How to Store a Small Outboard Motor So It Starts First Pull Next Time
Stale petrol, trapped salt and a motor lying the wrong way round cause most “it won’t start” stories. Twenty minutes of prep before storage prevents nearly all of them.
How to store a small outboard motor: flush it with fresh water, stabilise or drain the petrol, change the oil for long storage, then keep it upright (or as the manual says) on a stand in a dry, covered place.
Wayne’s three weeks away
Wayne works fly-in fly-out: three weeks on site, one week home. That one week is for fishing, and for two seasons it started the same way, with twenty minutes of pulling the cord on his 5 HP while his daughter read a book in the car.
The motor was fine. The petrol was not. Left in the carburettor for weeks in a hot shed, it went stale and gummed up the tiny jets. Salt he had not flushed out was quietly crusting the cooling passages too.
A mechanic at the local marine shop gave him a routine that takes a quarter of an hour: flush, run the carburettor dry, stand the motor upright, cover it. His next week home, the motor started on the second pull. When it came time to replace it, he chose a fuel-injected Mercury 8 EFI, which copes better with gaps between trips, and he kept the routine anyway.
His daughter now has to finish her book on the boat. Store it right and the motor is ready when you are.
How should you store a small outboard short-term versus long-term?
For a few weeks, flush and run the fuel out or stabilise it. For three months or more, add an oil change, fogging and a full service before you put it away.
| Task | 1–4 weeks | 3+ months (off-season) |
|---|---|---|
| Flush with fresh water | Yes, after every salt trip | Yes |
| Fuel | Add stabiliser to fresh petrol | Stabilise and run through, or drain carburettor |
| Engine oil | Check level | Change oil and filter if fitted |
| Gear oil | No | Change; look for milky water contamination |
| Fogging oil | No | If your manual recommends it |
| Battery (electric start or Torqeedo) | Disconnect | Store at the charge level the manual gives, check monthly |
How do you store a small outboard motor, step by step?
- Flush it. Use flushing muffs or a tub of fresh water and run the motor until it reaches normal temperature, especially after salt water.
- Deal with the petrol. Add marine fuel stabiliser and run it through, or disconnect the fuel line and let the motor run until it stops to empty the carburettor. Use the carb drain screw if fitted.
- Change the oils. For long storage, change engine oil and gear oil so acids and moisture are not sitting inside all season.
- Protect the insides. Fog the cylinders if your manual recommends it, and grease the grease points and the clamp screws.
- Check the prop. Remove it, clear any fishing line from the shaft and grease the splines.
- Position it correctly. Store upright on a stand, or on the side the manual allows. Lying a four-stroke on the wrong side can let oil run where it should not.
- Cover and secure. Use a breathable cover in a dry, ventilated place, away from direct sun and rodents.
Motors that make storage easy
Fuel injection and electric drives take the stale-petrol worry away. Starting prices in USD.
How to store a small outboard motor: FAQ
Should a small outboard be stored upright or lying down?
Upright on a stand is safest. If it must lie down, many small four-strokes can only rest on one specific side, and the owner’s manual shows which.
Can I leave petrol in my outboard over winter?
Only if it is treated with fuel stabiliser and run through the system. Untreated petrol can go stale in a few months and clog carburettor jets.
Is it OK to store an outboard on the boat?
Yes, if it is flushed, prepared as above, tilted down to drain, covered and the boat is under shelter. Lock it to the transom if theft is a worry.
How do I store a Torqeedo electric outboard?
Rinse it, dry it, and store the battery indoors at the charge level recommended in the manual, checking it every few weeks. A good marine charger makes this easy.
Put it away properly. Pull it out ready.
Questions about storing your model? Our team will point you to the right steps.