That time of year again

[Georgesalmon]

OK, so its time for me to start putting our boats to bed for the winter. First boat is my Lake Michigan boat. It has a '79 115 inline 6 merc and a '12, 9.9hp, 4 stroke (carbed) pro-kicker on it. I was thinking about making up a small tank of non-ethanol gas with 16:1 2 cycle oil mix and marine stabil in it, maybe some seafoam to. Can, should, I run that mix through both motors? Will it hurt my 4 stroke? Is this a good way to store outboards for 7 or 8 months? Also, should I leave my 40gal onboard tank empty or full? Onboard tank has about 15 gallons of 10% ethanol fuel in it.

Other boats have 50hp 4 stroke yamaha, old '50s 7.5hp chysler, old '60's 9.9hp evenrude, and old '60's 18hp evenrude. Couple of those will be active until freeze-up with fall walleye and duck/goose hunting coming up. Good idea for those?

I never did much of anything, or ran em dry in the past but since reading this forum I'm thinking I was just lucky not having any problems.

What about fogging oil, do I need to do that to or will the rich oil mixe to that?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: That time of year again

George, just put some stabilizer into the fuel tanks, and run the motor to distribute the stabilized fuel. Now spray some fogging oil into the carb throats and after you see smoke, shut them down and let them drain. Now change the gear oil, charge the battery, hit the grease fittings, and grease the steering rod. I pull the props as well. There is debate on filling the fuel tanks or letting them be empty. I just leave them as they are....Portable tanks should be emptied in the fall and then again in the spring to get any water that accumulates. You can siphon the bottom of installed tanks to get any water out.