Merc 4.3L Fuel Pump Location/Engine Winterizing

[MITAdU]

Hello, I have a 2013 Mercruiser 4.3L MPI 220HP engine. The manual stipulated the engine to run for a few minutes using a mixture of fuel, 2-cycle oil and fuel stabilizer to properly winterize the engine aside from changing the engine oil, flooding with anti-freeze, etc. Can anybody answer the following questions?

1) What will the damages to the engine be if only a fuel stabilizer is added to the fuel and without the 2-cycle oil?
2) Where is the fuel pump located? Is it in the fuel tank or on the engine?

Thanks for any info you can provide.

 

[H20Rat]

hmm that is interesting... Didn't realize anyone is actually suggesting that from an OEM.

lots of threads on here, but to start with, 'flooding' with antifreeze is by far not the best way to winterize. 'Air don't freeze', to quote a wise man. I personally never run 2 cycle oil through a 4 cycle engine, good way to ensure you are changing the plugs every year. I rarely even spray fogging oil in (for 4 strokes at least), I didn't this year at least.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Sounds like someone at Merc violated the prime directive, which is of course: Keep It Simple Stupid!

I have been parking a 2000 Chevy 1 ton flatbed dually every winter. Even though it is 4WD, it has almost no ground pressure on the duallys and is easy to slide on the icy Idaho roads. So I park it for the winter. All I do is fill it up with gas and park the thing in the back of the shop and leave it. So far, its fuel injected 7.4L Vortec engine has started in 3 seconds come spring, every year.


Keep your list simple. If you want to run on stabilizer, go for it. Skip the antifreeze. Drain the warm engine by pulling all the plugs, single point drains and hoses recommended for that model engine and let it dry out.. Most common saying around here: 'air don't freeze'.

Rick

 

[Bt Doctur]

About winterizing and fogging. I think is was supposed to be "filling with A/F"
considering the enviorment we run in including the moisture ,you want to coat the interior of the motor with something that leaves an oily film.
injected motors cant be sprayed into the intake manifold because of the sensors, it needs to be introduced thru the fuel system.
fuel stabilizer is added to the gas tank usually. Get a small gas tank, add gas, 2 stroke oil, marvel mystery oil.
remove the fuel line from the water/sep filter(if equipped) or remove the fuel line at the fuel pump on the motor.
connect your fuel line with the mix and run the engine.

 

[Scott Danforth]

your over complicating it.

while yes, the verbiage in manual #32, page A2-48 states that if desired....... run it with quicksilver 2-stroke oil and quicksilver fuel stabilizer from a separate remote reservoir.

http://boatinfo.no/lib/mercruiser/manuals/mercruiser32.html#/378

This step is optional.

it also states that if desired, when all is drained, feel free to fill system up with propylene glycol for additional corrosion protection. remember, there are 10 pages showing how to drain the water from the system and purge with air, and only a single line that states if desired, fill system with PG by removing the T-stat housing and pouring in.

However my recommendation (take it for what it is). put fuel stabilizer in your fuel tank, run your motor, change your oil, change gearlube and drain water from block, manifolds, hoses, coolers, etc. either put a battery tender on the battery (or not). If adding PG to your motor makes you feel better, this is the point where you can add it.

No need to fog motor or run it on 2-cycle oil. trust me, the motor will still start and run in the spring if all you did was drain the water, keep the drive down, and maintain the battery.

As more of the catalyzed motors hit the market, the manuals will drop putting 2-stroke oil in the fuel for winter storage, as this will foul the really expensive catalyst

 

[MITAdU]

Thanks for the info guys! Would the fuel pump be located on the engine or in the tank?

 

[Bondo]

Would the fuel pump be located on the engine or in the tank?

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,..... It's under the motor,... follow the fuel lines to it,....

 

[MITAdU]

Again thanks a bunch for the info. Have a great day!