Please explain how having fresh engine oil will protect your engine from moisture when it's laid up for the winter? The oil will completely drain to the oil pan. That's why it's important to fog your engine when winterizing, to get a good coat of oil over the cylinders, walls, valves, and piston rings. As I mentioned in my earlier post, it really depends on where and how you store your boat during the winter. I may have been a little high on the hours, but I meant 50 hours. I'd also do the oil napkin test to see how it travels just for some relief. I know color is no indication of oil condition, but I checked my oil in my 3.0 this weekend and it looked dang near brand new, clear and light tan. Now, this was after sitting for three weeks. Usually the top of the dipstick will be clearer due to gravity, and the bottom of the dipstick will be dirtier, but this wasn't the case with this engine. This will freak you, that oil, Pennz. LL 15W-40 with AC/Delco filter, was changed in 2006. It was laid up from 09/2006 until May of this year. I knew it would be laid up that long, so I put fresh oil in it and anyway, it was due also. Boat is stored inside and enclosed, with a cover. The engine may have 20 hours on it, if that, by the end of this year. I'm planning on fogging it, check the outdrive fluid, stabilizing it by running it close to empty and good to go. I'll do the rest of the stuff, hit the grease zerks, bearings, remove battery, etc. etc.