2008 Suzuki 4 stroke 90 hp winterizing

NODAKID

Greetings to the World Class boat blog!

First year winterizing the engine on my 19 Angler (2008 4 stroke Suzuki 90). My experience is 2 stroke and inboards only. My past experience is to run the engine out of gas, stabalize the tank fuel, change the lower unit oil, and wait till spring. I live in North Dakota. My storage shop may see 35 below F. Any advice out there?

Dennis

potter water · Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 9:08 pm Post subject:

I have twin 50hp suzuki's. I think the manual says:

Stabilize the main fuel.
put the engine in a garbage can full of water and run it at idle for a couple minutes to warm it up, (I find that the water cuffs don't work well and I don't get good peeing with the cuffs), then, spray in misting oil that you get at the local car parts store. Spray in the misting stuff into the air inlet at the top of the engine until the engine stalls.
Shut down the engine and when it cools a bit, remove the spark plugs and spray misting oil into each hole. Put the plugs back in solid and you are done.

In the spring or next time you want to go boating, put the garbage can lake back under the lower unit and fire up the engine. You will get a little smoke out for a minute or two as it burns the misting oil and then you are good to go.

I also change the lower unit oil and the engine oil at start of season rather than at the end. Most will say to change the oil at end of season to catch any water that may have worked its way in during the season. They are probably right, but I do it at the beginning of the season anyway.

It is a simple process and probably identical for your 80 hp. But at least, that is what the manufacturer suggests for winter storage for the 50's.

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 11:19 am Post subject:

I've been wondering about winterization on my Merc 115HP EFI 4-stroke. Instead of spraying fogging oil into the air intake, can I make up a special fuel mixture to run the engine on? (And also run my Tohatsu 6hp kicker on as well.) Seems to me that was another recommendation on older outboards. Colby

potter water · Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 11:37 am Post subject:

IF you have an EFI, it is not an older motor. I don't know what your instructions show, but the idea of running the misting oil into the air intake until the engine stalls/smokes is that everything gets a nice coating that isn't washed away or diluted by fuel. The point of the misting oil is to get it to sit on all of the moving parts in the cylinders and sit there for the storage period. If you tried to get the equivalent effect by just fiddling with the fuel, the fuel and or fuel burn will not leave the oil coating you get by spraying misting oil while the engine is running until it stalls, and the added protection of direct spray into the cylinders through the spark plug holes. In any case, EFI is not happy with any fiddling with fuel.

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 7:06 pm Post subject:

Thanks Potter Water. I was kind of wondering that about fuel mixtures going thru the injectors. The service manual talks about spraying fogging oil through the removed spark plug holes...but that's kind of a pain... Colby

Will-C

I think most folks drain and replace oil in their lower units in the fall is that if seal failed and you had enough water in the lower unit.It could freeze and crack the case on the lower unit. Do as you like but it's ugly if it happens.
D.D.

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:56 pm Post subject:

Oh yes, there is a lot more to the winterization of the boat, but I was just talking about the engine fogging portion. I'll also be changing the oil and lower unit lube, and in trying to diagnose another problem I'm having right now, the fuel filters are getting changed out a little early. I'll be replacing the spark plugs as well, if I'm pulling them to fog.

NODAKID · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 11:27 am Post subject:

Thanks to all for the comments.
I remember Will-C's comment about the lower unit possibly freezing as the min reason for a fall change. Some have tried just a draining the oil in the fall then filling in the spring. A marine mechanic told me thats fine for preventing freezing but you risk condensation and resting of the lower drive components.

I did not get any manuals with the boat and have not gotten the Suzuki manual on order yet. Good idea running the engine in a plastic (I assume plastic) garbage can. Thanks again!
Dennis

NODAKID · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 11:36 am Post subject:

Sorry, I meant to say RUSTING of the lower unit components.

Jake · Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 171

RE Potter Water, funny that on a stern drive engine the word is to never spray oil into the air intake, can gum up the system since nothing passes thru to ever clean out the passages. Advice is to use fuel/oil mixture. Don't know why the procedure should differ between the two engine types.

potter water · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 3:46 pm Post subject:

Yep, it can be confusing. But, remember, I'm only giving you the Suzuki instructions. But, I'm also thinking from what I've read that all of the EFI engines are built on very very similar basis. So, winterize according to your users guide and you won't go wrong.

Jake · Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 171

Yes, always best to go according to the manual.