let the engine cool a bit while doing other stuff, storing lines, moving cabin cushions, pouring AF in the toilet, etc. When reasonably cool I open the block drains (4), poke a wire through the holes to remove gunk, then replace drain screws. I remove the batteries last. Cover the boat. See ya in a few months. Visit the lot to brush of any heavy snow, fix tarps. Wait impatiently for April and read boat forums. 1987 Omc 5.7L still chugging.
 
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