Winterizing a Generator Help

T

toofast

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Sep 13, 2004
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Sorry about bringing up winter...but in my neck of the woods our boating season is winding down.

This is my first year with a generator, and I am not 100% clear how to winterize. I know the oil needs changed, got it. I am assuming I need to run antifreeze through, so I assume pulling the hose from the seacock and running it through is the way to do that (then maybe I need to drain the exhaust)?

The one item I am not clear on is fogging...Guess I should explain I have a 2007 Low CO Emissions Generators / 7.3ECD Kohler.

It is Throttle-body fuel injected so I was thinking I fog like I fog my 496 Merc (meaning with the mixture of 2 cycle, fuel injector cleaner, etc) But I am not sure on the process exactly...so if anyone can help it would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
 
While my engines are VP, this is the way I did my Merc engines back when this bulliten came out and have just kept doing it this way after I went with VP's. Should do the job on your gen set as well.

________________________________________________________________________________

2001-15 SEPTEMBER 2001 Printed in U.S.A. - W 2001, Mercury Marine Page 1 of 2
No. 2001-15

WARRANTY INFORMATION SERVICE INFORMATION

New Gasoline EFI/MPI Engine Fogging Procedure
Models
All MerCruiser gasoline EFI and MPI engines produced in Stillwater.

NOTE: This change does not apply to carbureted engines produced in Stillwater or Hi-Performance engines produced by Mercury Racing.

Change
Follow this new fogging procedure when laying an engine up for storage.

Fogging Mixture
In a 6 US gal (23 L) remote outboard fuel tank, mix:
5 US gal (19 L) regular unleaded 87 octane (90 RON) gasoline.
64 fl oz. (1.89 L) Mercury or Quicksilver Premium Plus 2-Cycle TC-W3 Outboard oil.
5 fl oz. (150 mL) Mercury or Quicksilver Fuel System Treatment and Stabilizer, OR
1 fl oz. (30 mL) Mercury or Quicksilver Fuel System Treatment and Stabilizer
Concentrate.

1. Disconnect and plug boat’s fuel line from Water Separating Fuel Filter inlet.
2. Connect remote outboard fuel tank (with the fogging mixture) to the inlet of the Water Separating Fuel Filter.

IMPORTANT: If the boat is out of the water, follow instructions for running engine on flush device as found in service manual for the engine being fogged.

3. a. Cool Fuel models: Start and run engine at 1300 rpm for 5 minutes.
b. VST models: Start and run engine at 1300 rpm for 10 minutes.
4. After specified running time is complete, slowly return throttle to idle rpm and shut engine off.

IMPORTANT: Do not run engine’s fuel system dry of this fogging mixture in the 6 US gal (23 L) remote outboard fuel tank.
 
Ok...thanks for the follow up.

Just to confirm with anybody else that has a generator...is fogging per above necessary and the way to go. Do ask a few more details, how does the fuel pump work...meaning if I disconnect the fuel line to run off the mixture, will that work.
 
I normally tap into the fuel line at the cut-off/transfer valves, this enables me to feed the mixture into the EFI boat engines as well as the gen set. In essence, an EFI engine is not fogged through the air intake like a carbed engine would be. The proper way is to do it as outlined above or by putting a couple of ounces of 2-cycle oil in the fuel filter and running that through the engine. Good luck
 
toofast, while I'm sure all the above procedures work just fine there are times some are in excess. Been doing this for 19 years to my 2 Kohler 6.5KW gas gennys. First, I run fresh water thru system for about a 1/2 hour. This does 2 things; flushes salt water out of system & heats oil for oil & filter change. To get fresh water thru system; I take hose off inlet thru hull fitting & place in a 5 gallon bucket of fresh water. Start genny & have fresh water hose filling up bucket while it's being pulled into cooling system of genny. Be careful genny hose doesn't get sucked to bottom of bucket as it will cut off water supply. After 20-30 minutes shut off water & genny. Change oil & filter. Make up 50/50 solution of 1 gal water & 1 gal AF. Put hose into solution & restart genny. When all mixture is gone shut down genny until next year. I then remove the two spark plugs & squirt fogging oil or Marvel Mystery oil in each cylinder. Crank engine over several revolutions to coat cylinders. Replace plugs & wait for summer. As an added item; I spray WD-40 liberally over entire genny. Plug air intake & exhaust. Wait one minute; I also change zinc at this time. Have a beer !
 
Sounds like an easy efficient way to get the job done Bob.
 
Yep...it sure beats the way I did it this year...so I think I will change to your method....19 years is a good track record.

Thanks
 
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