Considering NOT foging engines this year. Thoughts?

[timemachine]

I am considering not foging my engines this year on my 2006 340DA. I am going to do everything else but I really do not like the idea of breaking the fuel line to run the premix through the engine. I have a friend whose never run it through the engine and never had an issue. I also add twice the dose of fuel stabilizer during the winter.

 

[Summer Fun II]

I really do not like the idea of breaking the fuel line to run the premix through the engine.

Why would you do that ??. Just spray the fogging oil into the intake. :smt001

I have a friend whose never run it through the engine and never had an issue.

Yeah, I also have afew dumb a$$ friends like that. :grin:

 

[Summer Fun II]

You would be better off not fogging the engine versus spraying the fogging fluid down the intake manifold.

Why is that ??.

 

[Summer Fun II]

Gotcha. :thumbsup:

 

[FireIsland1]

here's the way i see it. If I was not going to use a car for 3 months would i fog the engine? No. do you thing construction companies fog engines when not in use for months. No. Your engine doesn't know if you started it yesterday or last month. Thanks to fuel injection and electrinic ignition, time does not seem to be a factor like it use to be. The only thing fogging might do is coat the valve guides, but my feeling is the oil would either burn off during combustion or get rinsed away by the fuel. I have heard of some people dropping the spin on filter, filling it with a mix of fuel and 2 cycle oil. then starting the engine. I think it's a waist of time. The fuel captured in the injection system is under pressure and does not see air. I dont think that fuel sees much change in 3 months.

 

[fwebster]

The problem is leaving ethanol blend fuel in the system that long since it begins to go stale at 15 days.

Rather than ignoring the winter care for your engine(s) try this: Remove your spin on filter and pour out the fuel in it, refill the filter with the fuel cocktail recommended by Mercruiser in your owners manual, clamp off a fuel line or turn off the fuel valve, start the engine and run the fuel out of the filter and you have both winterized the system and fogged the engine.

It isn't that much more work to properly care for your investment

 

[wish2fish]

I've been using the starbrite EZ Stor/EZ start. It stabilizes and fogs the engine. No problems last 2 seasons.

 

[Groucho]

I think fogging is overkill. I don't like putting additives that aren't suggested by Mfgr. If it was good...god knows they would be selling it.

 

[highslice]

I've been using the starbrite EZ Stor/EZ start. It stabilizes and fogs the engine. No problems last 2 seasons.

After you add it to your tank, how long do you run the engine?

 

[wish2fish]

After you add it to your tank, how long do you run the engine?

I add it to the tank first thing before I start any winterization tasks. So as the engine warms up for oil change it is working its way through the fuel lines.

It doesn't smoke like normal fogging.

 

[Presentation]

I add it to the tank first thing before I start any winterization tasks. So as the engine warms up for oil change it is working its way through the fuel lines.

It doesn't smoke like normal fogging.

What is interesting is this product solves an issue.

If you do the Merc recomended 2 stroke oil + gas cocktail added to the water separating fuel filter and do the easy DIY pink antifreeze from the jug thru the muffs into the engine method of engine winterization I see no way to time it such that you both protect the block from freezing and the cylinders / top parts from corrosion.

There is just no way to get the timing correct.

This fuel additive process would allow both but I wonder if with this fuel additive would we be better off with the fuel tank nearly empty vs Stabil + mostly full fuel tank like I do now.

 

[fwebster]

Ok, then don't do it with the filter, break the fuel line at the filter and use a use a supplemental tank containing the Mercruiser cocktail.

Remember, your goal is not only to lubricate the cylinders for the winter, but to protect the injectors and fuel lines from becoming fouled with decaying ethanol blend fuel over the winter months. The injectors are made with clearances in the .001 of an inch, not holes as big as a pencil lead like a Rochester carburetor. It doesn't take much crud to screw up a $250 injector.........come to think of it, that might make an interesting thread on CSR....."I didn't want to remove 2 fuel fittings and rig up a tank to winterize my engines (or I didn't want to pay the marina to do it) Where can I buy $4000 worth of injectors wholesale?"

 

[wish2fish]

I got the tip to use this product from a very reputable dealer here in Cincinnati. They said they began using this product a few years ago when doing their winterizations. They've been a family owned business since the 50s and I really trust them for advice.

 

[Presentation]

Frank,

What is your opinion of the star bright combination fuel stabilizer / fogging oil that you add to the entire gas tank?

 

[sbw1]

I am considering not foging my engines this year on my 2006 340DA. I am going to do everything else but I really do not like the idea of breaking the fuel line to run the premix through the engine. I have a friend whose never run it through the engine and never had an issue. I also add twice the dose of fuel stabilizer during the winter.

There are other considerations that have not been mentioned. If you double up on the stabilizer, if you are inside heated storage so condensation is not an issue, and if your do not use e10 you don't really need to fog. We've not fogged an engine in more than 20 years. The gasoline treatment makers claim the products protect during winter layup. I don't know if that is the case or not. I just know what works in this part of Michigan. We store inside and use pure gasoline plus the Stabil type products. This has worked like a charm for us.

 

[Woody]

I wonder why then, that fogging has been recomended by manufacturers long before E10 was ever on the scene. While I don't doubt you haven't fogged in 20 years, it doesn't mean that mercruiser does not recomend it. They do, and always have, at least in the 35 years I have been reading shop manuals.

You been reading Mercruiser shop manuals since you were 6?:wow:

 

[sbw1]

Heated storage changes the equation. Virtually no one who stores in a warm building fogs in this area. Outside.... yes.

 

[Weave]

You would be better off not fogging the engine versus spraying the fogging fluid down the intake manifold. Wayne may not know this, but there are numerous sensors in a MPI engine that react poorly to having fogging fluid sprayed on them. Mercury is very clear on this, DON'T spray fogging fluid down the intake.
.

I am feeling like a moron and I guess I shoulda known better but I followed some advice that was on a video posted by another member on the board. I thought..."hmm I thought I remember hearing that you shouldnt fog through the intake on an MPI??" Link was from a video of how to remove a drive, etc
Well I went ahead and used some marvel mystery oil as depicted in the video....lesson learned:smt013! I will be using the Merc only recommended method here on out.
My question is, what damage could have resulted in this practice? :smt100

 

[highslice]

What is interesting is this product solves an issue.

If you do the Merc recomended 2 stroke oil + gas cocktail added to the water separating fuel filter and do the easy DIY pink antifreeze from the jug thru the muffs into the engine method of engine winterization I see no way to time it such that you both protect the block from freezing and the cylinders / top parts from corrosion.

There is just no way to get the timing correct.

This fuel additive process would allow both but I wonder if with this fuel additive would we be better off with the fuel tank nearly empty vs Stabil + mostly full fuel tank like I do now.

The timing of this was puzzling me also. That is why I am interested in this product. Going next week to winterize.

 

[gerryb]

Interesting topic as I decided this year not to do the 2-cycle oil in fuel filter technique. I've used that technique for the last 5 years but was always doubtful about what help that little bit of oil would really be inside of the cylinders. With other engines (outboard, sea doos, power washer, etc.) I spray fogging oil directly into the cylinder which definitely gives the walls a good coating.

I don't have a good reason as to why I elected not to do the cocktail mix this year and would suggest that you follow Frank's advice. I followed all other winterizing steps and also keep a xtreme heater running in the ER all winter. Also used AMSOIL instead of mercruiser dino for the first time on this boat. Also added stabil regular blend as well as their new ethanol preventative blend to the fuel and gave the engine a good flush on the muffs before sending the pink stuff through.