Steps In Your Winterize Outboard Motor Drill

Having a winterize outboard motor checklist will ensure that you do not miss any of the important steps to keep your engine in good order over the layup. Proper maintenance will prolong engine life and prevent costly repairs down the road.

The first thing you should do is be familiar with the owner's manual. You will want to follow the recommendations for your specific model down to the order of procedures and the types of lubricants or parts that will not void your warranty.

If you run the boat in brackish or salt water, the unit must be flushed with fresh water to prevent corrosion. Using a kit designed for this purpose makes this part of the routine easier. Just connect it to the unit's cooling system and run the water through.

When running the unit for the last time, add fuel conditioner to the tank in the ratio suggested and power up for at least five minutes. Most people drain the fuel out of the tank before storing it for the winter by means of a drain plug or by taking off a fuel line.

You must also drain the fuel out of the carburetor. One way to do this is to remove a fuel line, and another is to cut off the fuel and squirt a liberal amount of oil into the air intake. The unit will smoke and probably die, or you can shut it off. Remember to check the owner's manual for the recommended rust preventing oil.

Remove the spark plug or plugs and put a small amount of oil into each hole. Turn the flywheel by hand to allow the oil to run down inside the cylinder walls. Replace the plugs with only hand tightening. This is a good time to check for loose screws, nuts, and bolts and maybe touch up the paint on the cowling.

Run over the entire engine with a soft cloth to remove excess oil and to spread a thin coat of oil over the metal surfaces to prevent rust. Remove the battery, if any, and store it with a full charge, checking the water level in the cells. Full cells will hold their charge. Keep everything inside or under a waterproof cover.

This winterize outboard motor routine will ensure that all is ready for the start of the next boating season.