Winterizing pulled engine

[JASinIL2006]

Hi, I have a pulled engine (Merc 350 Mag sitting on a stand in my garage) that I need to winterize. I have run Stabilized gas thru it and sprayed fogging oil into it the last time it was run before I pulled it. The engine is going to be on the stand all winter while I do a transom replacement, and I've drained the water from the block and the exhaust manifolds. I'd like to change the oil as well, but everything I've seen suggest the engine should be run to warm the oil before draining. Running the engine really isn't an option, so I'm wondering if I'm better off draining the (cold) oil as best I can via the drain plug, or if I should wait until the engine is reinstalled and can be run, and then change the oil. Sorry if this is a simple question, but this is my first boat and first time to do any of this.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Winterizing pulled engine

the reason to warm the oil is to aid in drawing it out with a vacuum pump. -non issue when draining out the plug as you will be doing. It might take a few minutes more than warm oil, but doesn't sound like you have any reason to hurry.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Winterizing pulled engine

if ya drain all the oil out of it via the drain plug, ok.
but that won't replace the oil that's inside the oil passages, or the oil sitting in between the friction brgs. etc. that oil will still be old, with contaminants of last years oil.
i guess if ya R&R the oil out the pan, at leat ya know there's no water in it. but if ya can't run it. i can't see the point (short of new oil in the pan) till ya can.

 

[thumpar]

Re: Winterizing pulled engine

If you are worried about the oil in the rest of the engine you could get the tool that runs the oil pump without the engine running and use that after changing it.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Winterizing pulled engine

I'm not sure I've heard of that tool... is it readily available?

 

[thumpar]

Re: Winterizing pulled engine

Yes it is a real thing. The oil pump runs off the distributor shaft and is keyed like a large flat blade screwdriver. The tool is like the lower part of the distributor without the gear. Most just have a place to hook a drill to it to run it. The only downside to doing it is that you have to remove the distributor. If you do it that way I would suggest running the pump then turn the engine over by hand to make sure it gets everything re-oiled.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: Winterizing pulled engine

Or he could remove the spark plugs, disconnect the coil, hook up a battery to the starter and spin it with the starter. That will build the oil pressure in the bearings and be good to go.

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterizing pulled engine

If the engine runs, just hook up some gas and electric to it and start it up while sitting on blocks. If you want to run it for more than a few seconds, hook some water to the inlet port.