SX250 winterization

[ragingrhino]

So im a first year owner of a 2024 SX250 and im doing the winterization myself because the dealership wanted $399 for winterization. I have a couple questions.

First is around the fogging. Do i need to remove the air filter cover then the air filter to fog it? Can i just remove the one hose at the top and spray it in there?

Second question is around the gas tank. I bought the Stabil but im curious if i should leave the tank empty or fill it up to sit for the winter? My buddy who has an outboard Lund and has been a boater his entire life said he runs it to near empty puts his stabilizer in and winterizes.

Much appreciated for the help.

 

[David Martin]

Fill tank would be most recommendation......the reason is less room for the tank to sweat during cold and warmer days. Add any good stabilizer will do and this is where the full tank comes back in play................. Stabilizer is a mixtures of oils some oils mix with the gas and are drawn in to lube the injectors this keep corrosion to a minimum...........the oils also add a protection layer between the gas and the air coming in your vent. The oil is a barrier so 02 can not attach to the fuels long chain molecules. Attachment is a bad thing as it promotes gas to degrade. Empty tank sweats more(adds water) and more room/volume means more air to attack the gas.

The oils slow the process but does not stop it so less air/volume the better.

Hope this helps a little

 

[David Martin]

Now expanding on the above topic a sealed tank would slow the gas degrading but sealing a plastic tank is VARY bad as the heat and cold air and gas expands the tank could rupture the plastic at the seams. Last point some storage facility will not allow full tanks on boat using storage racks........ as the same hot cold expansion of fuel can allow some gas to purge out of the vent and drip down on the boat below running their interior ect...............

 

[ragingrhino]

Thank you both

 

[David Martin]

Back to the fogging question fogging is to add a little oil/lubrication to protect the piston rings............if rings corroded they could stick to the cylinder wall causing a ring to break....this break will cause cylinder wear to happen vary quickly. The Yamaha is so easy to remove plugs if I WANTED TO FOG......in Florida no such thing as winterization...LOL I would just add fogging oil direct into cylinders put old plugs back in and wait for the spring start up on old plugs, and then change to new plugs. Way easer to remove plugs than remove air box ect.........and fog spray while running ect.......

Just my opinion

 

[husbus]

First is around the fogging. Do i need to remove the air filter cover then the air filter to fog it? Can i just remove the one hose at the top and spray it in there?

I don't have the same engines as you, but I believe the recommendations should be the same: Remove air intake hose from throttle body and remove air filter box. The fog through throttle body while running engine. Then remove spark plugs and spray fogging oil directly into cylinders.

See: Yamaha Fogging Tech Exchange Bulletin WCA2011-003