Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

So I have a new toon with a outboard Verado 150....the toon is kept in an enclosed metal garage with concrete floor unheated in Missouri. I only have around 10 hours on the engine. The MarineMax dealer I bought it from tells me no need to winterize?

I am reading on here a lot of people are changing oil and other things. Am I missing something? I know nothing about engines or maintenance....just want to keep the motor in tip top condition! Thoughts for a newb? Thanks in advance!

Usually when winterizing lower oil is drained to check for water and refilled with new. On 4 strokes engine oil and filter is also drained and refilled with fresh oil and filter so dirty oil doesn't set all winter in your motor. Some 4 and 2 strokes also fog the powerhead. On my 2 stroke It will fog itself then I change lower oil. I also keep battery om a maintainer so it don't loose power over long down time. Also treat fuel and run treated through motor so keep gas fresh.
With no more hours than you have you could get buy but would at least treat fuel ( I use Sea Foam for non ethanol and Startron for Ethanol)

Loyd's right.

With so few hours, I'd also suggest putting a Battery Tender on the battery if you have electricity available. The batteries last so much longer if kept charged 100%.

Next year, I'd suggest changing motor oil, oil filter and lower unit grease in the Fall.

I would at least change the lower unit lube. Just in case you have accumulated any condensation in it from temperature changes. We had an awfully hot summer and some cool nights. Best be safe than sorry. And Stabil the fuel. Pull the engine dipstick after raising the motor full tilt, then down. Let it sit for a few minutes, and check the oil level. Should be on the lower 25% of the dipstick knurls. If its more, change it. Or at least drop some out of the drain plug, to be at that level. Very important on the V-rods.
Thats about it...

After each season I have the shop change the oil, lubes, fog the motor, etc as part of winterization. I hear it's pretty easy to do all that yourself so some year I'll try figuring it out. Maybe with 10 hours only being on the motor you don't need to change the oil, let others who know more than me give you suggestions. We put 30-40 hours a season on our Verado.

I just cannot bring myself to pay a shop $300 to do yearly maintenance on my boat when I can do the same thing for $28 in fluids and 1/2 hour time. It doesn't even take any mechanical knowledge.

Winters in the Mid-South are pretty mild and the boating season relatively long (April to November.)

I have a neighbor that winterizes his aluminum bass boat in May. He just uses it in March and April to slay crappie.