Winterizing a Mercury 4 stroke Outboard

[Redrebel]

An outboard does not have to be "winterized".  As others have pointed out, lower the motor each time you pull it from the water and let it drain.  Then I hit the starter for about 1-2 seconds, which will spin the impeller and pump out any residual water.  I ALWAYS run Startron (or StaBil) in ALL my boat gas, so it is always "preserved".  You can change the lower unit oil (easy to do and there are dozen of YouTube videos on how to do it) if you really want to.  I do it every year, but it is not part of any winterization.  I use my outboards thoughout the winter if Bear Lake doesn't freeze over.  If it does, then its only about 2 months of no fishing.  Nothing else to do for winterization though.  I've had dozens of outboards for my job as as fish biologist but also as a life-long fisherman and that is the beauty of outboards.  Very little maintenance. 

Every three years I will change out the impellers and I also replace spark plugs every 2-3 years depending on how many hours are on the motors.  Finally, if they have have gas filter I like to change them every other year.  On 4 strokes you change the oil and filter just like a car, but its a lot easier.  Pay attention to the hours you run the boat or change the oil once/year.  Again, dozens of YouTube videos show you how to do it with VERY minimal tools needed.

Amen to all of the above. I like to change the lower unit oil once a year I do it every fall to make sure the seals have not gone bad and let water leak in. If water has entered the lower unit you risk freezing and cracking the housing so by doing it in the fall instead of spring it can be checked.I store my boat in a garage. If I were leaving it outside I would lower the motor to keep water from getting into the through hub exhaust and risking a freeze crack.

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An outboard does not have to be "winterized".  As others have pointed out, lower the motor each time you pull it from the water and let it drain.  Then I hit the starter for about 1-2 seconds, which will spin the impeller and pump out any residual water.  I ALWAYS run Startron (or StaBil) in ALL my boat gas, so it is always "preserved".  You can change the lower unit oil (easy to do and there are dozen of YouTube videos on how to do it) if you really want to.  I do it every year, but it is not part of any winterization.  I use my outboards thoughout the winter if Bear Lake doesn't freeze over.  If it does, then its only about 2 months of no fishing.  Nothing else to do for winterization though.  I've had dozens of outboards for my job as as fish biologist but also as a life-long fisherman and that is the beauty of outboards.  Very little maintenance. 

Every three years I will change out the impellers and I also replace spark plugs every 2-3 years depending on how many hours are on the motors.  Finally, if they have have gas filter I like to change them every other year.  On 4 strokes you change the oil and filter just like a car, but its a lot easier.  Pay attention to the hours you run the boat or change the oil once/year.  Again, dozens of YouTube videos show you how to do it with VERY minimal tools needed.

Amen to all of the above. I choose to change the lube in the lower unit in the fall to check for any water that might be in it from a bad seal. If it freezes it could crack the housing. Needs to be done once a year anyway. I have also heard to lower the motor to vertical to keep water from entering through the prop into the exhaust and risking a freeze crack. Never seen this just advised to do it years ago.

Again I am the fanatic, 3 oil changes a year (upper and lower) fuel filter 1per yr, sometimes the guy taking the extra steps is the first to break down. I am in agreement that using the boat is the best maintenance.