Do you freeze proof your outboard motor? I plan on fishing in the winter and was curious if a big freeze was coming what others do to their motors. I have a 90 HP Yamaha that is outside not in a garage.

Motor full down position. Engine cowl cover installed Treat fuel with a quality ethanol stabilizer. Keep batteries charged.

That's all I do here in Texas even during the big freeze of 2021.

What he said, and make sure all drain plugs are removed.

One thing I do every year is change the lower unit gear oil in the late fall. Everyone needs to do this as Maintenace anyway, but I do it specifically in the fall so I know for sure there is no water in the lower unit going into winter. If you have water in it, the gear case will crack when it freezes.

We also fog the pistons with WD40. It keeps any moisture from starting to rust the cylinder walls.

Good info
Thanks

I wrap my trolling motor head with a towel and duck tape it on tight to prevent mud dobbers, wasps, and yellow jackets etc from homesteading inside the cover,...ask me how I learned that..?

been there, expensive lesson learned. all the above is good info. if you plan on not using it for long term (like you ain't goin till it's 85* again) then fog the cyls. sta-bil and seafoam both have fogging oil and either will work good. unhook the battery so it can't drain.

what I used to do in colorado at about 8,500'

" fog the cylis "..........................could you clarify please as I am not very educated here. Thanks.

The general public just pulls the spark plugs and gives it a good 3 second spray with WD-40 or some special fogging oil, turning the straw all around to make sure you hit as much as you can. That's probably sufficient. I have a torque wrench so I just pull the head, spray the pistons and walls so I can visually see them getting a spritz, then button it all back up, torqued to spec.
Takes about 20 seconds per cylinder.

You don’t need to fog your cylinders. Clearly they didn’t read the part where you said you plan on using your boat in the winter. And WD40 is not what you use anyways. When you leave the ramp make sure to raise and lower your motor a couple times so all the water drains out. That’s all you have to do.

OK Chris. 44 years on the same motor and still going strong, but you keep telling me I'm wrong.

Me too!

This help on aSHO.

Why does he need to fog an engine he intends to use through the winter like 90% of fisherman in the south?

Two things, Christopher.
1. He asked how to do it, I responded. NO one is forcing him to do so.
2. The Texas Freeze taught us that weather knows no state lines.You don't know what'll happen next month. Could be 8 weeks of frozen water. It's always best to care for your engine in every way possible lest you end up having to buy a new one due to neglect. Now, like I said I've got one 44 years old that gets fogged every winter. I keep fogging it every winter and will continue to do so. With WD-40. When it dies I'll probably blame it on fogging, if I live long enough to see it die. Also, i do use it throughout the winter when it's warmer, but it gets fogged anyway.