winterize---dealer told me..........

[Jonnie]

I bought a 20' deckboat this year--Mercury 200 outboard, carb, not EFI, not optimax.<br />To winterize it he said just to trim it all the way down, let the water run out near the prop, remove the bottom oil plug to see if there is any water in the oil.<br />Then start it, unplug the gas line, let it run out of gas, take the plugs out and spray in oil. Turn it over once to disperse the oil in the cylinder and that is it.<br /><br />Is this correct? My buddy said that is the old way. The new way is to monthly go out and squeeze the bulb, with engine off-give it the throttle to squirt gas in the carb. <br /><br />Any thoughts??

 

[Dunk]

Re: winterize---dealer told me..........

Have to disagree.. First put enough Stabil fuel stabilizer in the fuel tank for the amount of fuel in it. Run the engine long enough to get it into the carbs, 5 mins. After that I recommend you remove the carb air horn silencer plate so you can see the carbs. I use a 50/50 mix of WD-40 and OMC outboard oil in spray bottle that will squirt a pretty good stream. With the engine idling start spraying this juice down the carbs till she's smoking good. You might need to reach around the carbs and hold linkages open some so she doesn't stall on you, but once she's loaded up on this stuff she should quit on her own. You want to choke the engine till she quits on this stuff. You can also buy fogging oil from any dealer made just for this.<br /><br /> The reason I say don't drain the carbs is what do think will dry up and turn to varnish first, a full carb of stabilized fuel or a few drops left in the bottom of the bowl. I also agree that keeping them full is best. If you have access to the boat over the winter it never hurts to give it few squeeze primes once in awhile.<br /><br /> The way the dealer told you to winterize the engine will protect the cylinder walls but will do nothing for the bearings and crankshaft. The right way will.<br /><br /> The gearcase, remove the prop and regrease the prop shaft. Drain the gearcase lube and put fresh back in. I've never liked letting the old stuff sit over the winter.

 

[Jacques321]

Re: winterize---dealer told me..........

I was a little surprised but my owner's manual for my Merc 90 4 stroke(2000) doesn't say anything about oiling the crankshaft and bearings through the carbs.But I agree with you Dunk that it is a good thing to do.<br /><br />The manual recommends you fill the fuel system with stablized fuel and to run your engine for around 10 mins so the treated fuel will reach the carbs.<br /><br />They just say to remove the spark plugs and to spray a small amount of engine oil in the cylinders and to rotate the flywheel a few times to circulate the oil.<br /><br />Then they recommend you change your engine oil/filter and the gear case oil ,as well as the regular battery storage precautions etc... thats it.

 

[grandx]

Re: winterize---dealer told me..........

Running the gas out of a V6 with 3 carbs is probably not a good idea unless you are spraying a fuel/lubricant into all of the carbs simultaneously. I have an old 2 cylinder with a single carb, and have always ran the carb dry, but with a V6 if one of the 3 carbs run out of fuel before the other 2 you will not be lubricating 2 of the cylinders while waiting for the others to run out.

 

[grandx]

Re: winterize---dealer told me..........

Jacques, a 4 stroke doesn't get its lubrication from the fuel (carb) like a 2 stroke, you don't have to worry about it if you have oil in the crank case. Tossing a little oil in the cylinders and rotating is perfect for a 4 stroke.

 

[Jacques321]

Re: winterize---dealer told me..........

OK, thanks for the info Grandx(it's reassuring). I'm not a 4 stroke expert, I've only owned one for a couple of years and this year I decided to do most of the maintenance myself.<br /><br />My boat is put away for the winter at a remote location and I don't really have access to it until next spring.