22 | BOATINGMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2018So, you’re a seasoned outboard
owner, and you know the best
way to prep for winter layup.
Let’s see how much you know.
—John Tiger (Answers on page 24)- What should you do with
the boat’s fuel supply before
putting the rig up for winter?
A. Nothing; today’s fuels
are clean enough and
won’t go stale.
B. Treat the fuel with fuel
conditioner.
C. Run all the fuel out of
the engine by discon-
necting the fuel line
and letting the engine
run out of fuel.
D. Treat the fuel with fuel
conditioner and run the
engine for at least 15
minutes to ensure the
treated fuel gets into
the engine thoroughly. - What should you do to the
engine to help keep injectors
and combustion chambers
clean and free from stale fuel
and carbon deposits?
A. Run engine with Marvel
Mystery Oil.
B. Run engine with Dawn
dish-washing detergent.
C. Nothing; you will harm
the engine by injecting
anything but regular
fuel.
D. Inject most of a can of
Engine Tuner, Power
Tune, Sea Foam or
equivalent into the
engine’s intakes while
running the engine at
a fast-idle speed. Shut
down the engine, wait
overnight, then start
the engine again and
inject the rest of the
can into the intakes.- What should you do to
the gear case to prepare it
for winter?
A. Nothing; it needs no
maintenance.
B. Drain the lubricant
and leave it empty for
winter.
C. Drain the lubricant,
checking for water
intrusion (milky-
appearing lube). If the
lube is milky or burnt
and black, have the
gear case serviced
before layup. If you
can’t have it serviced,
at least refill with fresh
lube and remember to
have it serviced before
spring.
D. Clean and wax it,
remove the propel-
ler, and grease the
propshaft. Have the
propeller serviced and
reconditioned if it’s
damaged.
E. A and B
F. C and D- Why should you drain the
gear-case lubricant and refill
with fresh?
A. Just like your car, it’s
time for a lube change.
B. The engine will feel
fresher with new
lubricant.
C. The old lubricant may
have water in it due to
a seal leak, and that
water will rust gears,
shafts and bearings
over the winter if left in
the gear case.
D. None of the above.- What about water in the
engine’s cooling passages?
Won’t it freeze and crack the
block when the temperature
drops below freezing?
A. You should pump
antifreeze through the
engine to prevent
freezing.
B. Simply tilt the engine
all the way down (to
the running position)
so all water runs out
of the propeller, and it
will be fine even in the
lowest temperatures.
C. The water in the engine
stays warm in winter
because it’s inside.
D. If you have to store it
tilted, run the water
out first, then tape over
the propeller hub so no
water gets inside.
E. None of the above.
F. B and D
WINTER
OUTBOARD
STORAGE
MAKING WAVES///CAPTAIN’S TESTPHOTO: COURTESY EVINRUDE