Better use a light coat of WD40 than no fogging oil?

[Franziska]

Hi engine specialists.

I've got two Yamaha 9.9 High Torque outboards onboard.
I'm amidst of winterizing, but have no fogging oil to spray in the cylinders.
Can I use a short spray of WD40 instead?
Or is it better to do nothing than that.
Alternatively I have a can of 4stroke oil here.

Trouble is I can not get proper fogging oil here and I'm not mobile enough to get to the next big city before leaving the boat.

I have run both engines for 20min with freshwater and have then disconnected the fuel lines and let them run dry with regards to fuel.
The fuel had a winterizing fuel additive in it.

Thanks for your thoughts,

Franziska

PS. I do know that fogging oil would be best, but it's simply not an option open to me.

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[SailFastTri]

Short answer: I don't know. WD 40 contains solvents, and I'm not sure how good it is as a lubricant.


However you can't go wrong if you put in a little squirt of motor oil and pull the starter once or twice with the plugs removed (to coat the cylinder walls). Put the plugs back in. If you use a pull starter rope (not electric start) you can feel the point of maximum pull resistance. At that point of compression the valves are closed so leave it in that position.

[S/V Illusion]

wD40 has no lubricity. Don't use it.

[Teknishn]

SailFastTri is spot on with his suggestion for injecting engine oil directly into the cylinders through the spark plug holes as a temporary stop-gap. Would also recommend to do this every 30-days if possible as the oil MAY sag from the upper areas of the engine cylinders leaving exposed metal surfaces.

Also, as previously stated WD40 contains solvents and additives. These solvents and additives are actually corrosive to alloy metals over a long period of time (aluminum, magnesium, low-grade stainless, soft steel, etc.). I would recommend only using WD40 on squeaky door hinges and only if I didn't have proper oil or lithium grease on hand. I only use it as a degreaser on my kitchen ceramic (mostly because I like the smell) Just my 2-cents worth.....

[NoTies]

Power steering oil or automatic transmission fluid through a spray bottle.

[seabreez]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

wD40 has no lubricity. Don't use it.

If you have access to "Fluid Film"... works best, migrates in tight corners, great rust inhibitor, food grade (spray you BBQ). This is my only lubricant for all my needs. I also use it on winterizing small motors, lawn mowers, weed eater, tractors, gas and diesel engines, great under coating for cars, lubricant for car doors and anything in a home that squeaks... except...

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by SailFastTri

Short answer: I don't know. WD 40 contains solvents, and I'm not sure how good it is as a lubricant.


However you can't go wrong if you put in a little squirt of motor oil and pull the starter once or twice with the plugs removed (to coat the cylinder walls). Put the plugs back in. If you use a pull starter rope (not electric start) you can feel the point of maximum pull resistance. At that point of compression the valves are closed so leave it in that position.

Good advice. A similar procedure is used on Atomic 4 gasoline inboards with an oil amusingly called "Marvel Mystery Oil". About one spoon of this oil is put down the cylinders (with the spark plugs removed) and the motor is hand cranked so that the rings and pistons, etc. receive a light, rust-inhibiting coating.

The "WD" in WD-40 stands for "water displacement". The solvents in it eat rust, but provide no lubrication. It's good for what it does, but the use of it as a lubricant is actually quite mistaken. If you are able to get a very light oil thin enough to be sprayed out of a small plastic bottle, of course of the type that won't dissolve in the oil itself, that would be a good option.

[HappyMdRSailor]

I'm thinking a couple engine stands and flat boards.... These would make awesome nightstands over the winter...

[Symphony]

Subscribed. Good info

[ebisucapt]

Just use 2 stroke oil. Even the newer snowmobiles now have autofogger built in. Since they have oil injection. But it is best to run the engine skirting it in through the air intake. But if no fuel spark plug hole works. 2 stroke oil is made to stick and coat better then most oils.

[sy_gilana]

Use a 25:1 ratio of 2 -stroke outboard oil (TCW3 standard) Best is Yamalube, if not Castrol. It contains everything you need. Run for 10 minutes in fresh water, then disconnect the fuel line, keep running while pulling choke on and off again just before the engine dies, at full throttle, use choke to limit revs, it will smoke like an old sailor, and eventually die.
Loosen carb drain screw (not all the way) and leave it so till you return. When tightening the carb drain screw be GENTLE!

[Bill Seal]

I haven't thought about this, but does anybody tried using less 2 stroke type oil in old 2 stroke (1 qt per gallon) engines? If it has better "sticky" it would eliminate piston galling, but the old engines just use the aluminum rods for the big end bearings.

[uncle stinkybob]

short answer, no. it's a solvent.

[Franziska]

What about Yamaha GL4 SAE90 gear oil?
Usually it goes in the lower leg.
Better than normal engine oil?

The ONLY options are those I have on board:

1)GL4 Outboard Gear Oil
2)2 Stroke Oil
3)4 Stoke Oil
4)WD40 (will definitely not use this)

Which is my best option?

Will put a spoon full in the spark plug holes then rotate the engine by hand with the prop.

Also drain carburetors.

Thanks again, I simply cannot get other oils than what's mentioned above until I leave her.

Engines are electric start.

www.ladyrover.com

[tinkrman69]

If you can get it where your at use Marvel mystery oil. It will stay on the cylinder walls longer without evaporating longer than other petroleum oils. Other wise as mentioned any engine oil is better than WD40. todays small engines are made with s!@#t metal and will rust out in no time. Making sure the valves are closed is good but not an end all. use some kind of oil.