WINTERIZING INFORMATION

In the Spring, our service department is almost overwhelmed with service work from engines that were not winterized. The majority of the problems that we encounter are fuel related due to un-stabilized fuel that varnishes carburetors. The symptoms for this problem are that the engine usually will run fine on a hose flushing system, but when the customer gets to the lake, the engine will not accelerate and will bog down and die. The most common reason for this is that the high speed jets of the carburetor (which are in the bottom of most carburetors) sit in un-stabilized fuel for a few months and the fuel de-stabilizes and causes varnish to block the high speed jets. The only way to repair this problem is to rebuild the carburetor(s), the repair of this problem can run between $100 to $400.

The second most encountered (and much more costly) problem is with water trapped in lower units of outboards and inboard/outboard gearcases. If water is present in a lower unit (see below for more info.), it can freeze and expand which will cause the aluminum housings of the lower units to crack. Repair cost for this type of problem usually start around $1,800.

Inboard/Outboard & Inboard engines face another major problem that we encounter in the Spring (as you will see below). As in the gearcase example above, frozen water in the cooling system of these types of engines will expand and cause cracks in may different areas of the engine. Repair varies due to the many variables but they start at around $1,000 for minor repairs and can go way over $5,000 for engine replacement. If you own an I/O or Inboard Engine you must have it winterized unless it is kept in a climate-controlled environment.

HIGHLAND MARINA SALES & SERVICE - Runs winterizing specials to encourage customers to have their engines winterized before November every year. Check back here in October for rates or click on our Mailing list to add your name and mailing address so we can mail our WINTERIZING SPECIAL flier to you (FILL OUT THE COMMENTS SECTION WITH "WINTERIZING" SO WE WILL ADD YOU TO THE LIST).

REASONS TO WINTERIZE:

INBOARD & INBOARD/OUTBOARD ENGINES:
WATER THAT REMAINS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK, MANIFOLDS, & OIL COOLERS CAN POTENTIALLY FREEZE AND EXPAND CAUSING MAJOR AND VERY EXPENSIVE DAMAGE TO YOUR ENGINE, IN MOST CASES REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE BLOCK AND/OR MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE COOLING SYSTEM.UN-STABILIZED FUEL CAN GO BAD AND CAUSE VARNISH IN THE CARBURATION SYSTEM. YOU ALSO RUN THE RISK OF ENCOUNTERING SPRING TIME PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING ON SPOILED FUEL. BOTH RESULT IN THE NEED TO RE-BUILD THE CARBURETOR (S) IN THE SPRING.INBOARD/OUTBOARD ENGINES HAVE A LOWER UNIT LIKE AN OUTBOARD AND RUN THE RISK OF GETTING WATER INTO THE LOWER UNIT FROM MANY UNCONTROLLABLE CIRCUMSTANCES (FISHING LINE CAUGHT BY THE PROP. WHICH CAN WEAR OUT PROP SHAFT SEALS, AGE OF LOWER UNIT SEALS, ETC.). LIKE THE ENGINE, ANY WATER TRAPPED IN THE LOWER UNIT WILL EXPAND WHEN FROZEN AND POSSIBLY CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.

IN THE PROCESS OF WINTERIZING WE CAN LOCATE AND NOTIFY YOU OF ANY OBVIOUS POTENTIAL PROBLEMS THAT MAY ARISE IN THE SPRING AND SCHEDULE ADDITIONAL SERVICE NEEDED BEFORE THE FIRST SPRING BOAT TRIP.