How to Prepare Your Boat’s Engine for the Winter Season
When temperatures dip into the sub-freezing areas, it’s time to get you and your boat ready for the cold spell. If you don’t know how to properly prepare your boat for winter weather, it’s best to get educated – freezing temperatures can mean freezing water inside your boat, leading to cracked equipment and expensive repairs. When it comes to your engine, it’s especially important to take the appropriate measures. Let’s take a look at some of the measures you need to take to keep your engine ready for winter, and what you need to do to achieve this goal.
Outboard Engine Winterizing
There are many steps to take when you have to winterize the outboard engine of your boat. One of the first and most important things you’ll want to do is drain the engine’s cooling passages. Removing the motor and keeping it in an upright position, let the water drain out of it. If you have any, you’ll want to open the drain plugs of your engine.
Fogging oil needs to be applied where your boat’s owner’s manual indicates. You’ll also need to drain and resupply your boat’s gearcase, empty its fuel lines, and empty its carburetors.
Inboard Engine Winterizing
In addition to the information above, the inboard engine of your boat requires fluid changing, especially when it comes to the coolant. If you run your boat on gasoline, you’ll want to run it completely out of fuel. For diesel engines, you’ll want to keep a full tank of fuel, which prevents condensation from occurring.
The above information is only a snapshot of all that you’ll need to do to winterize your inboard and outboard engines. The steps listed are important, however, and will surely get you on the right track to fully winterizing your boat’s engine!