How to Winterize Outboards
With a bit of cleaning, flushing, oiling, greasing and polishing, you can winterize your outboard motor so that you don't face a motor with winter storage fatigue in the spring, when you should be planning boating trips. Storing your outboard for the winter takes work, but the effort's worthwhile. It's part of the cycle of the boating year and, if done properly, will expedite your return to the water when boating season comes around again.
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Things You'll Need
- Pliers
- Pipe wrench
- Flushing attachment
- Fogging oil
- Dish detergent
- Fuel stabilizer
- Gear oil
- Marine grease
- Spray oil
- Automotive wax
- Baking soda
- Petroleum jelly
- Outboard storage rack
Instructions
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Remove the propeller. This will keep you safe as you work on the motor. Take the cotter pin out of the prop nut with pliers, or bend the locking tabs away from the nut if you have a Mercury outboard. Use a pipe wrench to remove the nut, washers and propeller from the propeller shaft.
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2
Flush the outboard. Attach a hose to the engine flushing attachment--the earmuffs that boaters talk about when discussing outboards. Clamp the earmuffs over the water intakes on your outboard, start your engine and flush it for five to 10 minutes.
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3
Oil and clean out the carburetor. Disconnect the fuel line at the carburetor. When the motor begins to starve for fuel, which will happen quickly, spray a blast of fogging oil into the carburetor before allowing the engine to die. This will burn the fuel out of the carburetor. Fuel left in the carburetor will break down and leave a coating of varnish on the jets and in the bowl, hampering the outboard's performance. Fogging oil is available at any boating supply store or online.
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4
Remove the spark plugs and spray another blast of fogging oil into the spark plug holes. Crank the engine over once or twice--just a few seconds--to draw the fogging oil into the cylinder.
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5
Add fuel stabilizer to your fuel tank. If your tank is removable, remove it and store it in a dry area. Remove the earmuffs and wash down the outside of your motor with a mild dish detergent. Allow all the water to drain from your outboard.
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6
Change the gear oil in the lower unit. This procedure varies from model to model and manufacturer to manufacturer. Find the procedure for your engine in your owner's manual. Apply marine grease to the propeller shaft with a rag. Apply a light dusting of a spray oil to the lower unit's exterior and wax the cowling of the motor with a high-quality automotive wax.
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Remove the batteries from the boat. Clean their exterior with a bit of baking soda, which will remove any buildup on the terminals. Recharge the batteries completely and apply a light coating of petroleum jelly to the terminals. Store the batteries in a dry, clean place.
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8
Store the motor upright on a motor storage rack. If the propeller is undamaged, store it on the stand with the motor. When the next boating season begins, you'll need to test the motor. By leaving the propeller off, you can avoid having to remove it again to guard against propeller-related injuries.
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Tips & Warnings
While you're flushing your motor, check the prop--which you removed--for dents, dings and damage.
Store your motor vertically, as if it's still on the transom of your boat. If you don't, you'll be sanding rust on your motor in the spring.
