Marine Engine Fogging Oils

Marine Fogging Oil - Resources & Information

Marine engine fogging oils are important for outboard motors because they help protect the engine during periods of storage or non-use, especially during winterization. Many boat fogging oils also serve as a metal protectant, keeping pistons, rings & cylinder walls free from corrosion. 

PartsVu offers a complete selection of Marine Engine Fogging Oils from OEM manufacturers and trusted aftermarket suppliers. Whether you need a Yamaha Stor-Rite Engine Fogging Oil, CRC Engine Stor Fogging Oil multipacks, and more, PartsVu has what you need to get the job done. 

Need help servicing your boat and outboard engine? PartsVu regularly publishes helpful how-to guides and other valuable maintenance information to help boaters service their outboard engines, boats, trailers, and more. Browse the PartsVu Xchange, our outboard maintenance blog, for a wide range of relevant topics and review the FAQ section below, covering everything you need to know about maintaining your boat in confidence.

Marine Engine Fogging Oils FAQ

Why are Marine Engine Fogging Oils so important for boats and outboard motors?

Some specific benefits of using marine engine fogging oil include:

• Protecting against corrosion: Marine engine fogging oil contains corrosion inhibitors that help protect the internal surfaces of the engine from rust and other types of corrosion. This is especially important in a marine environment, where saltwater spray and other corrosive elements can cause rapid deterioration of metal parts.
• Lubricating internal parts: Marine engine fogging oil also helps to lubricate the internal parts of the engine, such as the cylinders, rings, and valve stems. This can help prevent the parts from becoming seized or stuck during periods of non-use, which can make it easier to start the engine when it is needed again.
• Facilitating storage: Marine engine fogging oil can help make it easier to store an outboard motor or boat for extended periods of time. By protecting against corrosion and lubricating internal parts, fogging oil can help ensure that the engine is ready to start and run smoothly when it is needed again.
• Ease of use: Marine engine fogging oil is typically easy to apply and can be applied using simple tools, such as a spray can or fogging gun. This makes it a convenient and user-friendly option for protecting the engine during periods of non-use.

Overall, marine engine fogging oil is an important product to have on hand for the maintenance and care of boats and outboard motors. It can help protect the engine against corrosion and lubricate its internal parts, helping to ensure that it is ready to start and run smoothly when needed.

How do I fog my Suzuki outboard engine? 

Fogging oil is a wax-based oil that coats the engine, removes carbon deposits, and prevents corrosion. Fogging your Suzuki outboard is a smart move for winterization, as water deposits and other harmful corrosives (including leftover fuel) can eat away at the metals in the outboard engine.

As you work through this process, you’ll understand why this process is called fogging, as the engine will produce plenty of white smoke to indicate that the oil has worked its way through your engine. 

Because you will not be in the water while performing this task, you will need to use a motor flusher to keep the engine cooled at a safe operating temperature while you complete the fogging process. Follow the Flush Your Outboard with the Engine Running procedures detailed above.

Before fogging your Suzuki outboard engine, you’ll need the following:

• Starbrite Engine Fogging Oil
• Crescent wrench 
• Replacement spark plugs
• Motor flusher 
• Garden hose
• Water supply

Begin by either removing your engine’s air cleaner to gain access to the carburetors or cylinder air intakes. 

Once you have access to the carburetors or cylinder air intakes, disconnect the fuel line. The purpose of this is that the fogging oil forms a barrier against any new gas, while also removing the old fuel.

Rev the engine to a bit above idle, and with the engine running, spray the fogging oil into the carburetor(s) or air intake of each cylinder. You may need an assistant to spray the oil or rev the engine depending on how your Suzuki outboard is mounted. 

Continuously spray fogging oil into your engine’s carburetors or cylinder air intake until the engine stalls. Be sure to spray a coating of fogging oil into each cylinder or carburetor. Don’t spray too much oil at once and kill the engine immediately, but after a continuous spray, the engine will eventually stall. This is precisely what you want, and the stalling indicates that the engine is thoroughly covered with fogging oil. 

Next, use your crescent wrench to remove the spark plugs and spray fogging oil into each cylinder. Turn the flywheel with a crescent wrench to move the cylinders allowing you to coat each cylinder wall entirely. Alternatively, you can also simply start the engine for just a few seconds to allow the fogging oil to coat the cylinder walls. Repeat this process a couple of times to be sure that you’ve adequately coated each cylinder.

Last, replace old spark plugs with new Suzuki spark plugs so that you are ready to go in the spring.

Is winterizing my outboard important?

While it’s always a bit more fun to pull out your boat than to put it away, properly winterizing your outboard engine should be mandatory for all experienced boaters. Winterizing helps avoid engine damage and will facilitate a smoother start to the beginning of next season - after all, no one wants to wait to get back on the water! Plus, you’ll save yourself plenty of money when you learn how to winterize an outboard boat motor yourself.

You should take several important steps when storing your MerCruiser outboard lower unit to ensure that it’s properly winterized.

1. Flush Your Engine - Thoroughly flush your MerCruiser engine to remove any salt buildup if you are a saltwater boater, or accumulated mud and grime if you are a freshwater boater. Failure to remove this debris from your MerCruiser lower unit leads to corrosion in the engine. And if you’re a saltwater boater, leftover salt crystals in the lower unit can act like sandpaper to your internal engine components.
2. Stabilize Your Fuel System - Fuel starts to go bad within 30 days of sitting in your fuel system. It is vital to use a fuel stabilizer when your boat will be sitting unused for more than two or three months. Adding the amount of fuel stabilizer directed on the product’s packaging to your fuel—for instance, 1 ounce of Mercury Quickstor Fuel Stabilizer for every 5 gallons of marine fuel ensures proper winterization for more than 3 months. 
3. Fog Your Engine - Fogging oil is a wax-based oil that coats the engine to prevent corrosion. Using a boat fogger such as CRC fogging oil coats your internal engine with oil to prevent moisture from chemically reacting to your components.
4. Change Out the Lower Unit Oil - It’s recommended by marine mechanics to change your gear lube before storage to make sure that there is no water in the lower unit’s oil. Any water in the oil could freeze, expand, and crack your lower unit. Additionally, old oil is more likely to gum up oil passages and corrode components due to changes in its chemical composition through regular use. Last, consult your owners manual for which oil is appropriate for your engine.
5. Disconnect Your Battery - Disconnect your battery and spray CRC Marine Battery Terminal Cleaner on your battery terminals.

Is there a difference between fogging a 4 stroke outboard and fogging 2 stroke outboard motor?

Yes, there is a difference between fogging a 4-stroke outboard motor and a 2-stroke outboard motor. Fogging an outboard engine is a process in which a small amount of outboard motor fogging oil sprayed into the cylinder(s) of an outboard engine to prevent corrosion and deterioration of the cylinder walls and pistons during storage. The process of fogging a 4-stroke outboard motor is slightly different from that of a 2-stroke outboard motor.

In a 4-stroke outboard motor, the fogging oil is sprayed into the intake manifold, where it is drawn into the cylinder along with the air/fuel mixture. To fog a 4-stroke outboard motor, you will need to remove the air filter and spray a small amount of oil into the intake manifold.

In a 2-stroke outboard motor, the foggin oil is sprayed directly into the cylinder through the spark plug hole. To fog a 2-stroke outboard motor, you will need to remove the spark plug and spray a small amount of oil into the cylinder through the spark plug hole.

It's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions when fogging an outboard motor, as the process can vary depending on the make and model of the motor. Fogging an outboard motor is a simple process that can help to extend the life of the motor and ensure it is ready to use when you need it.

Where can I learn more about engine fogging?

PartsVu has plenty of resources for everything you need to know about fogging oils, winterizing, and how to avoid corrosion for all models of popular outboard motors. Start with the following guides and be sure to use the search bar to find plenty of other useful guides to maintain your boat in confidence:

• Winterizing Outboard Motor—Yamaha Essential Maintenance
• How To Winterize a 4-Stroke Suzuki Outboard Motor - PartsVu
• Winterizing Mercury Outboard Motor - PartsVu
• How to Winterize a MerCruiser Sterndrive - PartsVu Xchange
• Marine Corrosion – Corrosion Types and What to Do About Them
• Yamaha Corrosion Prevention – Protect Your Engine
• How to Stop Marine Rust & Corrosion
• Yamaha Corrosion Prevention – Protect Your Engine