Periodic Outboard Running?

[Buddy_Y]

Hi All:

This is my first winter with my first boat, a Catalina 27 with a 9.9 Yamaha four-stroke (late nineties). I'm not winterizing the outboard per se, since I live in British Columbia, and my outboard's on a mount out of the water (and covered by my boat tarp, too). My question is: should I be running the outboard periodically through the winter months? (Lowering it into the water of course, and raising it / hosing it off afterwards.) If so, how often and how long?

Cheers

[jscott]

I have a honda 8 hp four stroke, I keep it out of the water in a unheated shed, for the winter, and do nothing, its been five years no issues yet.

[Vasco]

My Yamaha 2 stroke hangs on my dink for six months when the boat's in storage. Give it a couple of pulls and it starts. Every other year I change the plugs. Granted it's in a warmer clime than yours but as long as there's no water in it to be frozen you should be ok.

[Therapy]

I live in Fl and even though we have the warmer climate I run my Honda 15 every month or two.
I warm it up and run it out of gas.
If not, gas evaporates and leaves varnish that clogs jets etc.

My mower motor (2 stroke) has to be run in the winter (no grass cutting) to keep from "sticking up".

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Buddy,

You don't have to run it every month or so but I would advise that you run it out of gas and use freshwater through your cooling system when you do it. When you are ready to start again in the spring or summer get new gas in your tank, check the oil, drop the leg in the water and start it up.
When you run it out of gas just use the leftover gas that's in your tank in your car or truck or tractor so you don't waste it.
Kind Regards,
JohnL

[Buddy_Y]

Hi All:

Thanks for the advice -- I think I will run it out of gas, as suggested, even though I put a fuel stabilizer in the tank. (For $10 worth of gas, why risk it.) By the way, when people run an outboard out of gas, do you just fire it up (in water of course) and let it putter away on idle? I suppose that I would be smart to simply remove the majority of gas from my tank first, using a spare siphon, an empty portable can, and my marina's old fuel disposal service.

Thanks again!

[Steve Rust]

The last time you run the outboard just pull the fuel line off the engine while it is running. It will run for a minute or too until the carb bowl is empty. If you need to flush it with fresh water or empty the carb at home put it on a stand and run it in a five gallen bucket of fresh water. There is also an ear muff like device that clamps over the water intake that you can connect to a garden hose to supply water. There is no reason to run it during the lay up period.

[ssullivan]

You are asking for a lot of trouble if you don't do as SkipperJohn and other say. It's CRUCIAL that you drain out all gas from the carb. Over time, it will form a gel and stick things together in there. Your outboard will suffer needlessly.

[S/V Antares]

I have been fussing with small outboards for 30 years. I have recently bought a new 4 stroke and left it for 2 months. The carb bowl was full of a jello like substance from the "New Gas" we have been forced to use in the NE of the US. I have never seen this before. Very scary. I am traveling south and did not but dingy fuel until North Carolina. I do all my own work and it still cost a round of drinks for the carb kit.

I want the lead back!

[senormechanico]

My 1992 Tohatsu 9.9 got a lot of use in Mexico, but now it sits on our Avon 3.10 RIB on our dock all year long with old gas in it and little use during the winter months.
It is a little cranky to start in the spring (old gas) but after it gets used to the idea it's fine. I've only fogged it once during the warranty which the dealer recommended, and I'll never do that again! It took forever to make it run right after that.


Steve B.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Steve,
Its only been since they started adding ethanol that I've had a problem with outboards. Now I run them out of gas everytime I use them unless I definitely will use them the next day.
Kind Regards,
JohnL

[Steve Rust]

Aloha SkprJoh
Now that you mention it I seem to have had more trouble too. Here in Minnesota the gas is mandated to have 10% ethanol. I don't have trouble day to day but if my gas tank sits for a month or so it always seems to collect what I thought was water in the bottom. I wonder if it is the ethanol seperating out?

[Buddy_Y]

Hi All:

I will definitely get in the habit of running my OB out of gas after every usage. The build-up you guys are describing might be one of the reasons my beast was initially temperamental after I purchased it this summer from a neglectful previous owner. Good advice.

Thanks!