Give Your Outboard a Revitalizing Cleanse

During the course of a typical fishing or cruising excursion, outboard motors collect sand and other debris from the surrounding water. In the unfortunate event that a boat runs aground, that amount of detritus increases exponentially. It doesn’t take a genius or a master mechanic to figure out that dirt and grime don’t mix with internal engine parts. Obviously something needs to be done to clean out the engine – but what?

The answer lies in yet another essential piece of routine maintenance: the freshwater flush. While most Yamahas and other top-of-the-line 2 strokes feature a built-in freshwater flushing device fitting, some engines will require a pair of “rabbit ears.” These invaluable tools are so named because the two rubber seals are connected with a metal clamp. To use the Yamaha fitting, just connect a normal hose to the lower cowling.

It’s a common misconception that freshwater flushes should only be performed after a ride in salt water. While you might want to flush the engine more frequently in the case of saltwater boating, the process is important no matter what. In fact, along with other common maintenance procedures such as replenishing the engine’s supply of Yamaha 2m oil, flushing can add years of functional life to your outboard.