Fogging tech. on outboard 4-stroke 150hp Merc?

ThorSen

Active Member
Aug 17, 2017
219
Western North Carolina
Boat Info
2018 SPX 190 OUTBOARD 150
Engines
150 4-stroke Mercury outboard
Happy Holidays, CSR!

2018 Mercury 150hp 4-stroke outboard with only 50 hours on engine and despite our best intentions to not let her “sit” on the floating dock boat lift this winter (like last :( ) our out-of-town travels once again spell several months of hard-freeze nights and relatively warm, humid daytimes without use :(

Q-1: Wondering if removing the spark plugs and spraying a name brand fogging spray into spark plug holes and then having The Admiral “turn over” the engine a couple times is sufficient precaution?

Q-2: If not, can anyone post up a pic showing how I might expose carburetor(s) or air intake or wherever else it is I should spray fogging oil?
(while I have engine running on muffs, of course ...)

(We only use non-ethanol gas and did run the engine on our last outing with fully stabilized fuel (PRI-G and SeaFoam) and did fill the fuel tank to tippy top with stabilized fuel after last use, a month or so ago ...)

(I am going to change the engine oil, filter and lower gear lube next Spring, before we lower her back into water for first time - I did so in Fall of ‘18 at 35-hour mark but, we only put 15-hrs on her this past season and I’m thinking it just makes more sense to not put fresh oil and gear lube in right before leaving her stored outside 24/7/365 (I am confident there is no water in either engine oil or lower gear unit ...)

Thank You in advance ... still learning!!!!! :p
 
Read this: https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us/dockline/winterizing-your-outboard/

Yes, spraying a fogging oil into the cylinders as you describe would be a good idea. As far as changing the gear lube and oil, it is generally recommended to change these in the fall right before layup - the theory is it's better to have clean oil sitting in the engine during storage AND if any water has gotten in the gear lube it could freeze and cause problems. Also, then the engine is then ready to go in the spring. Personally I have done it both ways, but these days do it in the fall because it is more convenient for me. I don't see any harm in doing it in the spring, especially in our short winters - whichever is easier for you.
 
Howdy, Bill and THANK YOU FOR THAT LINK! (No matter how often I search for Merc-specific info I am always grateful to receive info my own searches have fai,Ed to turn up! :D

Yes, we typically change oil and filters and lubes in everything (jet skis, power eqpt., mowers, other small engines, etc.) every Fall but, for some reason I held off on her boat this year.

Perhaps as we only put 15-hours on the motor this past season (darn jet skis kept “getting in the way,” ha-ha!) or possibly as we made “a pact” that, unlike last year, we were gonna fire her up and take her for a spin at least once a month this winter (THE MAIN REASON we followed an experienced sea-going neighbor and got an outboard was fact here in the Foothills to the Great Smokies we typically have an occasional real nice day interspersed amongst the mountain cold winter months - example: week before last the high one day was 36 and yet, today skies are clear blue and a forecasted high of 67^F at 2pm!)

Oops - just noticed you’re only an hour south of us - not telling you anything you don’t already know, ha-ha! :p

it’s already so warm at 9am I may just take the boat out for a short jaunt before lunch and just spritz fogging Spray into the spark holes after I let the engine get completely cold again ... no matter what, I already have new plugs on the shelf and, at 50-hours I’m swapping the new ones in before next Spring, anyway ...
 
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