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To drain or not to drain....

by catmechanic , Posted to Fishing Buddy on 11/01/2011 06:54 AM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
catmechanic

Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
 just curious as to what you guys do in the fall to winterize your outboards.  do you drain the lower unit and refill in the fall or wait til spring?  same question applies for 4 stroke motor oil.
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: To drain or not to drain....
by Tritonman on 11/01/2011 05:50 AM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Tritonman
Joined: 12/04/2009
Location: ND
Drain in the fall cause if you have water in it, bad things happen when it freezes
Live every day!
Re: To drain or not to drain....
by Allen on 11/01/2011 06:12 AM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Allen
Joined: 01/09/2002
Location: ND
Drain the lower unit as noted above, as far as the engine oil though I am not sure it really matters as you had better not have enough water in your crankcase to cause a problem in the first place.
“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” ~ Mark Twain
Re: To drain or not to drain....
by simmsjs on 11/01/2011 06:49 AM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
simmsjs
Joined: 01/08/2004
Location: ND
 Just use it all winter and you don't have to worry about it!
IT IS BETTER TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS THAN ASK FOR PERMISSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: To drain or not to drain....
by Ristorapper on 11/01/2011 9:22 PM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Ristorapper
Joined: 12/27/2001
Location: ND
I have a heated garage and keep the boat available up until I don't think i will be able to get out anymore.   One year it was Dec. 1st, the last fishing day on the river.   I will then change out the lower unit fluid, put RV antifreeze in the livewells....  JUST in case it might have to be pushed outside for a day/night in the middle of winter.   Cheap insurance for when you never know, for whatever reason it might need to go outside.  

NO heated garage I'd change it out before freeze up or at least check it for water if I think I might get out for another trip or two. 
Re: To drain or not to drain....
by SHORTHAIRSRUS on 11/01/2011 9:40 PM | Reply #5 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
SHORTHAIRSRUS
Joined: 11/24/2004
Location: ND

what i did last year --- was took the plug out for a sec -- if the first drop or so is oil - your good to go --- water will come out before the oil if in the sytsem.   I normally change every fall - just not last year.   
Stay thirsty my friends
Re: To drain or not to drain....
by ggenthusiast on 11/02/2011 04:58 AM | Reply #6 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
ggenthusiast
Joined: 09/11/2002
Location: ND
SHORTHAIRSRUS Said:

what i did last year --- was took the plug out for a sec -- if the first drop or so is oil - your good to go --- water will come out before the oil if in the sytsem.   I normally change every fall - just not last year.   



that makes perfect sense to me.  What is the recommended inerval for changing lower unit gear lube?  Your vehicle can go several years without changing, so as long as there is no water in it, why change it if its still good?

I say to hell with that pot o' gold.
Re: To drain or not to drain....
by zoops on 11/02/2011 07:47 AM | Reply #7 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
zoops
Joined: 12/30/2009
Location: ND
ggenthusiast Said:
that makes perfect sense to me.  What is the recommended inerval for changing lower unit gear lube?  Your vehicle can go several years without changing, so as long as there is no water in it, why change it if its still good?
An ounce of prevention...
Re: To drain or not to drain....
by SHORTHAIRSRUS on 11/02/2011 07:55 AM | Reply #8 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
SHORTHAIRSRUS
Joined: 11/24/2004
Location: ND
zoops Said:
ggenthusiast Said:
that makes perfect sense to me.  What is the recommended inerval for changing lower unit gear lube?  Your vehicle can go several years without changing, so as long as there is no water in it, why change it if its still good?
An ounce of prevention...


Mine is an etec --- 3 year no service when new --- They say the risk of the just the drain seal leaking exceeds the risk of the unit leaking within the three years.   Of course i blew that risk by checking it last fall.   Its just such a habitual habit to change it.   With the price of the synthetic oil its not cheap to change -- not like my old omc pouring anything into that.       

Stay thirsty my friends
Re: To drain or not to drain....
by Effie07 on 11/02/2011 09:00 AM | Reply #9 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Effie07
Joined: 12/18/2009
Location: MN
catmechanic Said:
 just curious as to what you guys do in the fall to winterize your outboards.  do you drain the lower unit and refill in the fall or wait til spring?  same question applies for 4 stroke motor oil.
Knew a guy who lost his lower unit first trip out in the spring becuase he forgot that he had drained it and was going to wait until spring to fill the lower unit back up.  Also, if you have any moisture in the lower unit and leave it empty, your chances of surface pitting/rust greatly increase.  Change it out if you think the lower unit needs it, but add the new gear lube at the same time.
You can't afford not to go fishing.
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Posted By: catmechanic
Posted On: 11/01/2011 06:54 AM
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