Do Outboard Motors Need Winterizing?

If you want your engine to start in the spring and last you many years and plan on not using your engine all winter, you do have to winterize an outboard motor. Winterizing the engine helps to prevent damage during disuse, which is the chief cause for engine failure. Failing to winterize may lead to complications.

Do you need to winterize a 4 stroke outboard motor?

Like inboards and sterndrives, outboard engines are also subject to potential damage from freezing and from being laid up in disuse for months at a time. So outboards demand winterizing too.

What happens if you don't winterize your outboard?

If You Don't Winterize Your Boat, Here's What Happens: Water freezes and expands and can damage anything it's trapped inside. Water may seep into unprotected spaces to do this. Acidic and corrosive wastes, salt and corrosion buildup can damage delicate parts in engines.