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7 Steps to Winterize Your Outboard Motor

by Amanda Phillips

If you are not going to be using your boat again until spring time, you need to winterize your outboard motor. Follow the seven steps below to get your outboard motor ready for a period of dormancy.

#1: Flush Your Engine with Freshwater

The first thing you need to do is flush out the water that is inside of your outboard engine and give it a nice cleaning. Place a flushing attachment on your outboard motor and run some clean, fresh water through the engine.  If you don't have a flushing attachment, you can also fill up a large tank or container with freshwater and then run your engine inside of the tank to flush it out.

#2: Disconnect the Fuel Lines

Second, you are going to want to take the fuel lines and disconnect them from the engine. It is best to do this while the engine is running. This will allow the current fuel to burn out. It will also allow the fuel-delivery components to truly be free of gasoline. Freeing your engine of gasoline will help prevent junk from forming as the gasoline sits and clogs up all of your lines, jets, and injectors inside of your engine.

#3: Spray Fogging Oil

As the motor is running after you disconnect the fuel line but before the engine dies, you need to apply fogging oil to the carburetors on your engine. The fogging oil will help protect your cylinders and carburetors from the inside from developing rust. If you spray things after you disconnect the fuel line but before the engine dies, the fogging oil will be able to run through the engine and protect the appropriate surfaces inside of your engine from rust.

#4: Remove the Spark Plugs

Take the spark plugs out. Once you take them out, you are also going to want to spray fogging oil into the holes where the spark plugs go. This will help coat the internal cylinders and prevent rust from developing. Then put the spark plugs back in place after you check them to see if any need to be replaced.

#5: Spray the Flywheel

Manually rotate the flywheel on your engine. As you manually rotate the flywheel, apply some additional fogging oil to the flywheel. This will help protect the flywheel and the cylinder walls inside of your engine from developing rust.

#6: Clean Away the Grease

Next, you are going to want to use a cloth to clean away the visible grease on your engine. Be sure to focus on the outer gears and pivots that you can clearly see.

#7: Fill the Gear Case

Then, take some oil and fill up the gear case with oil. Filling up the gear case is a necessary step in order to stop condensation from developing inside of it while your motor sits dormant.

Finally, make sure that you store your engine in an upright position, like how it is when it is on your boat. Storing the engine upright will prevent fluids and liquids from migrating to where they are not needed. This will help ensure that all the components work properly in the spring when you put your engine in your boat again.

Talk to a company such as All Seasons Honda & Peninsula Ski-Doo for more information or for professional help.

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