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Winterize Your 4-stroke Outboard
As the boating season comes to an end, it’s essential to prepare your outboard engine for the colder months.
Properly maintaining your Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) B is essential to ensure smooth sailing on your next adventure (video). This way, you can avoid any unexpected surprises along the way. So you should also winterize your precious outboard engine.
To winterize your engine properly it will keep it in top shape and ready for next spring. Here’s a straightforward guide to what needs to be done. Here’s the translation:
Some owners can do these 10 steps themselves. If you don’t have the necessary tools or skills, here’s what your mechanic will do.
Advanced owners will find an extra instructional video below the guide to winterize a 4-stroke and a 2-stroke.
- Fuel System Care: Add a fuel stabilizer to your fuel tank. Run the engine for about 10 minutes to ensure the stabilized fuel circulates through the system. This prevents the fuel from degrading and gumming up the carburetor or fuel injectors.
- Engine Flushing: Connect a flushing attachment or “ear muffs” to a garden hose. Place them over the water intake. Run fresh water through the engine. This removes salt, dirt, and corrosion.
- Fogging the Engine: While the engine is running, spray fogging oil into the air intake of each carburetor. This protects the internal engine components from corrosion. If your engine has a fogging port, use it.
- Changing the Oil: For 4-stroke engines, drain the old oil and replace it with new oil. Don’t forget to replace the oil filter as well. This ensures lubrication of internal parts during storage.
- Lower Unit Maintenance: Drain and refill the lower unit with fresh gear oil. This prevents water from freezing inside and causing damage.
- Propeller Check: Remove the propeller to check for fishing line or other debris, and inspect the blades for damage.
- Battery Care: Disconnect the battery and store it in a cool, dry place. Charge it periodically over the winter to keep it healthy.
- Inspect for Damage: Check the engine and propeller for any signs of wear or damage. Addressing these issues now can save you headaches in the spring.
- Protective Measures: Apply a light coat of anti-corrosion spray on external metal surfaces to prevent rust. Also, cover any openings to keep out pests.
- Store Properly: If possible, store the outboard in an upright position. This allows for proper drainage and prevents water from accumulating in the exhaust area.
These steps ensures your outboard engine is well-protected during the winter months.
Come spring, you’ll be ready to hit the water with an engine that’s in prime condition after you dewinterized it.
The video below is designed for advanced users and provides in-depth details on both 2-stroke and 4-stroke outboard engines.
Instructional Video for Advanced Users
The video provided below is extensively documented. It covers a wide range of details about both 2-stroke and 4-stroke outboard engines.
This video was published on the Boat Parts YouTube channel.
