Boating | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 8

Cleaning Up Oil Spills

Oil spills are par for the course when working on the engine of a boat, car, or truck. It is possible to get rid of these spills, even when the spill is on a concrete floor. Start by laying down a layer of kitty litter or sawdust over the spill. The kitty litter or sawdust will soak up any excess oil still on the floor.

Once the liquid has been soaked up, sweep the kitty litter or sawdust into a dustpan and dispose of properly. With soap dish and a nylon bristle brush, rub the stained area to loosen up the oil. Finally set a pressure washer on a narrow, focused stream of water to break up the oil even further. These few steps should get the oil stains out of a concrete floor, even if you have a large spill involving bulk motor oil.

Did you like this? Share it:

Benefits of Painting Bottom of Aluminum Boat

Aluminum that is exposed to air will oxidize, thus creating a protective coating. This is why few aluminum boats have visible paint. Below the surface is a different story.

Aluminum boats are painted below the water line for several reasons. First off, the paint slows down fouling and chemical corrosion. Second, for avid fishermen, a camouflage paint design gets rid of the tell-tale sign of aluminum which would otherwise dissuade prey. While out purchasing paint, don’t forget to pick up boat motor oil.

Did you like this? Share it:

Repairing Boat Carpet

At first, I was skeptical about adding carpeting to our family boat. After all, boats get wet and mold breeds in damp conditions; however, upon further research I did find plenty of stylish marine carpeting to choose from. The flooring addition definitely gave the boat a more elegant look.

Every now and then, the carpeting gets damaged from water or from everyday wear and tear. Rather than ripping out all of the carpet and starting anew, I use leftover carpeting from the original installation for repairs. I simply use a knife to remove the damaged section, and then fill the spot with new carpet – making sure to match the direction of the weave. While I’m working on repairs I usually send the boys out to run some errands, like picking up the best outboard motor oil.

Did you like this? Share it:

Repairing Damaged Boat Floor

As much as I love being out on the water, I don’t like it when the water comes into my boat. More often then not, water in the boat is caused by a damaged floor. Fortunately, a few simple steps are all that’s needed to restore a boat floor.

Start by sanding the damaged area with a 60 grit sandpaper, and then increase to 80 grit. Apply wood filler liberally to the sanded area. Once the filler has dried, sand the area until it is flush with the rest of the floor. Apply waterproof sealer and then varnish to finish the job. When you’re out purchasing floor repair supplies, take a moment to stock up on amalie oil.

Did you like this? Share it:

Two and Four Stroke Oil Formulas

Yesterday we tackled the reasons why 2 cycle and 4 cycle oils are not interchangeable. Today I will explain how the formulas differ. For starters, 4 cycle oil is specifically manufactured with additives, like viscosity index improvers, to inhibit oil consumption. In other words, the formula makes oil harder to burn.

On the other hand, 2 stroke oil is specifically formulated to burn away, leaving minimal residue on spark plugs, cylinders, and exhaust ports. Another aspect of the formula is to inhibit pre-ignition. The formula also protects against rink sticking and crankcase sludge.

Did you like this? Share it:

Common Question Answered

I am often asked, ‘is 2 cycle oil interchangeable with 4 cycle oil?’ The answer is a resounding NO! Two cycle and 4 cycle oils have different formulas for use in two distinctly different ways.

If you were to put 4 cycle oil in a 2 cycle engine deposits will build up. Deposits can gunk up and severely curtail the life of a two cycle engine. Likewise, 2 cycle oil is too thin to provide effective lubrication to 4 cycle engines.

Did you like this? Share it:

Nautical Theme Party

We spend most of the summer at the beach, so I wasn’t surprised when my eight year old asked for a nautical theme birthday party. (Okay, he actually asked for a pirate birthday party). We had a lot of fun picking out and creating different decorations, like treasure chests full of gold and eye patches for the kids to wear instead of party hats.

For the place cards, we folded paper boats. Each child’s name was written on the flag atop the main mast. The nautical/pirate theme was a great success. Perhaps when he’s old enough to know how to change the Yamalube oil, I’ll let him have a real boat party.

Did you like this? Share it:

Boat Safety

When my boys were old enough to get their boating license, I made them jump through all sorts of hoops before I would give my consent. First, they had to take a . I quizzed them on what they learned, especially Coast Guard recommended safety precautions.

I then had them promise me that life vests would be worn at all times. They assured me and went one step further by showing me where and how they looked up weather reports before each outing. The final step was to make sure they knew all about boat maintenance, including how to check and replace Yamalube 2W oil. Both of them met my expectations and were allowed to apply for their boating licenses.

Did you like this? Share it:

Mini-Ferry Links UW and South Lake Union

Out here in the Seattle area, ferries are quite common. It’s often much faster to commute via ferry than to drive all the way around Puget Sound to get to your destination. A new mini-ferry recently opened that runs between South Lake Union and the University of Washington, much to the delight of Husky fans.

For five dollars, commuters can get from one shore to the other in 22 minutes. This is ideal for UW employees who want to take a lunch break or run an errand on the opposite shore. It’s also ideal for football fans that are more likely to find parking further away from the stadium. I’m not sure what sort of motor Captain Matt Stark uses, but Yamalube 2W is usually among the best options.

Did you like this? Share it:

Yamaha Maintenance Tips

It’s important to inspect your boat every time you plan on taking it out on the water. You don’t want any surprises to crop up when you’re far from shore. One thing you should do is check the hydraulics and trim. Check specifically for power trim and tilt fluid; it should be even with the bottom of the plug.

Of course, checking engine compression is a must (check yesterday’s post for a how-to). Next, do a visual inspection for leaks – water, oil, or exhaust. If all is well, check the oil to make sure it is both clean and at the proper level. If the oil is low, refill the tank with Yamalube 2m oil.

Did you like this? Share it:

Check Your Engine for Compression

Compression is one of the four elements that a two stroke engine operates on. The other three elements are air, fuel, and spark. As a piston travels upward through the cylinder, it squeezes air and fuel into a dense mixture that forcefully ignites. This process is known as compression.

Compression can be lost when a seal is faulty between cylinder and piston or piston rings. Check for compression by removing and grounding all spark plugs, and attaching a compression tester into the spark plug hole. Twist the throttle to kick start the motor. Look at the readings; a proper compression rating needs to be at least 100 to 125 pounds per square inch. Test each cylinder, as necessary. While going over the engine, it would be wise to see if it is in need of Yamalube 2m oil.

Did you like this? Share it:

Outboard Battery Requirements for Yamaha

Traditional speed boat engines use a battery to kick start the engine and power boat accessories. A Yamaha two stroke engine with a 50 or below horsepower uses a battery that contains 245 cold cranking amps at zero degrees Fahrenheit and 323 marine ranking amps at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

A two stroke Yamaha engine between 60 and 150 horsepower and a 2.6 liter 150 to 2000 horsepower outboard engine requires a motor battery that has 380 cold cranking amps at zero degrees Fahrenheit. At 32 degrees Fahrenheit there should be 502 marine cranking amps with a reserve of 124 capacity minutes at 25 amps. While checking out the battery on a two stroke, be sure to also examine the oil levels and top up with Yamalube 2-m oil if necessary.

Did you like this? Share it: