Winter Storage Outboard Motor?

[Skillet83]

I have a pontoon with a 300HP Mercury Verado hanging off the back. I am getting ready to do some spring maintenance (oil, gear, impeller, etc..). I keep the boat on a covered lift. It never sits more than 3 months in the winter without running. Is that short enough of a time to not worry about fogging the cyclinders? Should I be fogging them in October? Open to opinions. I ran Stabils marine stabilzer in fuel tank in October. I usually get a few nice days through winter to get on the water, maybe 2 to 3 times.

[ckelly78z]

No mention of where you live, or what the Winter time temperatures get to. On any motor that you want to set up for storage, I would use stabil in the fuel, and run the motor completely out of fuel until it stalls.

[LakeCleElum]

The reason for fogging is to coat the internal engine parts with oil. Engine cases are porous and moisture can build up inside in humid weather.........I've seen neglected snowmobile engine with enough moisture inside to freeze in the winter and prevent the engine from turning over. W/O fogging or proper attention, rust can pit the bearings and lead to total engine failure.

My preference is to once a month in the off seasaon: (1) Start the engine and run it for 5 minutes to get everything lubed., and (2) Put a battery charger on overnight.

Never a problem in doing this to snowmobiles and motorcycles for 40 years........

[drcoastline]

The motor appears to be a Verrado four stroke so your routine should be just fine especially since it is run every few months which will lubricate the parts. Of course for the few minutes it takes it is not a bad habit to pull the plugs and fog, it may help but certainly won't hurt.

[Sebscst]

Holy crap you have a 300hp merc on a pontoon boat

[Chocaholic]

No need to fog if you’re using it occasionally...especially in moderate climate.

[Skillet83]

Thanks

[911 Rod]

You can't fog a fuel injected 4 stroke motor. It's like a car. Fuel stabilizer and a full tank of fuel.
What does your owner's manual say?

[Skillet83]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

You can't fog a fuel injected 4 stroke motor. It's like a car. Fuel stabilizer and a full tank of fuel.
What does your owner's manual say?

From the manual:

Protecting Internal Engine Components
IMPORTANT: Refer to Maintenance ‑ Spark Plug Inspection and Replacement
for correct procedure for removing spark plugs.
•
Remove pencil coils and spark plugs.
•
Spray approximately 30 ml (1 fl oz) of Storage Seal Rust Inhibitor into
each spark plug hole

[911 Rod]

Originally Posted by Skillet83

From the manual:

Protecting Internal Engine Components
IMPORTANT: Refer to Maintenance ‑ Spark Plug Inspection and Replacement
for correct procedure for removing spark plugs.
•
Remove pencil coils and spark plugs.
•
Spray approximately 30 ml (1 fl oz) of Storage Seal Rust Inhibitor into
each spark plug hole

That is what it says in the owner's manual for my Opti (although it says to use 2 stroke oil)

BTW Incase people don't know. Fogging refers to spraying fogging oil into carburetors.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

That is what it says in the owner's manual for my Opti (although it says to use 2 stroke oil)

BTW Incase people don't know. Fogging refers to spraying fogging oil into carburetors.

Yes you spray fogging oil into the air intake of a running two stroke, carb or injected. The fogging oil is introducing extra oil into the mix to lubricate the parts. You do this until the motor stalls. You can as an additional precaution remove the plugs spray in some fogging oil and return the plugs. Unnecessary generally on a outstroke but it won't hurt anything. How often have you heard of a car sitting and they remove the plugs spray in wd40 or similar to soak and lubricate before turning the key? Same thing.