www.iFourWinns.com

I live in Canada and my 195 will be stored indoors (not heated), I have to run antifreeze through the motor which is fine but im wondering if its a big deal if I change the engine oil before or after the winter. I know of people who do both but I was looking for a genuine reasons for or against.
What do you think?

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1998 Sundowner 195,
4.3Gli Volvo Penta.

I would change before you out it away. Putting fresh oil in removes all of the bad contamanents that are in there.

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

Change it after. New oil will break down over the winter and ruin your engine. Nawww, just kidding. There is no RIGHT answer to this question. Its like "which oil/sparkplug/prop/radio is best", there will never be a right answer. You can do it before or after winter.

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

My tech always says to change it in the spring because the oil accumulates moisture while sitting during the winter. Sounds plausible but I have changed oil in fall after a busy season to not change it again until summer. Does once a year rule?

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Once a year is fine, I always do it in the fall. I don't think that any contamination that could happen over the winter is significant. Think about it, you buy a new boat, the oil was put in at the factory, they do not change it at the dealer before they sell it to you because the boat sat there for 6 months to a year.

And about running AF through it, well, unless you know exactly what you are doing, this could cause a cracked block. Because the 'stat may not open all the way on cool fall day. Some remove the 'stat, some drain the block first. I like to drain everything after changing the oil and fogging it. Then I simply back fill the engine, manifolds and raw water intake hose through the hoses with the best -100 marine AF with corrosion inhibitors. Safe easy and no risk of cracked block. ALWAYS probe all drains to make sure water comes out!!!

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Yes, But run the engine for a few minutes. This will force the old oil out & the new oil into the bearings.

Re: Change oil in fall or spring?

change oil/lubricants in the fall/end of season. you want fresh oil in your motor over the winter to stop/slow corrosion of internal parts. dirty motor oil can become acidic and attack engine parts and that's why the oils advertise having corrosion inhibitors in them. also if you drain motor or foot oil and it's contaminated with water or normal wear deposits, then you want to get that oil out of your motor and make any repairs to seals or other mechanicals right away during the off-season.

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2011 Bennington 2075 GLi
2012 Key West 211 DC
2005 Four winns 180 Horizon LE
1997 Horizon QXsold
2000 248 Vistasold
2002 Key West 2020WA sold