Leaving motor outside in winter. Tips

[briansnat]

Ever since I had my 2 cycle outboard I would bring it into the basement for the winter. Now I'm living in a house where there is no place to store the motor inside, unless I can deal with it sitting in the middle of the living room. I have no choice but to leave it on the boat.

Any tips or best practices for leaving a motor out during the NJ winter? It's a 9.9 2 cycle Yamaha, circa 1992 if that matters.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Run the gas out of it, pull the plugs, a few squirts of oil or fogging spray in the spark plug holes, a few pulls to spread the oil around, put plugs back in and you should be set.

[RATS]

Might be bogus but have not had mice nests since I started doing this, take some fabric softener sheets and stick them under the engine cowl and anywhere mice might want to get into.

[Duffman]

I guess I'll give you a different take on this since I never have any luck running OB's dry of fuel.

Stabilize fuel with whatever additive you choose. Ive used Sta Bil for years w/o issue. I add stabilizer on the last trip of the season so I know it fully circulated into the fuel system.

Fog engine at home on the hose. Once fogged, tap the key or pull rip cord to cycle pistons in the bore to distribute fogging oil.

Store ob in operating position to drain all water. Drain and fill gear oil and look for any water.

Throw a cover on it and say goodnight till next March.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Duffs method works too. Important to make sure when you mix the stabilizer in the fuel it works its way all through the motor.

[briansnat]

Will water just drain out of the outboard? Or do I need to start it up and run it until it stops pumping any water inside? I'm kind of hesitant to do that.

[Duffman]

NEVER run it without a hose water supply or the o/b in the water! you'll cook the w/p impeller in no time. store in the operating position and it will self drain.

[briansnat]

Originally Posted by Duffman

NEVER run it without a hose water supply or the o/b in the water! you'll cook the w/p impeller in no time. store in the operating position and it will self drain.

Thanks, it was my concern that even if I ran it for a few seconds until it pumped dry that it could cause damage. But I was also worried that any water left inside would cause damage when things froze. Good to know that isn't an issue.

A friend told me that he runs anti freeze through his motor before storing it outdoors for the winter but he has a 200 HP 4 stroke. Not sure if that makes a difference, or if he is just wasting his effort.

[shrimpman steve]

I winterize exactly as duff said. Have had no problems

[shrimpman steve]

Just did mine yesterday.

Good night