Another winterise thread, sorry….

[Ducati]

I have searched but can’t quite make a decision around what to do.

Tohatsu 20hp EFI outboard (new March 2023 - has had its first service - 20 hour, due another one in March 2024) is stored in a insulated garage (garage has the boiler in it and never gets freezing).
Outboard is stored upright, on a stand.

External fuel tank and lines have been emptied.

I don’t have any knowledge around outboards but I’m reasonably good around motorbikes, so I can’t really see what the issue is about leaving it for 6 months ish assuming all the water has drained, but again no skill set around outboards.

Do I need to winterise it, myself or dealer, or will it be ok?

Just for clarification, I will probably get this dealer serviced March next year, but at some point start doing it myself when it’s not financially worth a stamp.

Many thanks.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Ducati

I have searched but can’t quite make a decision around what to do.

Tohatsu 20hp EFI outboard (new March 2023 - has had its first service - 20 hour, due another one in March 2024) is stored in a insulated garage (garage has the boiler in it and never gets freezing).
Outboard is stored upright, on a stand.

External fuel tank and lines have been emptied.

I don’t have any knowledge around outboards but I’m reasonably good around motorbikes, so I can’t really see what the issue is about leaving it for 6 months ish assuming all the water has drained, but again no skill set around outboards.

Do I need to winterise it, myself or dealer, or will it be ok?

Just for clarification, I will probably get this dealer serviced March next year, but at some point start doing it myself when it’s not financially worth a stamp.

Many thanks.

Imho winterising is a hangover from 2 stroke carburettor days. A modern efi 4 stroke is more or less a sealed unit. Personally I don’t bother winterising any of my engines.

[69cmw]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Personally I don’t bother winterising any of my engines.

I’ve never winterised any of my engines either and never had an issue at all.

[Fenlander]

I too have a dry well protected from weather garage and the only things I do these days is to make sure all the grease points are pumped with grease to drive out any water, oil pivots, spray the powerhead with a WD40 type spray, wash and car polish the paintwork and pull over the outboard from time to time so the pistons and impeller rubber don't sit in the same place all winter.

This year for the first time I'm running it last time on Aspen fuel mix so that's right through the system... very much a personal extra insurance.

All DIY stuff though.

[beamishken]

Not realy much you can do by way of winterising apart from maybe some fogging oil to prevent possible condensation causing corrosion in the bores but its so unlikely that its not realy worth it imho. Biggest risk is from any moisture in the fuel & the fact modern fuels have a short shelf life before degrading. The best thing for any engine is regular use, a good excuse for some winter boating, using it is probably the best way to look after it over winter

[Fenlander]

BTW Ducati I looked at Google maps, images of the area and charts re a launch at The Promenade Maldon for a change. It has a lot going for it in so many respects but the tide window is just too narrow for us.

[Max...]

4 stroke I cannot really comment on but it's such a quick simple job on a *2 stroke* that I do a minor 'winterise' job.

If you consider you would usually run it dry till it cuts out leaving the cylinders and bores pretty dry then popping out the plugs, dripping in a teaspoon of regular engine oil and pulling it over a few times is surely better than not. Other than that make sure it's really rinsed well and dry, and I smear grease or spray some protective lube or even better XCP or ACF-50 (that anyone using a bike through the winter or British summer will be familiar with in the UK) on all bolts/nuts/exposed metal parts.

Takes 5 mins.

[Steve509926]

I don't winterise my 20 Merc efi. It's stored in a dry internal garage.
I do fire it up every few weeks and leave it running for 10/15 mins, makeing sure its completely dry before putting it away again.

[Max...]

Reminds me of an old topic I started many moon ago but still useful info:

Winterization or run it on the muffs once a month?

[Ducati]

Thank you all for the replies, much appreciated.

[User name]

Once its flushed it'll be fine in those conditions. Give it a little spritz of mild soapy water and a drying if it's been running in salt water, just to prolong the coating and you'll be good.

[smallribber]

You don’t need to do anything.

If you were in the Artic that might be different but you seem to be in Essex.

I bought some fogging oil once pointless it was