Placing my Yamaha engine in storage for 3 years ( need some help )

[DeepDiver1957]

Good Morning everyone, was wondering if I could get some help/suggestions

I have a 2002 Yamaha 2 stroke 225 hp, OX66 Salt Water series engine. This past fall my marine mechanic helped me winterize it and prepared it for winter. I maybe going out of the country for a cpl of years thus leaving the boat covered and protected inside a barn for the next 2 years. Obviously before we placed it in storage we placed Stabil in the fuel tank and flushd the engine with marine grade anti freeze

Is there anything I need to do while I am gone or will the trick be, firing it up when I come home in 2 years?

Thanks for any and all help

Uncle Rob

[Rodney Bledsoe]

I place some some mothballs in each storage compartment. They say this will keep the mice out. I wouldn't lay them directly on the carpet, but put them is some open container.


May I ask why your leaving the States for a couple years?

[DeepDiver1957]

Hi Thanks for replying to my post Rodney, I was more concerned about the engine than I am about the boat.............

I have heard of a million issues about a engine sitting that long without running it

I imagine if I had to, I could get a buddy of mine to take it to the lake a run it yearly if the yamaha mechanics think that is necessary

I am leaving for a job issue, non military

[dward51]

Pull all the batteries. Unless you leave a storage/trickle charger on them they will be long gone by the time you take it back out. If they are farily new, you might consider selling them and just buying new in a few years. Even left on a storage charger 24/7 I don't know what they would be like in 3 years.

I would also leave the hatches open for a week or so before I covered it (open while inside the barn). That way any hidden water in the bilge or livewell lines, etc... has a chance to dry out.

I would drain every drop of fuel I could (empty the tank and get as much out of the lines in the motor as you can). Even treated with Stabil, 3 years is pushing it. Not sure about running the motor on the muffs until "dry" as I've been told that is a bad thing to do, but people do run out of fuel on the lake so I'm not sure. I don't think running it dry would be as much of a possible issue with an OX66.