Need to fog the outboard? Hi All: I’m winterizing my Tracker with a 60HP Merc 4 stroke and not sure if I need to fog the cylinders or not. The plugs are pretty hard to get to and I’m...

RedA Loc: Stow, MA

Hi All:
I’m winterizing my Tracker with a 60HP Merc 4 stroke and not sure if I need to fog the cylinders or not. The plugs are pretty hard to get to and I’m thinking about just fogging the air intake and stopping there. I’ll probably have Cabelas do a full winterize every few years. My buddy has had boats for 20 years and never fogged.

What do you guys think?

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

RedA wrote:

Hi All:
I’m winterizing my Tracker with a 60HP Merc 4 stroke and not sure if I need to fog the cylinders or not. The plugs are pretty hard to get to and I’m thinking about just fogging the air intake and stopping there. I’ll probably have Cabelas do a full winterize every few years. My buddy has had boats for 20 years and never fogged.

What do you guys think?

I fog my 115 Johnson every year. It easy to do and I think it helps.

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Ditto
I have always fogged both 2 stroke and 4 stroke.

Waterdoglured Loc: DFW Metro, Lake Grapevine

What is “fogged” the outboard? Haven’t heard that term used before.

Whitey Loc: Southeast ohio

Better off to fog in the cylinder if you're just spraying the fog in the air intake it's just going into the carburetor. If you take plug wires off where the motor will not start spray enough in there you might get some in the cylinder but not as good as if you took the plugs out and sprayed into cylinder.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Whitey wrote:

Better off to fog in the cylinder if you're just spraying the fog in the air intake it's just going into the carburetor. If you take plug wires off where the motor will not start spray enough in there you might get some in the cylinder but not as good as if you took the plugs out and sprayed into cylinder.

You fog the motor when it's running Whitey,and it gets all the way thru. Also known as "Letting the Smoke Out ". LOL If you store in a heated building it's probably not needed, but anywhere with temperature swings and humidity you should do it! My little 1990 25hp is bolted to the transom, so it's spent 30 winters outside. Still runs like a champ, and looks like new inside.

Whitey Loc: Southeast ohio

I'm sorry I've never done it that way who says ya can't teach old dogs new tricks

bric Loc: Helena, MT

Fredfish wrote:

You fog the motor when it's running Whitey,and it gets all the way thru. Also known as "Letting the Smoke Out ". LOL If you store in a heated building it's probably not needed, but anywhere with temperature swings and humidity you should do it! My little 1990 25hp is bolted to the transom, so it's spent 30 winters outside. Still runs like a champ, and looks like new inside.

I do both: fog the motor while running, then remove plugs and spray some in the cylinders. Don’t know if this is overkill, just following directions on the bottle.

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Whitey wrote:

I'm sorry I've never done it that way who says ya can't teach old dogs new tricks

Never heard of it either Whitey. I crank mine every 30 days in the winter if I dont use them. Down here it must not get cold enough

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

bric wrote:

I do both: fog the motor while running, then remove plugs and spray some in the cylinders. Don’t know if this is overkill, just following directions on the bottle.

I do the same as Bric. Fog while running then spray into cylinders - mine is a ‘96 60 hp on a 16ft Tracker DeepV Pro 16’. Still purrs right along so must be doing something right.

Kelley King Loc: NC

Here in NC I don,t do it. Did it years ago but stopped after the marina shop said it was not neccesary. No problems.

wainemaine Loc: western mountains, Maine

In Mass we used to pour mystery oil down the carb in the inboards running till it stalled, then bag and wrap the carb, wipe down the engine with a oiley rag then stu ff the rag up the exhaust to block off the air. any engine a few valves will be open and the outside air temp makes the engine breath letting air into the cylinders to condense any moisture on the valve stems, cyl. walls,valve seats etc.I always fog any engine i am not gonnna use a while, 4 stroke and 2, except diesels, pouring oil in the air inlet is not a great idea lol.

Bdubya06 Loc: Salem OR

Have never winterized! Try to fish at least once a month through the winter. I have buddies that winterize every year. They also put thier boats away until spring. Generally, i dont think it gets cold enough here in Oregon to worry about it! An inboard is a different story.

RedA Loc: Stow, MA

Well, you guys talked me into it and I fogged the air intake & cylinder yesterday.
Unfortunately I had to use a ratchet pivot to get to the last plug and I broke the ceramic when tightening it in ☹️
Red

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

RedA wrote:

Well, you guys talked me into it and I fogged the air intake & cylinder yesterday.
Unfortunately I had to use a ratchet pivot to get to the last plug and I broke the ceramic when tightening it in ☹️
Red

Were you able to replace it with a New one