Highs in mid 30s next week or so. Boat is under a carport. Any reason NOT to change engine oil/filter, and gear case lube now? Seems like drain will be slow, but any other reason to wait?

because you'll freeze your own lugnuts off?

I would question if the lu oil will even flow out the small drain hole with the low temps we’ve had. You could wrap it with an electric blanket or put a heat lamp on it to get it warm first. Cold Shouldn’t affect fuel filters at all. I assume you have a 4 stroke if you have engine oil and filter. I’m not familiar with the drain for that.

19 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

because you'll freeze your own lugnuts off?

This.

Also, is there a rush to perform maintenance on it now? An upcoming trip south (if so I'm jealous). Or just cabin fever.

From Quicksilver (Mercury):

So that would involve running the engine on muffs, which introduces water to the lower unit which could freeze and cause damage. So personally, I wouldn't do it in this subzero weather.

@TOXIC ,yes, 4 stroke. Just anxious to get it back in the water by next week when temps expected to stabilize above freezing.

Hard for me to justify to myself that it is too cold to work on it outside, when I know full well, I'd fish in this weather..lol. Got reel and tackle maintenance to work on for a couple days, I suppose.

1 hour ago, Choporoz said:

Highs in mid 30s next week or so. Boat is under a carport. Any reason NOT to change engine oil/filter, and gear case lube now? Seems like drain will be slow, but any other reason to wait?

By the time I do such things in the Fall, my non-insulated garage is below freezing, I will run a kerosene heater to warm the place up while I work, but the fluids are cold as can be when I drain them and I can't use my hose to hook up muffs so it is what it is, just let it drain a long time.

I change my fluids mid-Summer as well, I will warm the engine then before changing, but the end of the year stuff is always in late November, early December when the lakes freeze.

It is better to change it when it's cold than to not change at all.

That's what I love about a smaller motor...I just lift the 25hp off the boat to a dolly and wheel it into the heated basement. Covered tub with drain on a valve so it gets water flow, exhaust fan in the window and I can run it in there and do what maintenance it needs.

Good wives handle boat maintenance for you when it's cold outside. They have more insulation than us men. I do help her by talking her through it while sitting at the window with my Bluetooth in my ear.

34 minutes ago, GreenPig said:

Good wives handle boat maintenance for you when it's cold outside. They have more insulation than us men. I do help her by talking her through it while sitting at the window with my Bluetooth in my ear.

Has she started the divorce proceedings yet?

2 hours ago, GreenPig said:

Good wives handle boat maintenance for you when it's cold outside. They have more insulation than us men. I do help her by talking her through it while sitting at the window with my Bluetooth in my ear.

I would pay an annual subscription fee to see this!

So wait !

Starting an outboard out of water to warm up isn't an option ❓

I must watch to many YouTube videos. 😁

Personally, I do all boat maintenance at the end of " our " fishing season.

Oil and filter change, grease fittings, spline, lower unit.

BUT not when it's this dang cold.

Confession - boat sits in a heated garage.

If you're going to do it, let it drain for 24 hours and finish it up the next day.

Good idea, @Bird . I guess I might normally be concerned with introducing moisture, but the air is awfully dry right now. I pulled the boat out last Friday and didn't get a chance before storm hit. I'm hoping my off season only lasts for another week.

@Choporoz

Forgot to mention,

I let the gear oil drain for several hours regardless of temperature.

It just makes for less mess.

Pull the drain plug and vent plug and come back later.