Winterizing question

[robburns76]

I live in Colorado. Everything was changed last year when winterizing (fuel filters, oil, gear oil, etc). I have only put 15 hours on the motor this year and it is stored on the trailer. Do I need to change all of that again, or is just fogging the motor and putting in fuel stabilizer enough?

 

[Angela & Michael]

I would do the normal winterizing every year as time does break down products and fluids even when not being used. At least change gear oil and motor oil before cold weather moves in.

 

[sunedog]

I would do the normal winterizing every year as time does break down products and fluids even when not being used. At least change gear oil and motor oil before cold weather moves in.

I agree on the gear oil. It is possible you have developed a seal leak since the last service and have some water in the lower unit that you don't know about. You absolutely don't want that to freeze.

With only 15 hours, I'd probably skip everything else (except fogging and stabilizer).

 

[Lay Lake]

I would change both engine and lower unit oil. It's pretty cheap especially if something happened to the engine or lower unit. You would always wonder if changing the fluids would have prevented it.

I have been told by several reliable heavy equipment mechanics that oil does not wear out, it just gets dirty. They still advise yearly oil changes regardless of the hours.

 

[stbentoak]

Not to beleaguer this point but 2 seasons ago at end of season, changed oil and filter and lower end. Used it 30 hours last summer. Oil looks perfect and full, same with lower end. Any real reason to mess with it this year anticipating another 30 hrs? Only has about 230 hrs total in 10 years. Yamaha F200 on 25ft QC series.

 

[Scott1]

Not to beleaguer this point but 2 seasons ago at end of season, changed oil and filter and lower end. Used it 30 hours last summer. Oil looks perfect and full, same with lower end. Any real reason to mess with it this year anticipating another 30 hrs? Only has about 230 hrs total in 10 years. Yamaha F200 on 25ft QC series.

Someone is going to say yes and that may be the safe route but let's be honest. If there is no water in the lower unit gear oil and your engine oil looks fine, you will be fine running it like it is. Some people say to change your oils before storing for the winter so contaminants aren't sitting in your engine and water isn't in your lower unit gear oil. It's already past that point so what will changing it now do? Again, I am saying this as long as your oils look good.

 

[Jack M]

Oil does break down over time. I change mine every season 100 hrs or 10 hrs . It gets changed.

 

[Scott1]

After further research you should probably change fluids as Jack said to be on the safe side. If you are running synthetic it takes longer than conventional motor oil to break down but maybe not worth the risk. I've gotten away with it on past I/O's on bowriders but doesn't mean It's the right thing to do.