Winterizing a Mercury 4 stroke Outboard

[Dave Clifton]

So, I’m getting ready to buy a 16 ft. Tracker boat with a 40hp 4 stroke Mercury outboard and I’m a little shocked to find out how much Marinas charge to winterize the outboard motor. Do most of you winterize your outboards yourself and if so what steps are involved to get the job done without spending $300+. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[obifishkenobi]

So, I’m getting ready to buy a 16 ft. Tracker boat with a 40hp 4 stroke Mercury outboard and I’m a little shocked to find out how much Marinas charge to winterize the outboard motor. Do most of you winterize your outboards yourself and if so what steps are involved to get the job done without spending $300+. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Winterizing your 4 stroke is pretty easy, tilt the motor down, put some stabilizer in the gas tank and your good.

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So, I’m getting ready to buy a 16 ft. Tracker boat with a 40hp 4 stroke Mercury outboard and I’m a little shocked to find out how much Marinas charge to winterize the outboard motor. Do most of you winterize your outboards yourself and if so what steps are involved to get the job done without spending $300+. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Winterizing your 4 stroke is pretty easy, tilt the motor down, or put some stabilizer in the gas tank and your good.

[Redrebel]

If you were a fanatic, there are a few extra steps you can take. I do a dawn and vinegar bath, quicksilver tune every 100 hrs and sea foam if it sits. Not every one does this. Some feel it’s unnecessary.

[MrShane]

The best winterization method is to use your boat in middle of December on Strawberry, then Powell in Jan, and a trip to UL in Feb.
Now you are ready to run it hard in March!

[BearLakeFishGuy]

An outboard does not have to be "winterized". As others have pointed out, lower the motor each time you pull it from the water and let it drain. Then I hit the starter for about 1-2 seconds, which will spin the impeller and pump out any residual water. I ALWAYS run Startron (or StaBil) in ALL my boat gas, so it is always "preserved". You can change the lower unit oil (easy to do and there are dozen of YouTube videos on how to do it) if you really want to. I do it every year, but it is not part of any winterization. I use my outboards thoughout the winter if Bear Lake doesn't freeze over. If it does, then its only about 2 months of no fishing. Nothing else to do for winterization though. I've had dozens of outboards for my job as as fish biologist but also as a life-long fisherman and that is the beauty of outboards. Very little maintenance.

Every three years I will change out the impellers and I also replace spark plugs every 2-3 years depending on how many hours are on the motors. Finally, if they have have gas filter I like to change them every other year. On 4 strokes you change the oil and filter just like a car, but its a lot easier. Pay attention to the hours you run the boat or change the oil once/year. Again, dozens of YouTube videos show you how to do it with VERY minimal tools needed.

[lifeshort]

An outboard does not have to be "winterized".  As others have pointed out, lower the motor each time you pull it from the water and let it drain.  Then I hit the starter for about 1-2 seconds, which will spin the impeller and pump out any residual water.  I ALWAYS run Startron (or StaBil) in ALL my boat gas, so it is always "preserved".  You can change the lower unit oil (easy to do and there are dozen of YouTube videos on how to do it) if you really want to.  I do it every year, but it is not part of any winterization.  I use my outboards thoughout the winter if Bear Lake doesn't freeze over.  If it does, then its only about 2 months of no fishing.  Nothing else to do for winterization though.  I've had dozens of outboards for my job as as fish biologist but also as a life-long fisherman and that is the beauty of outboards.  Very little maintenance. 

Every three years I will change out the impellers and I also replace spark plugs every 2-3 years depending on how many hours are on the motors.  Finally, if they have have gas filter I like to change them every other year.  On 4 strokes you change the oil and filter just like a car, but its a lot easier.  Pay attention to the hours you run the boat or change the oil once/year.  Again, dozens of YouTube videos show you how to do it with VERY minimal tools needed.

Amen to all of the above. I like to change the lower unit oil once a year I do it every fall to make sure the seals have not gone bad and let water leak in. If water has entered the lower unit you risk freezing and cracking the housing so by doing it in the fall instead of spring it can be checked.I store my boat in a garage. If I were leaving it outside I would lower the motor to keep water from getting into the through hub exhaust and risking a freeze crack.

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An outboard does not have to be "winterized".  As others have pointed out, lower the motor each time you pull it from the water and let it drain.  Then I hit the starter for about 1-2 seconds, which will spin the impeller and pump out any residual water.  I ALWAYS run Startron (or StaBil) in ALL my boat gas, so it is always "preserved".  You can change the lower unit oil (easy to do and there are dozen of YouTube videos on how to do it) if you really want to.  I do it every year, but it is not part of any winterization.  I use my outboards thoughout the winter if Bear Lake doesn't freeze over.  If it does, then its only about 2 months of no fishing.  Nothing else to do for winterization though.  I've had dozens of outboards for my job as as fish biologist but also as a life-long fisherman and that is the beauty of outboards.  Very little maintenance. 

Every three years I will change out the impellers and I also replace spark plugs every 2-3 years depending on how many hours are on the motors.  Finally, if they have have gas filter I like to change them every other year.  On 4 strokes you change the oil and filter just like a car, but its a lot easier.  Pay attention to the hours you run the boat or change the oil once/year.  Again, dozens of YouTube videos show you how to do it with VERY minimal tools needed.

Amen to all of the above. I choose to change the lube in the lower unit in the fall to check for any water that might be in it from a bad seal. If it freezes it could crack the housing. Needs to be done once a year anyway. I have also heard to lower the motor to vertical to keep water from entering through the prop into the exhaust and risking a freeze crack. Never seen this just advised to do it years ago.

[Redrebel]

An outboard does not have to be "winterized".  As others have pointed out, lower the motor each time you pull it from the water and let it drain.  Then I hit the starter for about 1-2 seconds, which will spin the impeller and pump out any residual water.  I ALWAYS run Startron (or StaBil) in ALL my boat gas, so it is always "preserved".  You can change the lower unit oil (easy to do and there are dozen of YouTube videos on how to do it) if you really want to.  I do it every year, but it is not part of any winterization.  I use my outboards thoughout the winter if Bear Lake doesn't freeze over.  If it does, then its only about 2 months of no fishing.  Nothing else to do for winterization though.  I've had dozens of outboards for my job as as fish biologist but also as a life-long fisherman and that is the beauty of outboards.  Very little maintenance. 

Every three years I will change out the impellers and I also replace spark plugs every 2-3 years depending on how many hours are on the motors.  Finally, if they have have gas filter I like to change them every other year.  On 4 strokes you change the oil and filter just like a car, but its a lot easier.  Pay attention to the hours you run the boat or change the oil once/year.  Again, dozens of YouTube videos show you how to do it with VERY minimal tools needed.

Amen to all of the above. I like to change the lower unit oil once a year I do it every fall to make sure the seals have not gone bad and let water leak in. If water has entered the lower unit you risk freezing and cracking the housing so by doing it in the fall instead of spring it can be checked.I store my boat in a garage. If I were leaving it outside I would lower the motor to keep water from getting into the through hub exhaust and risking a freeze crack.

---

An outboard does not have to be "winterized".  As others have pointed out, lower the motor each time you pull it from the water and let it drain.  Then I hit the starter for about 1-2 seconds, which will spin the impeller and pump out any residual water.  I ALWAYS run Startron (or StaBil) in ALL my boat gas, so it is always "preserved".  You can change the lower unit oil (easy to do and there are dozen of YouTube videos on how to do it) if you really want to.  I do it every year, but it is not part of any winterization.  I use my outboards thoughout the winter if Bear Lake doesn't freeze over.  If it does, then its only about 2 months of no fishing.  Nothing else to do for winterization though.  I've had dozens of outboards for my job as as fish biologist but also as a life-long fisherman and that is the beauty of outboards.  Very little maintenance. 

Every three years I will change out the impellers and I also replace spark plugs every 2-3 years depending on how many hours are on the motors.  Finally, if they have have gas filter I like to change them every other year.  On 4 strokes you change the oil and filter just like a car, but its a lot easier.  Pay attention to the hours you run the boat or change the oil once/year.  Again, dozens of YouTube videos show you how to do it with VERY minimal tools needed.

Amen to all of the above. I choose to change the lube in the lower unit in the fall to check for any water that might be in it from a bad seal. If it freezes it could crack the housing. Needs to be done once a year anyway. I have also heard to lower the motor to vertical to keep water from entering through the prop into the exhaust and risking a freeze crack. Never seen this just advised to do it years ago.

Again I am the fanatic, 3 oil changes a year (upper and lower) fuel filter 1per yr, sometimes the guy taking the extra steps is the first to break down. I am in agreement that using the boat is the best maintenance.

[Bduck]

You can't go wrong with all that's mentioned previously. With what is mentioned makes me wonder what do marine shops do for $300, maybe charge you for additional parking space[i]. That's just my thoughts. You can also add battery maintenance to protect it while not in use with an onboard smart charger or battery tender. If boat is stored outside most will remove batteries to store inside. I store my boat in the garage 24/7 which protects my boat year-round. Topping off the tank with fresh fuel (I recommend nonethanol gas) is another preventative measure with a fuel stabilizer for long term. A must see, boats have open fuel tank ventilation unlike your vehicles, YouTube has videos of testing ethanol fuel.  [/i]

[Lundboy54]

So, I’m getting ready to buy a 16 ft. Tracker boat with a 40hp 4 stroke Mercury outboard and I’m a little shocked to find out how much Marinas charge to winterize the outboard motor. Do most of you winterize your outboards yourself and if so what steps are involved to get the job done without spending $300+. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Read the owners manual

[Therapist]

MRShane had the BEST suggestion!!!

[Dave Clifton]

Thanks, everyone for the comments. I’ve owned a half dozen inboards over the years but this will be my first outboard. Very helpful suggestions. And I’ll be sure to read the owners manual!

[BYUHunter]

Add fuel stabilizer to fuel tank, change fuel/water separators/filters, change lower unit oil, change engine oil, trim down. That's really all there is to it.

The worst thing you can do to a boat is let it sit.

[LundLefty]

So, I’m getting ready to buy a 16 ft. Tracker boat with a 40hp 4 stroke Mercury outboard and I’m a little shocked to find out how much Marinas charge to winterize the outboard motor. Do most of you winterize your outboards yourself and if so what steps are involved to get the job done without spending $300+. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Winterizing a 4 stroke is pretty easy, and with basic hands tools.   

Since this is a used boat, I'd change the engine oil and filter as well as the lower end oil (anyone can do this at home, lots of diy YouTube videos), top off the gas -always ethanol-free - and add some stabilizer. Also lube any steering and tilt zerks.

Cost you less than $100 in materials, saves you $200, and you get to know your motor...