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Posts: 127
Location: SUN PRAIRIE WI | I dont know which way to go for winter storage every thing I read it says to take all these steps for winter for your boat but most of the people I talk to say they do nothing but add stabilizer to the fuel.
I would like to do nothing just because if I get A nice day in the winter I may want to go to the WI river but then again it could sit from when the lakes freeze until they thaw so what do you all do. |
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Posts: 127
Location: SUN PRAIRIE WI | by the way it is A 2012 mercury 4 stroke |
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Posts: 1144
Location: Minnesota. | Tex,, I'm in the same "boat" too, having just gotten into a 2012 Yamaha 150 4 stroke.
Talked to 3 diff. dealers as to what to do and got 4 diff. answers, all good I'm sure. The Yamaha booklet didn't specify much.
I did what I always have done with my old 115 Yammy 2 stroke as far as fuel stuff goes.
Drained the engine oil on this 4 stroke so I got all the old oil out first. A You Tube said to do that before running the engine 'cause too much oil gets left inside unless you allow time for it to drain when warm. Figured I'd drain her cold...
Dumped a couple pints of Sea Foam in the tank for the remaining 20 plus gallons of gas left, waited till the next day for that to "mix" and then ran it for 30 mins on the driveway to get it into the engine. Then I shut her off!
Change the lower unit oil if you feel you need it. I used to do that on my old motor but since it was clean on this one I didn't. If I decide differently come spring I'll do it then but she's clean, no water/milkiness etc. so I figured it's a wash! I know, I know...but you can decide for yourself. I've never had any trouble not changing it for a few seasons if she checks out clean of water etc. It's very important but...if she's clean she's clean!
I used to fog my old 2 stroke. Didn't on this one. Wouldn't hurt I suppose. I'm actually surprised I got a bit lazy there but a reliable auto mechanic I was talking to said he's not done that on any of his 'Vettes he races and never had troubles....Again, it wouldn't hurt.
Pull the prop to check for line. I've never done that and didn't. Never had any trouble there, ever. Hope I didn't just junx myself!
Pull the batteries and top them off with water a tad, to the bottom of the slot. Keep them charged all winter and off the floor of the basement.
Lastly I put clothes drier drying slips "Bounce" etc into every compartment to keep mice out! A tip I've learned from a few sources and never had mice issues since. I had before.
Keep those batteries charged each month.
Hope this helps. I did a lot of asking around dealers, mechanics etc. to decode for myself what to do and what to check but not worry about. For 33 yrs boating it's worked for me.
Also a teacher at one of our Vo-Techs strongly suggested NOT using Stabil gas additive as over a few months it will somewhat gel in the tank. He began his class by adding it to a jar of gas for his students to watch and 3 mos later sure enough, it was "setting up"!! Again, you decide. I've never had anything go wrong using Sea Foam.
Hope this helps. And I'd welcome any other suggestions. I'm no mechanic....
Jeremy.
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Posts: 139
| 1. Charge batteries
2. run a stabilizer in the gas
3. Change lower unit fluid
4. change oil and filter.
5. make sure live wells are drained and you can pour AV anti freeze thru them.
this is what works for me in Norther Wisc |
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Location: 31 | hunter991 - 11/5/2012 8:38 AM
5. make sure live wells are drained and you can pour AV anti freeze thru them.
this is what works for me in Norther Wisc
Excellent idea with the RV antifreeze! Probably just pour some in the live well until it runs out the drain. I also read on a different thread storing the motor straight down to prevent water from collecting in the motor and freezing if stored outside. Then it's just a matter of remembering to tip it up before moving it, or risk dragging the lower unit... I did that once before ALWAYS setting my motor toter upfront as a reminder.
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Posts: 5874
| No reason to pull the batteries. Cold doesn't hurt them if they are fully charged. I keep mine plugged in all the time, but if you can't or don't, just fully charge them, and disconnect the wires from the positive post. |
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Posts: 139
| Jerry Newman - 11/5/2012 1:40 PM
hunter991 - 11/5/2012 8:38 AM
5. make sure live wells are drained and you can pour AV anti freeze thru them.
this is what works for me in Norther Wisc
Excellent idea with the RV antifreeze! Probably just pour some in the live well until it runs out the drain. I also read on a different thread storing the motor straight down to prevent water from collecting in the motor and freezing if stored outside. Then it's just a matter of remembering to tip it up before moving it, or risk dragging the lower unit... I did that once before ALWAYS setting my motor toter upfront as a reminder.
yep always do this |
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winter storage