Re: Winterizing Question
I didn't change the oil or outdrive fluid since I wanted to do it all in the spring right before I use the boat.
You
should change both the engine and the outdrive oil before winter layup.
This way you don't let the engine sit all winter with contaminated oil in it and you find any water that might be in the outdrive
before you let it sit all winter.
Some people that don't use their boats a lot just drain out a little bit of drive oil and inspect it before winter layup.
Used engine oil contains small amounts of water (from condensation) that will combine with combustion products to produce acids that will corrode etc Additives in the oil are designed to keep this "stuff" in suspension but there's a limit on how long they can do it,
That's why Mercruiser (and others) recommend changing the oil every 100hrs (or once a year which ever occurs first AND right before "Winter Layup") ......
If I ran an engine all summer, I wouldn't let the used oil sit in the engine.
You want fresh clean oil sitting in the engine.
Here's what
Mercruiser says in their maintenance FAQ
[h=3]Is it better to change my engine oil/gear lube at the beginning or end of the season?[/h] It is better to change the oil and gear lube at the end of the season, prior to storage. Lubricants naturally accumulate moisture, combustion by-products, and other contaminants during use. It can be detrimental to store an engine or drive with large amounts of these contaminants present.
Regards,
Rick
