Top Off Or Not For Winter

[glennL]

Just read a post that stated if not using boat for 30 days, you should not top off. Last year, my mechanic said to top off gas for winter storage to keep out the condensation.

I am going out 1 last time next week and won't be back until March, so if anyone has an opinion on this, it would be appreciated. I put both stable and Seafoam in the tank this last fill up. Sprayed the plugs with fogging oi", drained any water and did my yearly change of lower unit.

Any other thoughts on winter shut down of my 115 outboard?

[oneshot]

If it was me I would not use Seafoam.I know several swear by it but I had it in some Fuel that went Very Bad Very Fast.Talked with the Guys up at StaBil they didn't talk Bad about Seafoam as matter fact they said it was Good but not for Fuel that is to set,I have stayed with StaBil Marine Formula with no problem.

I know you are talking about alot more Fuel but last Spring I got rid of 5 gallons that I just didn't like the looks of and I wasn't going to spend another $300 getting my Carburetors cleaned up.

oneshot

[Nitroman]

Just read a post that stated if not using boat for 30 days, you should not top off. Last year, my mechanic said to top off gas for winter storage to keep out the condensation.

I am going out 1 last time next week and won't be back until March, so if anyone has an opinion on this, it would be appreciated. I put both stable and Seafoam in the tank this last fill up. Sprayed the plugs with fogging oi", drained any water and did my yearly change of lower unit.

Any other thoughts on winter shut down of my 115 outboard?

glennL: With what you have described you should be fine, this is what I suggest to our guests when asked about winterizing & all have seemed ( it has not failed me over the last 35 years ) happy with the results. STEP#1: add MARINE FORMULA STA-BIL ( regular STA-BIL will also work ) & SEAFOAM into your fuel tank / tanks. STEP#2: drive to the gas station. STEP3#: fill up your tank / tanks. STEP#4: drive home ( mixes it all up for you ) & put it to bed. When I use to winterize ( don't any longer as I fish all winter ) for a little extra insurance I would also add HEAT to the mixture. NOT THE " YELLOW " bottle, use the RED 2 CYCLE HEAT for your application. Make sure you add at least the minimum prescribed amounts per the bottle instructions, more than prescribed won't hurt ( it will just smoke a while till you burn it off ) as long as you don't go crazy. If you are keeping your rig in a heated garage the odds are you won't get any condensation forming in the fuel tank / tanks as you will not have the temparture swings that cause it. But, " BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY " !!!!!!! As far as your lower unit, just pull the plugs ( both of them ) & nothing can go wrong in that area, as long as you remember to fill it up & put the plugs back in before your next trip. If you feel the need grab the garden hose hook up the muffs & run the engine for 5 minutes to get your mixture into your carbs but if you have been running treated gas during your trips this step is not necessary. Coating the cylinder walls & piston rings by pulling the plugs & spraying fogging oil into the cylinders ( the turning the engine over by hand a few revolutions ) is a good idea.

[glennL]

Thanks for the advise.

[wallin]

Seafoam is a pretty harse cleaner and I put it in the tank only before my first run, I don't like the thought of it sitting in things very long. I pore it in right before I leave and it cleans the old carbs. Stabil is whats used for long term treatment of gas brakedown.

Tom