How to winterize engine with no hose?

[ralpht44]

Anyone have any suggestions for running my engine (225 Mercury) with no hose access? I have it in the driveway of my grandparents house and they have shut the water off for the season. I just have to fog the engine but need water. Ideas? I wouldn't dare ever run it dry and I want to get it done.

[Capt. Bob]

Anyone have any suggestions for running my engine (225 Mercury) with no hose access? I have it in the driveway of my grandparents house and they have shut the water off for the season. I just have to fog the engine but need water. Ideas? I wouldn't dare ever run it dry and I want to get it done.

55gal. drum....... but you still have to get water in the drum so.....

2 drums. One with water, one empty. You won't be able to run too long but it should be enough to winterize...whatever that is

[GoneFission]

You are right about not running it dry - you can kill a Mercury water pump in 5-30 seconds running it dry!!  

No hose? - how about a big washtub, drum, or plastic pool?  You can start the engine up and let it idle enough for fogging - just make sure the water level is above the water inlets - up to the caviation plate would be good.  

Another idea is just to take it to a ramp, back it down, do the fogging with it on the trailer in the water, then head home.  

Last option is to take the plugs out, spray the oil into the cylinders and carb or FI intake, open the throttle, and turn the engine over a few turns with the plugs out.  That should coat things inside pretty well.  

When winterizing, remember to drain the fuel from the carb bowls, clean and put the plugs back in, change the lower unit oil, wipe it all down and lube the connections and slides, and you're done with the engine.  If you have oil injection you do NOT need to drain the oil system - it's fine for long-term storage just as it is.  Don't store the motor tilted up - keep it down so water will not collect through the prop in the lower unit.  Get some fuel stabilizer and put it in the boat's gas tank consistent with the amount of fuel in the tank.  Today's gas can get funky pretty quickly.  Clean and make sure the batteries are fullly charged.  And last, but amazingly needed, take the drain plug out of the boat and make sure the boat is rear-low so it won't fill up with rainwater or whatever.  It's amazing how many boats are "trailer sunk" - filled up with water on the trailer and damaged due to the owner not removing the plug or thinking about drainage...    

Hope this helps - good luck!

[John Jones]

winterize...whatever that is

 

I "fallerize" mine by moving it so it doesn't fill up with the neighbor's pecan tree leaves.

Sorry for the derail  

[GoneFission]

Fallerize or winterize?     I expect to use mine pretty much all winter, so I just run the engine out of gas putting it on the trailer, drain the washdown system, and put the cover on.  I do the lower unit oil once a year and usually put fuel stabilizer in when I think about it ($4.50 to treat 80 gallons ain't no biggie when gas is $3.00 a gallon), so there's not a lot to do with an outboard if you are planning to use it occassionally.    

[gw204]

Is there a spigot somewhere inside the house with threads for connecting a hose?  Washing machine hookups or utility sink possibly?

[Capt. Bob]

Is there a spigot somewhere inside the house with threads for connecting a hose?  Washing machine hookups or utility sink possibly?

I believe the problem lies in that the water supply to the house has been terminated.
Don't really know how it is done up north but where I live, you could turn the water supply back on at the meter.

[Wayne'sWorld]

I'm jumping in on this post late just for fun.  :)  Looks like Ralph lives in Philadelphia.  I'm betting his grandparents have a house "down the shore", safe bet is probably between LBI and Cape May, though I'd pinpoint them between Ocean City and Stone Harbor.  How am I doing so far, Ralph?  So here's how it's done up north... around about mid September to late October, shoob's (no offense, Ralph!   ) close up their homes for the summer season and head back to PA for the winter.  When they leave, they take all their money with them.  This means that unless you work in one of the Atlantic City casinos, you're collecting unemployement for the winter and either heading North to Vermont to ski or heading south to FL to find work.  Those remaining "at the shore" are left to roll the paved streets up in nice big bundles.  The last one out turns off the lights.  At least that's how it use to work back in the 70's and earlier!  Oh, yeah, I almost forgot!  We put our boats in large ziplock baggies until Memorial Day the following year.