Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I know it to early to start thinking about this.This is the the first 4 cycle i have owned ,what does everyone do to winterize there 4 cycle is it the same as a 2 cycle.Do you changed the oil in the fall or spring

I like to change mine in the fall (or winter-whenever I put it up), that way the motor is resting over the winter with fresh oil in it, instead of contaminated oil. Same with the lower unit. Only other thing I do, is treat the fuel.

I would change the oil in the fall, top and bottom, run the motor for a few minutes with the new oil to work the old stuff out of the system. No sense in storing it with the crud that you have developed.
Run as much fuel out of the system as possible and I would also remove the plug at the bottom of the VST and drain that if I could get to it. (sometimes it is buried behind the intake manifold)
Pull the plugs and squirt some fogging oil in the cylinders. make sure it is tilted all the way down so all the water drains out and give it a good lube job (all the zerks and other moving surfaces)
Remove the battery and put it in a warm place.

I would try to pump out the fuel tanks and not store it with any fuel if I could. Put it in your truck. Maybe finish up that last day on a portable tank that you can dump in your truck too.
99% of fuel problems come from old fuel. Stabilizers are just pissing on the fire. Start next season with all fresh gas.

I would probably drain my fuel also, if it sat longer than it does. I usually don't put my boat up until October/November, depending on the weather. Usually, we are dragging it out back out in March/April. Mine also holds 55 gallons, and I try to keep it full. No longer than mine sits, I have never had a problem with treated fuel....YMMV.