Winterizing my 4-stroke.

[harvey lee]

I have always done my own work and with a new 4-stroke I'm wondering what all I have to do to get it ready for winter storage soon.

The motor is a Merc 50hp, 4-stroke.

[Scott K]

Just change lower unit lube, change engine oil and filter, fog engine. Make sure all the water is out of the bottom of your boat. Shoot a little greese in the bearing buddies, or repack them, then it will be all ready for spring.

There is alot of good fall fishing yet, why are you thinking storage already?

[harvey lee]

I will be fishing yet. Looks like the same things I did to my older 25 Johnson. I thought with it being a 4-stroke that there may be some added things to do.

This is the first boat for me that has a infloor fuel tank. How about the fuel system and tank?

[Sutty]

I am in the same boat ( ) as you as far as the fuel tank goes. What I have learned so far is some guys use stabyl and some use seafoam. Also I think less condensation would get in the gas if the tank is full before storage.

When I owned a four stroke I did what was mentioned above and did not ever have any problems (Fog, Lower Unit, Oil change) My new motor (Opti) has a fuel/water separator and I have been told that needs to be changed every couple of years as well.

[Scott K]

I have bought and added sea foam, but I usually forget and never had any problems either. I keep my gas tank as low as possible, then I fill it in the spring. Gas doesnt have the storage life it use to. I am still planning a trip to url in late october, and possibly a couple mille acs, I love fall fishing. I have had my boat out when I had to drop it off the boat ramp because the shore was froze. But that was a few years ago, with a smaller boat.

[ifishsd]

Dump a can of sea foam in the tank.

I always unhook the gas line and run the gas out of the motor.

[LMITOUT]

I agree with the last two posts.....run the tank as low as possible and put some seafoam or Stabil in the tank before your last outing to get it mixed up and through the engine before storing. Even with the additives I'd rather not have a full tank of somewhat "fresh" gas come spring. I've always done this with my previous boat it started right away after filling the tank with fresh gas before the first time out for the year. I always use non-oxygenated gas as well to help reduce the gumming that you'll get with Ethanol laden gas. Just after you've loaded the boat on the trailer I try to pull the fuel line and let it run until it dies if it's possible to do so at the landing. Otherwise it can be done at home with the muffs.

At home I pull the sparkplugs and spray some fogging oil into the cylinders and then hit the key a few times to cycle the pistons and then give each hole a few more squirts. Put the plugs in and wrap it up. Some like to spray fogging oil into the intake while the engine is running also but I never did that. On my old 60 2-stroke I would change the plugs after a few times out when the fogging oil has burned out so not to foul brand new plugs.

Lower unit oil gets changed as well as the engine oil and filter. Open any circuit breakers you may have and put the batteries on the charger, or just disconnect them completely after topping off the charge.

Cover it up and tuck her in for a long winter's nap.