Check out these links on the steps to take to winterize your boat & motor:

Winterizing Boats & Motors

Winterizing thread in Equipment Forum

For a direct injected motor (Optimax, Etec, FICHT, HPDI):

I would run some fuel stabilizer through the engine (don't just dump it in the gas tank and call it good, treat the gas in the tank and run the motor for a while to make sure it's all the way through the fuel system). The best way to do this is on the last trip of the season dump some fuel stabilizer into the tank - by the time you're done with your fishing trip the gas in the motor is stabilized.

Then, stop at the gas station on your way home and top the tank off to prevent water in the gas due to condensation. Keep track of how many gallons you added and be sure to add the appropriate amount of treatment for that gas.

Drain the lower unit lube and refill it again until you have a good stream coming out the top hole.

Pull the spark plugs and squirt some fogging fluid into each cylinder. Reinstall the spark plugs, but leave the wires off and turn the motor over a couple of times to get the fogging fluid spread around in the cylinder. Put the wires back on when you're done.

Pull the battery connection, put some form of mouse deterrent and put it away for the winter.

marine_man

As posted in the Winterizing Four Stroke Outboard Thread



You don't have to drain the fuel system is what Mark is referring to.

marine_man

Thanks for the tips Marine_Man I was just about to ask about Direct Injection engines this year as I am new to the Optimax winterizing.

My Mercruizer I/O has a lower unit gear lube reservoir. Is it necessary to drain both the lube in the gear case and reservoir? Seems like a waste since I don't think the reservoir lube ever gets cantaminated (and that lube is spendy).

I sure the manufacture says to, but you're right, that oil probably will never even see the upper drive let alone the lower. It's main purpose is to let you know if you are losing oil. It's more of a monitor in that respect. Then again there's not very much oil in the whole thing anyways.

What do you recommend for anti-mouse treatment?

Sort of like removing ticks, someone swears by one method and the next guy swears against it. Whats the real way to keep them out?

Drier sheets everywhere.

I use this method as well.

I've heard moth balls

The link on the first post says to run the motor and spray fogging oil into the carbs until the motor stalls.

Do I need to do this on my 2 stroke outboard before storing it for winter, or can I just remove the plugs and spray it into the cylinders as Marine Man suggests?

This is certainly easier to do.

Spraying into the carbs while the engine is running will ensure all internal parts have been coated with fogging oil.

Bruce is there a certain brand of fogging oil that works any better then others ? I know I have to pick some up and I am going to be going thru G.R. and need to pick some up.

I have always used OMC's brand. I've also used Stabil's fogging oil, it doesnt seem to smoke as much.

17.Open all hatches. Place an open bag or two of charcoal in the bilge and in any other enclosed areas. It won't hurt the opened area's either.

Question: what's with the charcoal idea?

Thanks!

Possibly to absorb odors?