Winterization--drain tank? Full Tank?

Jeff Reardon

Jeff Reardon

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My Tohatsu 3.5 hp 2 stroke has had a better year than normal. No broken shear pins, ran like a top when needed. This probably has more to do with how little I used it due to lack of ducks, and the related lack of cold weather, than actually running better than normal, but I can't complain.

I'll pull the boat and put the motor up this weekend. In the past, I have always topped off the inernal ~1 quart tank with gas/oil mix liberally spiked with Marine Stabil.

A friend recently suggested it was better to run the motor until the tank runs dry and store it empty.

What do the motor gurus say? Again, this is a small internal tank, not a larger external tank. Motor will be stored in my unheated barn.
 
Jeff. From experience with Problems leaving old gas in tank when stored for any length of time ,I have found it is best to run your motor till carburetor is Dry, & empty your gas tank before storage & start of the new season with fresh gas & oil . you will have a lot less problems.
 
How long until you run it again?
If more than three months, I would pour the gas out & fog the carb.
 
Prior to running the carb dry, add a double dose of Sta-Bil to the fuel & run the engine till warm. Then run the fuel out. The STA-Bil will lube the carb & lines.

The drying out of carb seals & gaskets are just as bad on the engine as ethonol fuel.

Then remove the plugs & squirt A high quality winterizing agent into the cylinders.

Empty the tank.
 
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Prior to running the carb dry, add a double dose of Sta-Bil to the fuel & run the engine till warm. Then run the fuel out. The STA-Bil will lube the carb & lines.

The drying out of carb seals & gaskets are just as bad on the engine as ethonol fuel.

Then remove the plugs & squirt A high quality winterizing agent into the cylinders.

Empty the tank.
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Do this but after running out of gas if motor has a fuel bowl/filter bowl remove and dup remaining gas out of it. Not sure about your little motor but on small mercs this filter bowl always remains about 1/2 full even when motor runs out of fuel. Needless to say when motor is restarted next year first gas it gets has been sitting there all year.Had a gunning buddy that didn,t use his little merc except during duck season and every year even after treating fuel and running out he,d have carb problems come duck season start up.
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All good advice. Drain and fog. Be happy you are not dealing with a big built in boat tank. Ethanol is a curse on mankind especially boaters. "Don't get me started"
 
Or just run your boat 12 months out of the year like we do down here!
 
Now I have a dilemma. The experts--many of whom I know to be knowledgable--all concur that what I have been doing to years with this motor and never had any problem is wrong.

So, do I take the good advice I asked for, or just keep doing what has always worked in the past?
 
As a shop teacher and auto technician I have seen a lot of problems with the new gas used today if it sits for a extended period of time I would suggest empty and run it all out of the carb. Just my option if it's work for you in the past go for it
 
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