As fall approaches, it's time for boat owners across the country to start preparing for the winter months ahead. The cold weather, with its snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, can take a serious toll on your vessels if not properly stored. By following a few simple steps and using the proper Lucas Oil products, you can protect your vessel from winter's harsh conditions, ensuring a smooth launch when the boating season returns next spring.
Whether you own a pontoon, a fishing boat, or a jet ski, all watercrafts require proper winter preparation for their engine oil systems, fuel systems, transmissions and other critical components. While the process of winterizing may seem daunting, it’s both quick and easy with the right products and approach. Neglecting these steps, however, could lead to anything from annoying repair bills to costly system failures.
Storage Location
The most important part of storage is, well, the location. Storage options with the most controlled climates include boat storage units, dry stack storage, and indoor storage, while less controlled storage environment options may look like storing your boat in your yard (preferably under a boat cover) or leaving it in the water. Whichever you choose, you’ll want to make sure your boat is fully cleaned, dried, and winterized before temperatures drop.
Draining and Cleaning
Once removed from the water, drain the bilge, water tanks, head, pipes and seacocks, and any other apparatuses that may hold water, such as any water heaters or engine cooling systems . Once the boat is drained, scrubbed clean, and dry, spray on a coat of Lucas Slick Mist Marine Speed Wax to the exterior gel coat and wipe it right off, protecting your aquatic investment from rust, corrosion, and dust and dirt all season long.
Engine Prep
Getting ahead of springtime maintenance starts with preparing your vessel’s engine to sit in storage for a long stretch of time. Even if your watercraft spends the warmer months in freshwater, you’ll want to flush the engine and the coolant system both with freshwater to remove existing salt, dirt and corrosion. Using a stable long-life fluid like Lucas Synthetic Marine Automatic Transmission Fluid year-round will protect against wear, rust, corrosion, as well as moisture during storage, ensuring excellent clutch engagement upon your first launch next season.
Fuel System
As mentioned, the cleanliness and preparation of fuel systems should be a priority. Using Lucas Oil Deep Clean Fuel Treatment during that final fill up will help make sure the fuel system is nice and clean before going into storage. However, gasoline degrades over time causing changes to its chemical properties which can damage fuel-system components. To prevent potential issues, a bottle of Lucas Fuel Stabilizer should be added to the tank to slow the degradation of gasoline and ethanol, a main cause of gum and varnish deposits. The Fuel Stabilizer also cleans, lubricates and maintains fuel pumps, carburetors, fuel injectors and compression rings. Vessel owners should also fill their tanks to 90% capacity to prevent excess water condensation build up during winter storage.
Battery Maintenance and Electronics Storage
Extreme cold can lead to cracked or drained marine batteries, so removing your batteries and placing them on a trickle charger over the winter can lead to a longer life for these expensive pieces of equipment. Storing your batteries in a warm and dry place along with any removable electronics from aboard your vessel is considered a best practice to protect them from the elements and extend their lives.
Engine Oil
Oil changes are part of routine maintenance which should be up to date when placing something in storage for the winter. However, just having clean oil isn’t enough for those who want the very best protection for their prized possession. By adding a bottle of Lucas Oil Low-Viscosity Stabilizer or Heavy Duty Oil Stabilizer, marine engines are given an added layer of protection from dry starts and excess friction upon first launch in the spring. It also provides added lubrication which reduces oil consumption and operating temperatures. It's important to note that these stabilizers are not just great for offseason storage, they should be included with every oil change.
“Proper winter storage is essential for all boat owners, whether you're a weekend boater or a dedicated mariner who takes pride in maintaining your vessel. It's important to start early and use the right products to protect your boat from harsh winter conditions. For decades, Lucas Oil has been a trusted name in safeguarding engines, fuel systems, and more, and preparing your boat for winter storage is no different,” said Dr. Raymond Burns III, Director of Research and Development for Lucas Oil. “Without the right preventive measures, boats in storage can face serious issues, from engine damage to fuel degradation. That's why we're proud that Lucas Oil products are relied upon by boat owners worldwide to keep their vessels in top condition, season after season.”
ABOUT LUCAS OIL
For more than 35 years, Lucas has set the world standard in superior engine oils, additives, appearance and lubricant products – powering lifestyles across the automotive, trucking, marine, outdoor, motorsports, industrial and home product worlds. The hard-charging American brand’s commitment to bring the ultimate in performance solutions impacts every customer and partner equally – from jointly-engineered oil for racing teams like Richard Childress Racing (RCR), Monster Jam®, sports teams like the Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts, to additives that deliver unrivaled fuel economy, power and extended engine life to an everyday driver.
Based in Indianapolis, the company’s rapidly expanding global footprint is highlighted by cutting-edge research and development operations, evolving retail channels and high-tech manufacturing. More than 300 premium products make up the largest variety of shelf products of any oil company in the United States with a distribution network across 48 different countries and big-name retailers that include Amazon, Walmart, AutoZone, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Advance Auto Parts, Carquest and more. For more information, visit www.LucasOil.com and follow #TeamLucasOil on Facebook, Twitter, X, Instagram and TikTok.
