To start up engine or not?

[Gradywhite3535]

I'm on long islNd,ny. Is it too early to crxnk her up or should I wait? Has anyone here de winterized there boats yet and where ard you located. Thanks

 

[carey965]

Re: To start up engine or not?

im just outside toronto and i did mine, just make sure you drain the block and risers and you will be good

 

[dingbat]

Re: To start up engine or not?

I'm on the Chesapeake in Maryland. Mine has been back in the slip since the 2nd week if March

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: To start up engine or not?

at this time of year it takes a lot more than a dip below freezing to get the inside of an engine block or other parts cold enough long enough to freeze solid enough to cause a problem.

generally any inside temp is 10* warmer than outside at night. interiors that warm up in the day time also retain heat through the night.

try this: set a bottle of water next to the block on a night when the temps are going below freezing. Leave one in your car, too, and one outside on the ground and another off the ground. Put one in the mailbox. I'll bet none of them freeze solid and only the one sitting exposed off the ground will have any ice.

And if it's in a slip, no solid ice, no problem.

or look at yourlong range forecast: Intellicast - Long Island City Weather Report in New York (11120)

 

[roffey]

Re: To start up engine or not?

im just outside toronto and i did mine, just make sure you drain the block and risers and you will be good

I'm in Ottawa, just down the 401 from you and we freeze every night. True spring here above freezing through the day and freeze at night. I figure and of April middle of May?

 

[JimS123]

Re: To start up engine or not?

I'm on long islNd,ny. Is it too early to crxnk her up or should I wait? Has anyone here de winterized there boats yet and where ard you located. Thanks

Why on earth would you want to? Planning on taking a boatride in the ice tomorrow? Fire her up now and you'll just have to winterize her again. You dewinterize when its time to use her again.

 

[JoLin]

Re: To start up engine or not?

Wait just another week or two, keeping an eye on the extended forecast for predicted overnight temps. I'm struggling with the same question- I'm due to survey and sea trial a boat that I contracted to purchase last November. Plan to contact the broker tomorrow and set up a plan. I could conceivably do the survey (on the hard) next week. The only thing that needs to be de-winterized for that is the fresh water system, to test the plumbing, pump and water heater. Worst case, I could defer that until we're ready for the sea trial.

I personally think we're over the hump on L.I., but will get the broker's opinion.

 

[bspeth]

Re: To start up engine or not?

Then take all those water bottles and shake them vigorously.

 

[garbageguy]

Re: To start up engine or not?

I'm on long islNd,ny. Is it too early to crxnk her up or should I wait? Has anyone here de winterized there boats yet and where ard you located. Thanks

Not here quite yet - you may be closer down there.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: To start up engine or not?

If I'm not mistaken you have an OB? Just trim it all the way down when your done to drain. OBs are self draining........

 

[ricohman]

Re: To start up engine or not?

Its going down to minus 20 here at night. No chance of starting anything until it warms up.
If you can't get on the water, why fire it up?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: To start up engine or not?

I would think the winter is over in Long Island. You should be good to go....

 

[greenbush future]

Re: To start up engine or not?

A light bulb in the engine box will provide more than enough heat to keep your I/O from freezing if your boat is slipped. Remember if it's in the water, you are already above 32 degrees. Or is this an outboard which doesn't need winterizing for the most part?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: To start up engine or not?

another seagull flies over and drops one and flies on...

 

[Gradywhite3535]

Re: To start up engine or not?

My boat is on land at the moment. Why wouldn't you have to winterize a outboard?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: To start up engine or not?

My boat is on land at the moment. Why wouldn't you have to winterize a outboard?

because it doesn't hold any water that can freeze. Totally unnecessary to do anything except store it vertically in winter.

Now, there are things people do to motors that have nothing to do with winter weather when they are going to sit unused for 4 months or more--that includes fogging the cylinders, draining carbs, running some fuel stabilizer through it, as well as treating the tank. Mnay people don't do all or any of it and get along fine; others have gum problems when they start it up.

Many people use the fall as the time to check the lower unit for any water mixed in there, because that water could freeze, too. However, if there is water in the LU then the correct action is to fix it so there isn't any water in it. That's not winterizing; that's maintenance, but timed to minimize extra damage.

Come spring you often have to ream out the tell tale tube but again that's a function of sitting, not the season.

 

[Gradywhite3535]

Re: To start up engine or not?

Very interesting, I too fogged my cylinders but I didn't drain the carbs. Hope this won't be a problem for me. But I did run some fuel stabilizer thru the engine. Thanks for the help/tips

 

[scipper77]

Re: To start up engine or not?

I'm a little late but...

You certainly can run the motor now. The advantage is that you will flush gas through the fuel system which will keep the carb from fouling. Even running old gas through the carb will keep it clean (you do have a fuel filter right?) Old gas (I'm talking last season) might need to be replaced but stagnant gas in the fuel system is what turns into varnish, not old gas that is pushed through.

I'm not recommending running old gas, just saying that flushing last years gas through the carb should be fine for running it on muffs.

My concern with running a 2 stroke outboard in cold temp is that I have no idea how well the oil mixed with the gas protects at or near freezing temps. I suspect it will be just fine but I sure would feel better waiting until the temps are in the 50's.

 

[Gradywhite3535]

Re: To start up engine or not?

Yes I do have a fuel filter. Thsnks

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: To start up engine or not?

My concern with running a 2 stroke outboard in cold temp is that I have no idea how well the oil mixed with the gas protects at or near freezing temps. I suspect it will be just fine but I sure would feel better waiting until the temps are in the 50's.

There is no issue here. We run OB's all the time in below freezing temperatures. Half my boating would be cancelled if I could only go out when it's 50 or above--and I live in the South!