Winter fogging or run it dry

Airwaves · 10-17-2006, 08:44 PM

I fog the heck out of my 115 Merc in MA! I unhook the fuel line and then fog away, trying to prevent it from stalling by cutting off the spray when the engine starts to sputter, then when it starts running smoothly again, I fog some more.

After the engine finally stalls out, just for good measure, I empty the rest of the fogger into the cylinders.

Don't forget to change the lower unit oil first.

Smokes like a son of a gun in the spring!

jetskier · 10-17-2006, 09:15 PM

Hi all,

I am a fan of fogging the engine by spraying fogging oil into the intake. I have two snowmobiles and two PWC to keep me in the spirit every spring and fall. I just wanted to put in a cautionary note...you should be very careful how much fogging oil you put directly into the cylinders. Air and gas are compressable and fogging oil is not. If you fill the cylinders with too much oil, the engine can not start. It is also possible to cause engine damage. So, a little can go a long way with fogging oil.

Jetskier

John A. Birdsall · 10-17-2006, 10:02 PM

I am willing to bet even though charged the marinas do not do anything to outboards for winterizing them. And I have not done anything either. Last year I took the 115 hp Evinrude off the boat and put it in the back of the truck, It stayed their all winter. Several said it will never start again. I had the easiest restart I ever had. however, that being said I recall we sprayed 30 weight oil into each cylinder of the 18 hp motor after it had been run out of gas. That worked for years without any problems.

I say that about the marina's because the less they do its the easiest and I think they take advantage of the customers. If you want this done. I suggest that you do it yourself. and it should not take that much time. Just prior to pulling the boat out of water run the gas out of it. when your out a spark plug wrench, a squirt bottle of 30 weight oil and hit each cylinder. Turn the motor over without the plugs in it. put the plugs in finger tight and do not tighten them. In the spring. take the plugs chuck them, put new ones in but squirt some good gas in first don't forget to put the wires back on. Yes in the fall or pull out check the lower unit oil.

LIforrelaxin · 10-18-2006, 09:10 AM

Well, Just this year I got rid of a 30 year old merc tower of power, 115 outboard. And it still ran, and we never fogged that engine. What I will say is that it was stored in an unheated garage most of those 30 years, and we did run the gas out of the engine. But that was all the maintence she ever got for winterization. (even when I had a marina store it. They told me they didn't fog the engine)

With that said some notes here, that engine was built with the idea of running dry in mind. Second it was a two stroke which means the cilinders where lined with 2 cycle oil already.

My suggestion to people is do what makes you most comfortable. Although as someone noted to much fogging oil is not a good thing. A relative of mine I believed shortened the life of his motor because he fogged it to heavy every year which resulted in a lot trouble each spring getting running.

SIKSUKR · 10-18-2006, 09:45 AM

I have my boat where it could be started periodically through the winter.It's a 4-stroke PWC.Would'nt turning it over every month have the same effect as "winterizing it",ie:fogging, by lubricating the cylinders and other moving parts?

Mee-n-Mac · 10-18-2006, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

I have my boat where it could be started periodically through the winter.It's a 4-stroke PWC.Would'nt turning it over every month have the same effect as "winterizing it",ie:fogging, by lubricating the cylinders and other moving parts?

You'd get almost the same effect as fogging on the cylinder walls but you'll miss coating the intake (of minor benefit IMO) and piston top and valves. My concern with turning it over periodically would be that if you haven't emptied the fuel system it'll be spraying fuel into the cylinders, and this would be a bad thing.

Dave R · 10-18-2006, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

I have my boat where it could be started periodically through the winter.It's a 4-stroke PWC.Would'nt turning it over every month have the same effect as "winterizing it",ie:fogging, by lubricating the cylinders and other moving parts?

If possible, always run an engine, under load, to operating temperature and then for at least a few minutes whenever you start it. In your situation, you'd be better off just leaving it alone for the Winter.

10-17-2006, 09:15 PM	#2
jetskier Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Reading, MA and South Down Shores Posts: 851 Thanks: 57 Thanked 183 Times in 114 Posts	Beware the dreaded hydrolock Hi all, I am a fan of fogging the engine by spraying fogging oil into the intake. I have two snowmobiles and two PWC to keep me in the spirit every spring and fall. I just wanted to put in a cautionary note...you should be very careful how much fogging oil you put directly into the cylinders. Air and gas are compressable and fogging oil is not. If you fill the cylinders with too much oil, the engine can not start. It is also possible to cause engine damage. So, a little can go a long way with fogging oil. Jetskier

10-17-2006, 10:02 PM	#3
John A. Birdsall Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Norwich, CT Posts: 599 Thanks: 27 Thanked 51 Times in 35 Posts	weinterizing outboards I am willing to bet even though charged the marinas do not do anything to outboards for winterizing them. And I have not done anything either. Last year I took the 115 hp Evinrude off the boat and put it in the back of the truck, It stayed their all winter. Several said it will never start again. I had the easiest restart I ever had. however, that being said I recall we sprayed 30 weight oil into each cylinder of the 18 hp motor after it had been run out of gas. That worked for years without any problems. I say that about the marina's because the less they do its the easiest and I think they take advantage of the customers. If you want this done. I suggest that you do it yourself. and it should not take that much time. Just prior to pulling the boat out of water run the gas out of it. when your out a spark plug wrench, a squirt bottle of 30 weight oil and hit each cylinder. Turn the motor over without the plugs in it. put the plugs in finger tight and do not tighten them. In the spring. take the plugs chuck them, put new ones in but squirt some good gas in first don't forget to put the wires back on. Yes in the fall or pull out check the lower unit oil.

10-18-2006, 09:10 AM	#4
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,875 Thanks: 1,037 Thanked 892 Times in 524 Posts	Outboards and fogging oil Well, Just this year I got rid of a 30 year old merc tower of power, 115 outboard. And it still ran, and we never fogged that engine. What I will say is that it was stored in an unheated garage most of those 30 years, and we did run the gas out of the engine. But that was all the maintence she ever got for winterization. (even when I had a marina store it. They told me they didn't fog the engine) With that said some notes here, that engine was built with the idea of running dry in mind. Second it was a two stroke which means the cilinders where lined with 2 cycle oil already. My suggestion to people is do what makes you most comfortable. Although as someone noted to much fogging oil is not a good thing. A relative of mine I believed shortened the life of his motor because he fogged it to heavy every year which resulted in a lot trouble each spring getting running. __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....

10-18-2006, 09:45 AM	#5
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	I have my boat where it could be started periodically through the winter.It's a 4-stroke PWC.Would'nt turning it over every month have the same effect as "winterizing it",ie:fogging, by lubricating the cylinders and other moving parts? __________________ SIKSUKR

10-17-2006, 08:44 PM	#1
Airwaves Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: I'm right here! Posts: 1,153 Thanks: 9 Thanked 102 Times in 37 Posts	I fog the heck out of my 115 Merc in MA! I unhook the fuel line and then fog away, trying to prevent it from stalling by cutting off the spray when the engine starts to sputter, then when it starts running smoothly again, I fog some more. After the engine finally stalls out, just for good measure, I empty the rest of the fogger into the cylinders. Don't forget to change the lower unit oil first. Smokes like a son of a gun in the spring!