Fuel in Carburetors through winter storage

[eavega]

Hey folks

So, even though its still boating weather here in Georgia, nighttime temps are staying in the 50s, and I suspect the lake will be too cold for my family fairly soon. I'll get a couple of fishing trips in, but I suspect I'll be winterizing the boat in the next 60 days or so. This will be my second year putting my Stingray away for the winter and I did have a question about fuel and carburetors.
I only run non-ethanol fuel, and during the season I use is quickly enough that I don't think it needs stabilizers. Now, with my previous motors (all 2-stroke outboards) I used to make sure that I ran stabilized fuel through the motor when getting ready to shut it down until spring and left the carb bowls full. I've never fogged the carburetors. For the carbed 3.0 L Mercruiser that's on this boat, is there anything that needs to be done to the fuel/fuel system so that next spring its just a matter of check the oil, fill up the tank (I'll store with an empty tank), fire it up and go? Specifically should I drain the carbs, or is it okay to just leave it be since the winter layup will only be about 4 months?
Part of my end-of-season process will be to change out the two fuel filters (at carb and at pump), check/change the fuel-water separator filter, as well as change out the engine oil and filter and drain the water out of the motor.
I'll also be changing the impeller this year, as its already seen a couple of years of service. As part of this procedure I'll be changing the LU oil and checking alignment before re-installing.

Any other suggestions or advice would be appreciated, especially the question of any fuel-related preparation for the winter nap.

Rgds

Eric

 

[Volphin]

Re: Fuel in Carburetors through winter storage

It won't hurt a thing to leave it in there. A lot will evaporate over the winter anyway. The internals of a carb are designed to be immersed in fuel.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Fuel in Carburetors through winter storage

Fuelwise, I do not do anything to my engine except drain the raw water and add a little Sta-bil to the tank. I keep the batteries in the boat on a maintainer and turn it over a couple of times in the off season. Never had a problem, and should be even better now that I am running non-ethanol fuel (which I love BTW).

 

[DeepBlue2010]

Re: Fuel in Carburetors through winter storage

Winterizing with an empty fuel tank has proven to be more troubling than helpful. Basically, condensation has a lot of empty space to work its magic and fill your tank gradually with water. I always fill my tank full before winterizing; add fuel stabilizer to it and enjoy a full tank next season. Fogging the engine will not only protect the carburetor but also the sides of your cylinders from rusting. It is a good practice that I have been using every season. My 2c, your boat/your call.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Fuel in Carburetors through winter storage

^ I agree. Put some Sta-Bil in the tank, then fill it up full and run the engine for a while on muffs to get the stabilized fuel into the carb. Then fog the engine (optional) until it shuts down. I have a fuel shut-off valve on mine that I turn off while fogging to empty the lines. Drain block/manifolds, disconnect battery, wipe down interior, wash exterior, put the cover on it.

 

[eavega]

Re: Fuel in Carburetors through winter storage

Winterizing with an empty fuel tank has proven to be more troubling than helpful. Basically, condensation has a lot of empty space to work its magic and fill your tank gradually with water. I always fill my tank full before winterizing; add fuel stabilizer to it and enjoy a full tank next season. Fogging the engine will not only protect the carburetor but also the sides of your cylinders from rusting. It is a good practice that I have been using every season. My 2c, your boat/your call.

I appreciate the comment about condensation in the tank, but I store the boat in the garage which is fairly temperature and moisture controlled, so not a lot of chance for condensation. I may re-think the fogging thing. I just never have fogged the engine. As to the full tank, there are threads about doing one or the other. The best argument I have heard for leaving the tank empty is not having to think about the $100 of fuel sitting in the tank for the entire winter. Maybe prices will drop before next March.


Thanks for the replies, though.

 

[Volphin]

Re: Fuel in Carburetors through winter storage

The best argument I have heard for leaving the tank empty is not having to think about the $100 of fuel sitting in the tank for the entire winter. Maybe prices will drop before next March.

Don't bet on it. LOL I keep mine in a heated garage and have never had much of a problem at all. I typically have 1/2 tank and top off with new premium 100% gas for the first tank.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Fuel in Carburetors through winter storage

I live in the land of 9-10 month boat/bike storage and we always store a carb dry.
When the fuel evaporates it leaves a lot of hard crap that is a pain to remove. And when it floats around it readily clogs jets.
Guys that store their bikes with 4 wet carbs have big bills in a few years if they can't clean them out.

 

[Cortes100]

Re: Fuel in Carburetors through winter storage

Last season the winter was so long that my boat was in storage for 7 months. Even now, it's been dipping below freezing but nice during the day. I'm holding off to the end, hoping to get another outing on the lake. I store in a warm garage.
OK, back to the topic.......Since fuel is so crappy these days, I run ethanol treatment in it all the time, and add stabilizer when it's time to winterize. I also have a carbed 3.0L so it's very easy to fog. Good for long storage duration. During the long storage time, I also turn it over a few times, just to move things around inside the engine. In the spring, I drain the fuel tank and throw that old fuel in the truck. And fill the boat with fresh. As for the carb, it's parked with a full bowl, and haven't had any issues with starting in the spring.

 

[bonzoscott]

Re: Fuel in Carburetors through winter storage

Always fuel stabilizer. Small price opposed to big price. Spray fogging oil down carb as you're getting stabilizer through system. Drain block. If you don't want to store with a full tank, put dry gas in the fuel (jerk it around) before you fire it up in the spring. I feel "dry carb" is a risky method. If you try and run the fuel out of the carb, there is always a bit in there that is going to rot, varnish, etc. Stabilizer keeps it like new for 1 year or better.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Fuel in Carburetors through winter storage

Always fuel stabilizer. Small price opposed to big price. Spray fogging oil down carb as you're getting stabilizer through system. Drain block. If you don't want to store with a full tank, put dry gas in the fuel (jerk it around) before you fire it up in the spring. I feel "dry carb" is a risky method. If you try and run the fuel out of the carb, there is always a bit in there that is going to rot, varnish, etc. Stabilizer keeps it like new for 1 year or better.

Less to evaporate, less varnish. When a carb sits for 9-10 months it will be dry whether you drained it or not.

 

[orangeTANG]

Re: Fuel in Carburetors through winter storage

Can anyone explain how to drain the carbs on a 3L Mercruiser that doesn't have a fuel shutoff? Is there a screw or hose that needs to be removed? I've searched around but can't really find instructions and the Mercruiser manual doesn't really mention it.

Fuel has stabilizer in it, and run for about 10 minutes. The engine is fogged, and water is drained, then the system topped up with antifreeze. Just reviewing anything else I may have missed since its my first time doing it myself.