How to Winterize Your Outboard Motor

Winterization of your outboard motor requires a few essential steps, including removing the battery, changing the oil, adding fuel treatment, and fogging the engine.

When the off-season rolls around, proper winterization of your outboard can prevent engine defects and malfunctions from keeping your vessel out of commission when the water calls.

Here are a few key steps to follow when winterizing your Mercury Marine outboard motors.

Gather Your Supplies

Before getting started, it’s best to organize the tools and supplies you’ll need to winterize your boat motor. This includes:

• Gloves
• Fuel stabilizer
• Hand tools
• Fogging oils
• Drain pan
• Oil filter
• Engine oil
• Funnel

These are just the basic supplies normally used for winterizing boats. To ensure you have exactly what you need, consult your boat owner’s manual.

Replace Old Oil

Failing to change the oil before storing your boat for winter can damage your engine. Contaminants in oil will accumulate over time, which will corrode the motor. If you’re working with a four-stroke engine, the drain plug, which is where you’ll release old oil, can usually be found under the crankcase.

Before loosening the drain plug, be sure to position the drain pan underneath to catch the used oil. Don’t forget to change the oil filter as well. Shop for Mercury oil change kits to ensure you have everything you need to replace the engine oil and filter ahead of the winter months.

Remove the Battery

Your boat’s battery will gradually lose its charge over time when in storage, which is why it’s best to remove it and attach it to a charger in your garage. Make sure the area where you keep the battery is well protected from high temperatures as well as moisture. Also, lead-acid batteries should be refilled with distilled water if needed.

Add a Fuel Treatment

Along with replacing the fuel, you should also add a fuel-stabilizing product to prevent the fuel from thickening during the winter months. You can either remove and replace the existing fuel or allow your boat to run until the tank is empty, then add the fuel treatment as you refuel one last time.

Once the new fuel and stabilizer have been added, be sure to run the boat for at least ten minutes. By running the motor, you can rest assured that the treated fuel will completely make its way through the engine. The last step is to change the fuel filter to protect the engine from contaminants.

Protect the Engine from Corrosion

Fogging the engine can also keep harmful corrosion at bay and extend the lifespan of your motor. Fogging oil is a lubricant that coats different engine components, including the seals and bearings. Like the rest of your winterization kit, fogging oil is essential when prepping your boat for the off-season.

Make sure the engine is still warm and running when you add fogging oil. With four-strokes, lubricant can be added directly to every cylinder. You’ll want to keep adding fogging oil until the motor stalls. Also, be on the lookout for white exhaust smoke, which means the fogging oil is making its way into the engine.

NuWave Marine Has What You Need for the Off-Season

When it comes to winterizing your outboard motor, NuWave Marine has the supplies you need to protect your boat all season long. Contact us today for more informationon our Mercury outboard maintenance kits and other winterization supplies.