The Life Expectancy of an Outboard Engine

The average outboard engine runs for about 1,500 hours before requiring significant maintenance. While this number might seem a little surprising, the average owner only uses their outboard for about 200 hours per year, thus, the average outboard motor can be expected to last 7-8 years, which isn’t an unreasonable amount of time. However, it is possible to ensure an outboard lasts much longer with regular maintenance, and a few due diligence practices. For example, with two stroke outboard engines, it’s important to have the right mixture of gasoline to marine engine oil. When two stroke outboard engines don’t have the proper gasoline to oil mixture, it can cause the engine to wear down much faster. Winterizing the engine when not in use is a good idea, and ensuring that the engine is stored in a proper location is also important.

With proper maintenance, it’s possible to extend the life of an engine by a considerable amount, up to 500 hours for regular maintenance, and even up to 1,000 hours for those boaters with the utmost dedication. Maintenance and care will prolong the life of the engine, and overall, save a lot of money.