E-TEC Winterization/Long Term Storage Preparation

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Author Topic:   E-TEC Winterization/Long Term Storage Preparation

rtk posted 01-13-2007 05:46 PM ET (US)
I spent today winterizing three outboard engines on two different boats. Should have been out on the water, it turned out to be a beautiful day, contrary to the weather prediction.
On my 1997 21 Outrage, I have a 2003 Mercury 250EFI and a 2005 Mercury Pro-Kicker 9.9 four stroke. On my 1966 16 Whaler I have a 2006 Evinrude E-TEC 90.
Three different technolgy engines, three different procedures.
The 250EFI does not get fogged like a carburated engine, as in fogging the engine through the carburators, or air intake. A mixture of fuel mixed with two stroke oil and fuel stabilizer is run through the fuel system to "over lubricate" the internal engine parts for long term storage.
So, I had to:
Mix up my "brew" in a small 3 gallon tank
Connect the remote fuel tank to the engine fuel line.
Run the engine for a while to make sure the mixture ran through the fuel system
Reconnect the engine to the boat's fuel system
The four stroke kicker is winterized with the same fuel mixture as the main engine in the same manner. In addition to running the fuel mixture:
Run the engine until it is warmed up
Drain the crankcase oil and add new oil
Run engine again with fresh oil in the crankcase
Reconnect the engine to the boat's fuel system
Not terribly hard or time consuming, but I probably spent two-three hours preparing the remote tank with the fuel, going to the store to get the four stroke oil, changing the four stroke oil, disconnecting and reconnecting the fuel supply lines to the engines, and engine run time to deliver the fuel mixture to the engines.
Again, not a big deal, but I had to deal with the fuel mess disconnecting fuel lines, and disposing of the used four cycle oil.
Now the E-TEC, what a piece of cake!
The fuel I use in this boat is treated with stabilizer everytime I fill up, so the fuel is already stabilized.
Advance the throttle to wide open using the fast idle button
Start the engine
Watch the SystemCheck lights on the tachometer blink for 15 seconds and then the lights turn off
Return the throttle to neutral, SystemCheck lights will relight then turn off again.
Advance the throttle again to wide open using the fast idle button. The engine runs at fast idle, the lights blink and the engine fogs itself. After it is done fogging itself, the engine just shuts down automatically. About a minute.
No fuss, no mess, no tools. This engine can be winterized or prepared for long term storage in under 15 minutes (which includes dragging the hose out). Even better, no oily or gassy hands! You can literally winterize this engine with a dress suit on and not get dirty.
Very cool feature, and very easy to use.
I'm happy about it because I can use this boat all year round. The procedure is so simple I don't care about starting it up and fogging again. The fogging procedure can be done sitting on the trailer after the day is done, before removing from the water, in minutes.
Plus, you know it is right. The ECM decides how much additional lubrication to deliver to the engine, no guess work.
Rich

Buckda posted 01-13-2007 10:11 PM ET (US)
Rich -
I too love this feature.
As my dad put it (once he closed his mouth, which was agape) "That is slicker than snot!"
He thought it was so cool he made me to it again so he could see exactly how it was done.
ratherwhalering posted 01-14-2007 01:32 PM ET (US)
Just don't get freaked out when it takes a couple of cranks to start this spring, along with a healthy output of smoke for the first 30 seconds or so!
Peter posted 01-14-2007 04:26 PM ET (US)
That is such a great feature for us in the northern climates that used to have a Winter and now just have the occasional threat of Winter weather. If the Johnson 140 on my 18 Outrage had that feature, I would have used the Outrage at least three or four times since I winterized the Johnson's powerhead in November.
BOB KEMMLER JR posted 01-14-2007 04:33 PM ET (US)
Don't get too much easier than that.
fourdfish posted 01-14-2007 08:16 PM ET (US)
It is great isn't it! The first time I did it, I thought it was to good to be true so I did it again to be sure!
JayR posted 01-15-2007 08:43 AM ET (US)
I swapped out the SystemCheck tach for the I_Command and it did not occur to me until I went to winterize my 150 E-TEC that I no longer had the lights on the tach to go by....
Looked under the cowl for lights to no avail. Stuck, I went through the procedure using the suggested time table for the lights and managed to get it into the winterization mode.
Does anyone has the procedure for motors equipped with I-Command? What should have I done, not having the indicator lights? Hook it up to a laptop?
fourdfish posted 01-15-2007 08:49 PM ET (US)
JayR- AS I have posted before, If you can find a dealer who will get you the software, You can buy the cable from BRP and
use your laptop. My dealer is a friend so he got it for me.
The software is really neat!
JayR posted 01-15-2007 08:50 PM ET (US)
I have tried unsuccessfully.....
kamie posted 01-15-2007 09:05 PM ET (US)
The last add I saw for the software listed it at $369 for the PC version or $70 for the palm version.
JayR posted 01-16-2007 08:39 AM ET (US)
I've got a Treo.... where did you see it available?
Thanks....
kamie posted 01-16-2007 05:12 PM ET (US)
www.bluewaterboat.com/software_ficht_etec.htm
Call a couple of dealers, it seems that some will sell the software, some will not.

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Author	Topic: E-TEC Winterization/Long Term Storage Preparation
rtk	posted 01-13-2007 05:46 PM ET (US) I spent today winterizing three outboard engines on two different boats. Should have been out on the water, it turned out to be a beautiful day, contrary to the weather prediction. On my 1997 21 Outrage, I have a 2003 Mercury 250EFI and a 2005 Mercury Pro-Kicker 9.9 four stroke. On my 1966 16 Whaler I have a 2006 Evinrude E-TEC 90. Three different technolgy engines, three different procedures. The 250EFI does not get fogged like a carburated engine, as in fogging the engine through the carburators, or air intake. A mixture of fuel mixed with two stroke oil and fuel stabilizer is run through the fuel system to "over lubricate" the internal engine parts for long term storage. So, I had to: Mix up my "brew" in a small 3 gallon tank Connect the remote fuel tank to the engine fuel line. Run the engine for a while to make sure the mixture ran through the fuel system Reconnect the engine to the boat's fuel system The four stroke kicker is winterized with the same fuel mixture as the main engine in the same manner. In addition to running the fuel mixture: Run the engine until it is warmed up Drain the crankcase oil and add new oil Run engine again with fresh oil in the crankcase Reconnect the engine to the boat's fuel system Not terribly hard or time consuming, but I probably spent two-three hours preparing the remote tank with the fuel, going to the store to get the four stroke oil, changing the four stroke oil, disconnecting and reconnecting the fuel supply lines to the engines, and engine run time to deliver the fuel mixture to the engines. Again, not a big deal, but I had to deal with the fuel mess disconnecting fuel lines, and disposing of the used four cycle oil. Now the E-TEC, what a piece of cake! The fuel I use in this boat is treated with stabilizer everytime I fill up, so the fuel is already stabilized. Advance the throttle to wide open using the fast idle button Start the engine Watch the SystemCheck lights on the tachometer blink for 15 seconds and then the lights turn off Return the throttle to neutral, SystemCheck lights will relight then turn off again. Advance the throttle again to wide open using the fast idle button. The engine runs at fast idle, the lights blink and the engine fogs itself. After it is done fogging itself, the engine just shuts down automatically. About a minute. No fuss, no mess, no tools. This engine can be winterized or prepared for long term storage in under 15 minutes (which includes dragging the hose out). Even better, no oily or gassy hands! You can literally winterize this engine with a dress suit on and not get dirty. Very cool feature, and very easy to use. I'm happy about it because I can use this boat all year round. The procedure is so simple I don't care about starting it up and fogging again. The fogging procedure can be done sitting on the trailer after the day is done, before removing from the water, in minutes. Plus, you know it is right. The ECM decides how much additional lubrication to deliver to the engine, no guess work. Rich
Buckda	posted 01-13-2007 10:11 PM ET (US) Rich - I too love this feature. As my dad put it (once he closed his mouth, which was agape) "That is slicker than snot!" He thought it was so cool he made me to it again so he could see exactly how it was done.
ratherwhalering	posted 01-14-2007 01:32 PM ET (US) Just don't get freaked out when it takes a couple of cranks to start this spring, along with a healthy output of smoke for the first 30 seconds or so!
Peter	posted 01-14-2007 04:26 PM ET (US) That is such a great feature for us in the northern climates that used to have a Winter and now just have the occasional threat of Winter weather. If the Johnson 140 on my 18 Outrage had that feature, I would have used the Outrage at least three or four times since I winterized the Johnson's powerhead in November.
BOB KEMMLER JR	posted 01-14-2007 04:33 PM ET (US) Don't get too much easier than that.
fourdfish	posted 01-14-2007 08:16 PM ET (US) It is great isn't it! The first time I did it, I thought it was to good to be true so I did it again to be sure!
JayR	posted 01-15-2007 08:43 AM ET (US) I swapped out the SystemCheck tach for the I_Command and it did not occur to me until I went to winterize my 150 E-TEC that I no longer had the lights on the tach to go by.... Looked under the cowl for lights to no avail. Stuck, I went through the procedure using the suggested time table for the lights and managed to get it into the winterization mode. Does anyone has the procedure for motors equipped with I-Command? What should have I done, not having the indicator lights? Hook it up to a laptop?
fourdfish	posted 01-15-2007 08:49 PM ET (US) JayR- AS I have posted before, If you can find a dealer who will get you the software, You can buy the cable from BRP and use your laptop. My dealer is a friend so he got it for me. The software is really neat!
JayR	posted 01-15-2007 08:50 PM ET (US) I have tried unsuccessfully.....
kamie	posted 01-15-2007 09:05 PM ET (US) The last add I saw for the software listed it at $369 for the PC version or $70 for the palm version.
JayR	posted 01-16-2007 08:39 AM ET (US) I've got a Treo.... where did you see it available? Thanks....
kamie	posted 01-16-2007 05:12 PM ET (US) www.bluewaterboat.com/software_ficht_etec.htm Call a couple of dealers, it seems that some will sell the software, some will not.