Is fogging really necessary?

[moosehead]

Like title states? I have been storing mine for years with sea foam and making sure to let them run a few minutes once a month and never no problems. Just wondering what the hype is about?

[Hoosier]

Everyone has a different opinion but I think if you protect the gas and run it once in a while like you are doing, you will be fine. I think fogging is more important if you aren't running it once in a while. I would just make sure you run it long enough to get the temps up and the condensation out. If my sled was stored in my garage, I would probably do what you do instead of fogging it.

[rv245]

Everyone has a different opinion but I think if you protect the gas and run it once in a while you are doing, you will be fine. I think fogging is more important if you aren't running it once in a while. I would just make sure you run it long enough to keep the temps up. If my sled was stored in my garage, I would probably do what you do instead of fogging it.

I agree ^^^^

What I have been doing for years is if the motor is going to be started every once in a while, I start added Seaform to the gas and started every so often. On my vintage sleds that I restored and knew that they were not going to be started. I fogged the #### out of them.

[russholio]

I fog mine because I store it away from home in the off-season and periodic running isn't a viable option. If you plan to start it periodically, there's no point in fogging it since (I would think) you're going to burn the fogging oil out of it. As to which is better (if either is better) I have no clue.....all I know is I've got 10062 trouble-free miles out of mine doing it this way so I'm not going to mess with success.

[grub]

The purpose of fogging oil is to get oil on the crank bearings. Sea Foam is a wonderful product that helps fuel live but it will not get oil on your crank bearings. Over summer your sled will go through many condensation cycles whether it is stored inside or outside. Oil on the crankshaft as opposed to water on the crankshaft. You figure it out.

[timo]

great point made by grub and russholiio. sea foam treats gas not the crank or pistons.

i got 10,500 miles on my secondary sled and i have been fogging and putting stabil in the gas for 10 years. i don't start it up until about december when i'm gonna ride.

yes if you start it periodically it just defeats the purpose of fogging it. might as well not fog then.

greasing before putting away is very important, push that water out.

i ain't messing with success either. (knock on wood)

The purpose of fogging oil is to get oil on the crank bearings. Sea Foam is a wonderful product that helps fuel live but it will not get oil on your crank bearings. Over summer your sled will go through many condensation cycles whether it is stored inside or outside. Oil on the crankshaft as opposed to water on the crankshaft. You figure it out.

[camphappyplace]

I use to fog my 2 strokes at the end of the season and then fill em up with gas. Then in Nov/Dec syphon the gas and put it in the truck. I have never fogged my four strokes (sleds or ATVs). Are people fogging their four strokes?

[grub]

I use to fog my 2 strokes at the end of the season and then fill em up with gas. Then in Nov/Dec syphon the gas and put it in the truck. I have never fogged my four strokes (sleds or ATVs). Are people fogging their four strokes?

You do not have to fog a fourstroke. As far as I know the ones we all use have pressurized oiling systems. When you shut them off oil remains on the crankshafts. If you want to get anal you can take the plugs out of your 4 stroke and squirt a little bit of oil into the cylinders for the summer. Then spin the engine without starting it to get the oil all over the bores and on to the valves a little bit. On all my seasonal toys and equipment from sleds to lawnmowers to weedeaters to boat motors - everything with a gas motor - I will use non-oxygenated fuel for the last fill up of the season. Then I will get most of the gas out of the tank by either tipping or siphoning. Then put in a little Sea Foam and run the machine for about 5 minutes to get it through the system. I do not start my equipment in the off season. If you do you risk condensation if you don't get the engine hot. This has worked for me for years.

[zimmbob]

I've had sleds for 20 years and never fogged a one of them. Never had a problem with any sled. I just make a point to go start and run them once a week or so. Let them warm up, then call it good. That uses the gas (that I treat each year), and keeps things moving.

[catalac]

Bought some fogging stuff last year and was going to do it right, ya know? I have a snopro 600, and couldn't figure out where to spray the crap.
I'm not a complete idiot when it comes to working on my stuff, but where the heck do they want me to put it in? Do I spray it in the air inlet snorkel on the front, or what?
Been riding 20 yrs. or so and never fogged anything. Don't know why I want to now.

[Polarice]

Fogging is a requirement for 2 strokes. IMO if you don't you're playing Russian roulette. Your exaust will allow moisture to get inside of your motor when you're not using it regularly.

[7707]

I never used to fog and would just start them a few times in the off season.....Well one year life got busy and did'nt have the chance to start them.
Had a early snow the next year and headed to the U. P. with the boys for some fun. Made it about 20 miles down the trail and the crank locked up tight. It was no fun sitting in the cabin the rest of the trip while they where tearin it up !!!!
Cost me $ 1400.00 to get it fixed, so for me i fog the sled every year now. Cheap Insurance !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[camphappyplace]

You do not have to fog a fourstroke. As far as I know the ones we all use have pressurized oiling systems. When you shut them off oil remains on the crankshafts. If you want to get anal you can take the plugs out of your 4 stroke and squirt a little bit of oil into the cylinders for the summer. Then spin the engine without starting it to get the oil all over the bores and on to the valves a little bit. On all my seasonal toys and equipment from sleds to lawnmowers to weedeaters to boat motors - everything with a gas motor - I will use non-oxygenated fuel for the last fill up of the season. Then I will get most of the gas out of the tank by either tipping or siphoning. Then put in a little Sea Foam and run the machine for about 5 minutes to get it through the system. I do not start my equipment in the off season. If you do you risk condensation if you don't get the engine hot. This has worked for me for years.

Thanks Grub...makes sense to me.

[mspease]

I've been pouring 2-4 ounces of oil down each cylinder by taking the plug out and then pulling the rope a few times for 20 years with 0 engine failures. This coats the inside of the engine and oil runs down onto the crank. I also put stabil in the gas prior to putting oil in each cylinder and then close the gas shut off valve and run the sled until it dies.

[catalac]

I've been pouring 2-4 ounces of oil down each cylinder by taking the plug out and then pulling the rope a few times for 20 years with 0 engine failures. This coats the inside of the engine and oil runs down onto the crank. I also put stabil in the gas prior to putting oil in each cylinder and then close the gas shut off valve and run the sled until it dies.

Is that a two stroke your talking about? If it is, I thought running a two out of gas was a big no-no.
Anyway, does anyone know how to spray this stuff into the motor of a Cat snopro with the air inlet on the front of the sled?
Do I just take the inlet hose off, then spray in while she's running ,till it dies, or what?
Thanks guys.

[catalac]

Well I got my answer on the other fogging thread.
Guess I'll try it Snake's way.
Thanks.

[snake]

if you guys look at the msds sheet of sea foam,it has alot of alcohol in it!! just got back from a few mercury marine classes,and I have to be honest,the instructers are not big fans of it!! for one alcohol attracts moisture,and sea foam will not help protect your engine components for off season layup.I like stabil,and I make sure I run it long enough to get thru the whole fuel system,no need to run out of fuel.another point=many of the injection oils are synthetic now,and it does not adhere and protect for extended time like conventional oil.I do know from the sled dealers,that have seen crank problems,is that they verified with cust. that they used syn oil and dont fog.Imo=i think its more of a problem if sleds are stored outdoors,and like a previos poster said "the exhaust is wide open". not a bad practice to put duct tape over exhaust exit.one last note=I can tell on the 2 stroke outboards,when i have apart,if the guy fogs or not!! I'm talking about an engine that is not 1 or 2 years old,its a number of years of not fogging and I see very small "pits".everyone has their own theory!!=here's one for you=some of the outboard race guys like the very small pitting, like on a crank,they say it retains oil,for extra lube under severe loads

[mspease]

Is that a two stroke your talking about? If it is, I thought running a two out of gas was a big no-no.
Anyway, does anyone know how to spray this stuff into the motor of a Cat snopro with the air inlet on the front of the sled?
Do I just take the inlet hose off, then spray in while she's running ,till it dies, or what?
Thanks guys.

It's a 2 stroke, you don't fog 4 strokes. That's the first time I've heard running a two stroke out of gas is a no-no, but I'm not much of a mechanic, so maybe those more in the know can respond to that.

[xcsp]

It's a 2 stroke, you don't fog 4 strokes. That's the first time I've heard running a two stroke out of gas is a no-no, but I'm not much of a mechanic, so maybe those more in the know can respond to that.

Can't hurt to fog a 4s? I did fog my Yamaha 4s when I had it, figured it couldn't hurt, never had any problems by doing so.

On the running a 2s out of fuel, if it runs out of fuel, it runs out of lubrication-this may be why Polaris recommends to change the fuel filter on their 2s engines to prevent possible starving the engine of fuel & lubrication?

Snake-if the full-synthetic oils don't seem to adhere & protect as long as conventional oils, a synthetic blend oil may be better?

[mspease]

I don't think it hurts to fog a 4s, but my Poo owner's manual did say not to.

If the 2s runs out of fuel, it also quits running so no damage is done due to no lubrication. It takes more than a few revolutions without lubricaton to do any damage. Plus, once it's out of fuel, you pour the oil in the cylinders and coat them good. I hope someone corrects me if I'm wrong cuz I know enough to be dangerous, and that's all!

[gravy]

the hurt to running out of gas would be models with electric fuel pumps. the electric pumps dont like being run dry
.

[grub]

the hurt to running out of gas would be models with electric fuel pumps. the electric pumps dont like being run dry
.

Bingo. Anything that is injected has a high pressure fuel pump. Many have a low pressure pump that supplies the high pressure pump. You do not want to starve the high pressure pump. They are very expensive to replace. This whole business of running everything dry started with carbed sleds. It wasn't a bad idea for them but in the fall when you try to get them going again it could be a pain to get everything primed and pumping again. Just remember that oxygenated gas has a shelf life of about a month. I had bad luck with StaBil once so now I use Sea Foam. To each their own. Make sure you use something or sooner or later you will get bit. Very important to run the machine awhile after you put whatever your favorite additive in the tank. You have to get it into the carb/injectors/fuel rail/fuel lines - entire system.

[russholio]

I had bad luck with StaBil once so now I use Sea Foam. To each their own. Make sure you use something or sooner or later you will get bit. Very important to run the machine awhile after you put whatever your favorite additive in the tank. You have to get it into the carb/injectors/fuel rail/fuel lines - entire system.

As did I, which is why I also use Sea Foam. I put it in the tank when I take my last ride of the year, that way I know it's mixed good and circulated throughout.

[Skylar]

I will be treating my gas with Startron from now on. I also start the sled once or twice a month during the off season, never any issues doing this. If you can't start your sled during the off season, fogging is the way to go.

[zimmbob]

StarTron Rocks! I've seen it work first hand. Little ATV that sat for 4 years with gas in it. Wouldn't start. Poured the StarTron in the tank (nothing else), and two days later, started right up! Amazing.

I will be treating my gas with Startron from now on. I also start the sled once or twice a month during the off season, never any issues doing this. If you can't start your sled during the off season, fogging is the way to go.