I've just bought a 2001 19' stratos with a 2001 Johnson 200 hp. The boat is like new, the owner says it has less than 10 hours on it and it looks it. However, the carbs were all gummed up from lack of use and they had to be torn down and cleaned. The place where I bought it took care of that.
I was wondering what you guys, especially you cold weather folks did to keep this from happening to your motors in the winter time. Do you use stabil or something else to keep the carbs from gumming up.

The best thing you can do to store it for winter is add some stabil to the gas, and if you really wanna too you could pick up a can of fogging oil and spray that in through the carbs, that will coat the pistons and cylinder walls really good.
If you do them 2 things before you store it for the winter you shouldn't have any problems come spring.

Looks like finner is faster on the keyboard. I do the 2 things he said and then change out the lower unit gear oil. I turn over the engine a couple of times to get all the water out of the pump and then tilt the motor down and cover the engine and prop with a large plastic bag and a tarp. I pull the electroncs and I put on the cover and make sure there are no low spots that can collect water and ice. I pull the drain plug and I then jack the trailer up and put it on blocks to keep the weight off the tires. Good to go until the spring.

thanks for that info and it sounds like you guys got it covered but what is fogging oil?

here ya go rocky...but there's many different brands out there.
http://www.boatersfavorites.com/motor-flushers/starbrite-engine-fogging-oil-spr-176130524.html

Thanks finner, I know a place that carries alot of starbrite products, if they don't have it I'll order it off the webb. Thanks again.

Silicone spray to coat somethings on it. I dont know the effect it would have to the boat engine. But we use it for my chain's and other parts of my dirt bikes.

Stabil doesn't always work. plus the gas continually evaporates all winter and left with junk come spring.

And another thing you want to be concerned with in cold weather is any remaining water in the cooling jackets. Freeze = cracked block or heads.

Another thing you can do is start the motor cold start first of the day out of water. Have intakes exposed and quickly spray a liberal amount of fogging oil into carbs, it will sputter and smoke like hell, it's supposed to but just keep RMP's up "slightly"

do it quickly in all carb intakes.

"disconnect gas line from tank"

motor runs till carbs are sucked dry. when they run dry the rpm's will pick up from leaning out and then the motor will sputter to a stall. you don't want to run them out of water for more than a minute or so first start of the day. The fogging oil keeps everything lubed well and protects it a bit while you do this.

Empty carbs are as good if not better than sabilized carbs. I do it with all my stuff for winter storage. Come spring, new gas, start it.

out of water also helps blow out any excess water in jackets.

if you can get to your water cooling system and poor or force marine grade anti freeze witha plastic 2 liter bottle made into a squeeze setup and force itin till it comes out the return never hurts either. Some motors have adapters to do this some don't.

Want a solution too foggin, emptyin carbs and all that other trouble? Simply switch too 93 octane high quality fuel like Ammoco/BP or Exxon/Mobil. The additives in super unleaded will prevent the fuel from breaking down and when it does evaporate (which is what causes gummed up carbs in the first place) it does so clear and without anything left behind. You don't have to put Stabil in superunleaded either, but if it gives you extra peace of mind then it wont hurt to do so. I also recommend going with a 100% synthetic 2stroke oil like Klotz or Pennzoil. They don't put carbon into your motor (which is the chief killer of outboards) and their residue is harmless and actually performs the same job as fogging oil. I have pulled the plugs on my 225ProMaxSS after 6 mths and they are still wet, as is the piston top and cylinder walls. The synthetic wont evaporate or dry out and like I said the best part is no carbon. My ProMax is on her 6th summer now and I haven't had any problems with it due to oil/fuel condition (and the motor turns nearly 7k so I know it gets a real workout!)

When the synthetic oil is used with superquality fuel you wont have a mess to begin with and your motor will thank you for it. Your 200 will likewise burn 93 no problem. And when a motor has sufficient combustion to burn it (most 2strokes over 2 cylinders do!) it actually burns cooler than crap gas/87octane!

Give it a try,
RA

Thanks Red, all that makes sense. It would probably cost about $6 more every time I go fishing but that ain't crap when you got that much invested in a boat and motor. I'd already decided to use the 100% synthetic 2 cycle oil.