Mercedes Mullins
Winterizing your boat is essential to prevent damage from freezing temperatures. This includes winterizing your boat's fuel system, which can be done by filling up your fuel tanks, changing your fuel/water separator, and adding a fuel stabilizer. If you have an older carbureted engine, you can shut off the fuel valve or remove the fuel line and run the engine until all the fuel has burned out. Alternatively, you can spray fogging oil into the carburetor to protect the intake valves from corrosion and prevent the engine from dying.
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What You'll Learn
Drain the carb's float bowls
To drain the carbs float bowls, start by tilting the motor up slightly to tilt the carb float chambers so they drain better. Next, locate the drain plug at the side or bottom of the float bowl and remove it. Be careful not to damage the threads or gasket when removing the drain screw. You can then squeeze the primer bulb a few times to flush the carb float chambers with fresh fuel before replacing the plugs. This process will help to ensure that your boat's fuel system is properly winterized.
It is worth noting that not all carbs have drain screws. If your carb does not have a drain screw, you may be able to pull the main jet cover bolt to drain the carb bowl. Additionally, some engines may not have a quick way to disconnect the fuel line from the built-in tank. In this case, you can add a fuel stabilizer to the fuel tank and run the engine long enough to get the stabilized fuel into the carb before shutting it down.
Another method to winterize your boat's fuel system is to spray fogging oil into the carb bores or air intake for each cylinder until the engine dies. This will ensure that the fogging oil is distributed throughout the engine. However, some people prefer to remove the fuel line and spray the remaining oil into the carburetor bores as the engine is dying.
Remember to always consult your boat's instruction manual for specific directions on winterizing your boat's fuel system and draining the carbs float bowls. The manual will provide detailed instructions specific to your boat's make and model.
By following these steps, you can effectively drain the carbs float bowls and winterize your boat's fuel system, ensuring that your boat will run smoothly when spring arrives.
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Add a fuel stabiliser like Techron Marine
Winterizing your boat's fuel system is essential to ensure that your boat runs smoothly when spring arrives. One of the critical steps in this process is adding a fuel stabilizer, such as Techron Marine, to your fuel tank. Here are some detailed instructions and benefits of using Techron Marine as your fuel stabilizer:
Techron Marine is a reliable and proven fuel stabilizer and ethanol treatment designed specifically for the recreational boating industry. It is compatible with all gasoline engines, including two-stroke, four-stroke, carbureted, port- or electronic-fuel-injected, and direct-injected engines. It is also suitable for a wide range of ethanol-blended fuels and ethanol-free gasoline.
When winterizing your boat, fill up your fuel tanks and then add Techron Marine to the tank. It is recommended to use it with every fill-up to prevent fuel-related issues and keep your fuel system clean and water-free. Techron Marine provides fuel stability of up to 24 months, protecting your fuel system and fuel gauge sensor. It also delivers advanced cleaning power, clearing away harmful deposits and providing complete fuel system protection.
Additionally, Techron Marine offers superior corrosion protection in both fresh and saltwater environments, making it an excellent choice for inland boaters and anglers. It does not contribute to water uptake, ensuring that your fuel system stays dry. By using Techron Marine regularly, you can maintain strong engine performance, reliability, and peace of mind while enjoying your time on the water.
It is important to note that while Techron Marine is a trusted and effective product, there are other fuel stabilizers available on the market that can also be used for winterizing your boat's fuel system. However, always ensure that the stabilizer you choose is suitable for your boat's engine and fuel type.
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Spray fogging oil into the carburetor
To winterize your boat's fuel system, it is important to prevent water accumulation in the fuel tank due to condensation. This can be done by filling up the fuel tanks, changing the fuel/water separator, and adding a fuel stabilizer. Running the engine(s) will help work the old fuel through and get treated fuel into all the lines and the engine(s).
Now, onto the topic of spraying fogging oil into the carburetor:
Fogging oil is essential to winterizing your boat's engine. It is recommended to spray fogging oil into the carburetor bores until the engine dies. This process helps to ensure that the internal surfaces of the engine are fully coated with fogging oil, protecting them from the cold during the winter months. One source suggests that you can spray fogging oil into the carburetor at 1300 RPM, but it is not necessary, and you can simply bring the engine back to normal idle. It is also advised to remove the spark plugs and spray a little fogging oil inside the cylinders to ensure complete coverage.
It is worth noting that some people choose to remove the fuel line and run the engine until all the fuel has burned out of the system, especially for older carbureted engines. However, this is not a requirement, and you can achieve effective winterization by spraying fogging oil into the carburetor while the engine is running.
Additionally, it is important to address other systems on your boat that require winterization, such as the plumbing and freshwater systems. Covering your boat or using shrink wrapping are also considerations for the winter lay-up period.
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Change the crankcase oil
To change the crankcase oil, start by warming up the engine. This is important as it helps to thin out the oil, making it easier to drain. Once the engine is warm, set up an oil pan to catch the drippings and lay out some absorbent paper towels to clean up any mess. Now, drain the oil from the engine and once that is done, remove and replace the oil filter. Be sure to place some paper towels and a plastic bag around the filter to catch the oil while removing it. When installing the new oil filter, apply a small amount of oil to the sealing "O" ring at the base of the filter.
Next, after reinstalling the oil drain plug, refill the crankcase with the appropriate quantity of fresh oil. Check your engine manual for specific oil recommendations. For a four-stroke outboard or inboard, use fresh 10W-30 or 25W-40 marine-grade oil. Be sure to dispose of the used oil properly.
It is recommended to change the crankcase oil at the end of the season, before winterizing your boat, to ensure the engine is lubricated and coated with fresh oil that contains rust inhibitors. This will help extend the life of the engine and prevent corrosion and other damage caused by contaminated oil. While modern oils do not "wear out", they do accumulate dirt, combustion residue, and acid, which can be harmful to the engine if left to settle over the winter.
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Refill the fuel tank to prevent condensation
To prevent condensation when winterizing your boat, it is important to refill the fuel tank. This is because condensation forms when cold air meets a cold, flat surface. By leaving the inner walls of your boat's fuel tank exposed to the air, condensation can form inside it. The ethanol in modern boat fuels attracts and absorbs water molecules, and any condensation in the tank will be absorbed into the fuel. Eventually, the fuel becomes saturated, leading to phase separation. This is when the water-ethanol mix separates from the fuel and settles at the bottom of the tank, causing corrosion and oxidized debris that can block the fuel system.
To prevent this, it is recommended to fill up your fuel tanks before pulling your boat out of the water. This displaces any air in the tank and eliminates the opportunity for condensation to form inside. It is also important to note that large volumes of air in the tank will increase the possibility of condensation, so it is best to keep the tank full. However, do not overfill the tank as this can lead to expansion damage or fuel exiting through the vent, which is hazardous. Leave enough room for expansion when the weather warms up.
Additionally, it is a good idea to use ethanol-free fuel (E0) if possible, as it is less likely to experience phase separation. If E0 fuel is not available, opt for a quality brand name E10 fuel. After refilling the tank, add a fuel stabilizer like Techron Marine, which is specifically designed for marine use. Run your engine long enough to work the old fuel through and get the treated fuel into all the lines and through the engine. This will ensure that the fresh stabilized fuel gets into the entire fuel system, protecting it during winter storage.
By following these steps and refilling your fuel tank, you can effectively prevent condensation and keep your boat's fuel system in good condition during the winter season.
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Frequently asked questions
To shut off the fuel line when winterizing your boat, you should first fill up your fuel tank. Then, while the engine is still running, disconnect the fuel line from the engine.
You should disconnect the fuel line from the front of the engine. There is usually a quick-release mechanism at this point.
After disconnecting the fuel line, you should spray fogging oil into the carburetor to protect the intake valves from corrosion.
Fogging oil is an anticorrosive agent that coats the internal surfaces of the carburetor and cylinders, preventing corrosion during the winter months.
Yes, besides fogging the engine, you can add a fuel stabilizer like Techron Marine to the fuel tank and run the engine to distribute the treated fuel throughout the system.
