Motor Maintenance | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 6

Winterizing Your Boat

Winterizing Your BoatIt may be sometime before the season ends, but you’ll want to read up on the precautions you need to take to ensure a long life for your boat. Prior to the step below, Drain the gear case and check for excessive moisture in the boat motor oil.

Then, flush engine with fresh water using flush muffs or similar device attached to the raw water pickup. Let all water drain from the engine. Wash engine down with soap and water and rinse thoroughly. Disconnect fuel hose and run engine until it stops. It is important to follow a step by step process to make sure that all fuel is drained from the carburetor to prevent build-up of deposits from evaporated fuel. Use fogging oil in the cylinders to lubricate the cylinder walls and pistons. Apply water resistant grease to propeller shaft and threads. Change the gear oil in the lower unit. Lightly lubricate the exterior of the engine or polish with a good wax.

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The Big Problem with Oil Leaks

boat motor oilJust like with your car, boat motor oil leaks can signal a problem. Find oil leakage can be indicated in several ways, whether it’s a pool in your garage or driveway or if it’s mixed with water when you remove the water plug. Here are some things you should look at to surmise a leakage problem:

  • Check your dipstick before and after you take your boat out. It’s also good practice to do this anyway.
  • Check if there’s oil in the oil pan.
  • Check the level in your tilt and trim reservoir.
  • Change your filter, if necessary.

If you’re still having issues, consult a professional boat mechanic to see if there are any other parts of the boat you may have glossed over. The main thing is to solve this problem immediately before it causes a great deal of damage to your boat.

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Preventing Spills

Preventing SpillsPart of being a responsible boater is to ensure that your boat isn’t leaking outboard motor oil. Not only will leaks and spills be a detriment to the environment, but some states will fine you for leaving a trail of oil. Spills and leaks can be prevented by checking your motor before taking your boat out on the water. Also make sure that your motor is tuned and bilges have been checked for oil leaks.

Additionally, you should also check weather reports, as overturned and submerged boats can leak fuel and oil into the water, killing fish and other wildlife.

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Prolonging the Life of Your Boat

marine engine oilYou should change your marine engine oil and filter every 100 hours or every season, which ever comes first. This simple piece of maintenance is often overlooked because it is not quite as easy as changing the oil in your automobile. Following is a step-by-step process which you can follow to make the chore more bearable.

Equipment Needed:
• An oil filter wrench to fit each size of spin-on filter you have
• A box of Zip-Lock baggies large enough to hold an oil filter
• A wrench the correct size for your crankcase drain plug, and a pan shallow enough to fit under your engine if possible or,
• A dipstick-tube oil drain pump and bucket big enough to hold all the oil or,
• An oil drain pump permanently fitted to your crankcase drain plug and bucket
• A roll of paper towels
• New oil filter(s)
• A supply of fresh oil as recommended by your engine manufacturer

Step-by-Step:
• Run the engine(s) until warmed to at least 130 degrees
• Drain the oil using the pump, or into the pan
• Replace the plug or close the valve
• Loosen the oil filter on the engine until it can be turned by hand
• Put a Zip Lock Baggie around the filter, and unscrew the rest of the way
• Use a paper towel to catch drips from the filter’s mounting
• Seal the zip lock baggie keeping the filter upright
• Put it into the new filter’s box
• Using your finger, wet the O-ring atop the new filter with fresh, clean oil
• Screw on the new filter until just finger-tip tight
• Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation as to tightening with the wrench
• Re-fill the crankcase with new oil (see your engine handbook)
• Be sure to add a quart for the filter
• Wipe up any drips
• Start the engine and let it run a few minutes
• Checking to be sure oil pressure comes up and there are no oil leaks around the filter or drain plugs
• Dispose of the oil properly at an approved disposal facility

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Choosing the Right Engine Oil

YamalubeDepending on your engine type, how fast it could potentially go and how quickly it will burn through oil, you have several brands to choose from. Some people align their engine brand with the oil (such as using Yamalube oil for Yamaha engines), and others shop around. When I bought my boat, I posted on a message board to find out what people recommended and that worked out pretty well since I was able to go with a brand, though not corporately related to my engine, my engine runs of a premium rate.

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Protecting Your Engine from Saltwater Damage

Protecting Your Engine from Saltwater DamageOver time, saltwater can cause serious damage to any engine, even with the usage of the best outboard motor oil. But this can be avoided by regular servicing and maintenance.

Using a boat in saltwater isn’t the issue as much as where has your boat been in between trips. The problem with saltwater in engines is corrosion, mainly if the engine is sat doing nothing, but with saltwater in the cooling system. If the engine is regularly serviced, and is flushed with fresh water when removed from the water or when not used for long periods, then you shouldn’t have a problem.

Short term effects can be blocking of strainers or pipework with salt deposits; long term is rust within the engine, which can cause a whole host of problems if allowed to develop.

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Checking for Leaks

Checking for LeaksOne of the most overlooked problems that boat owners have is leakage. Whether your vessel is leaking outboard motor oil or water into the interior, this is a serious problem. Leakage can cause some severe problems if not detected quickly. If an issue like leaks is ignored, it can cost you thousands of dollars if your boat is assessed. Depending on where and what is leaking, repair can range from something that you can do yourself to calling a professional. The key is to catch it before it becomes an expensive problem.

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What is better? An I/O, an inboard, or an outboard? What’s cheaper?

Outboard MotorThe best answer is… It depends. I/Os are the often the least expensive, and you have the advantage of having a realtively car like (simple) installation. You can get to the engine pretty easily in most boats. The disadvantages are that the outdrive can’t tilt clear of the water, so if you boat in saltwater the aluminum outdrive is always submerged and subject to corrosion. Also, the rubber bellows that encloses the drive shaft, as it comes out of the boat and into the outdrive is usually at least partly submerged. A hole, or tear, in it can sink the boat.

(more…)

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Why a Two Cycle E-Tec?

Why Evinrude E-Tec?

  • NO SCHEDULED DEALER MAINTENANCE FOR 3 YEARS.
  • ZERO BREAK-IN PERIOD
  • NO COSTLY OIL CHANGES
  • USES UP TO 30-75% LESS OIL THAN COMPETITIVE TECHNOLOGIES

EASY TO OWN AND OPERATE Evinrude E-TEC outboards require no scheduled dealer maintenance – that’s right, zero – for the first three years or 300 hours of normal recreational use. Not even gearcase lube.

Evinrude E-TEC uses up to 75% less than typical 2-stroke carbureted engines and up to 50% less outboard motor oil than competitive direct injection engines (when run with Evinrude/Johnson XD 100 oil with optional dealer programming of the Engine Management Module, versus normal TCW3 oil). And you’ll use 30% less oil compared to a 4-stroke with a typical maintenance schedule under normal operating conditions.That’s just the start. The Evinrude E-TEC engines use an exclusive low friction design. There are no belts, no chains, no powerhead gears, no cams, and no mechanized oil pumps.* Reprinted from Evinrude website fact sheet!

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How it Works

The two stroke engine employs the crankcase as well as the cylinder to achieve all the elements of the Otto cycle in only two strokes of the piston. A quality outboard motor oil like Evinrude XD 50 is more important than ever.

Click here to see it work…

twos_in.gifIntake. The fuel/air mixture is first drawn into the crankcase by the vacuum created during the upward stroke of the piston. The illustrated engine features a poppet intake valve, however many engines use a rotary value incorporated into the crankshaft. (more…)

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Must Have Info – Read This!

Help Preserve Healthy Coastline with Evinrude XD 50 Engine OilAn Environmental Guide for Watercraft Operators
Reprinted from Evinrude XD 50 Engine Oil website
©Personal Watercraft Industry Association

All boaters participate in the ecosystem, a system created by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment. We are not separate from nature, but a part of it. As boaters, we cannot ignore the effect we have on the environment. The waters that we enjoy may be impacted by our actions. Every boater has a responsibility to learn and use environmentally safe boating practices and products (like Evinrude XD 50 Motor Oil) that will protect the waters for the future.

As a watercraft rider, you are considered a boater. Watercraft are defined as Class A inboard boats by the U.S. Coast Guard and are required to follow most boating regulations.

The Personal Watercraft Industry encourages you to adopt the following simple guidelines to preserve our natural resources.

Beware and show you care by following these general rules.

(more…)

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Prices just keep getting better

SmileyAs a top performer XD 50 outboard motor oil from Evinrude/Johnson is a very popular formula. Offering improved emissions and superior protection against engine wear, this oil has earned its place as a staple for those who have 2 stroke engines. That’s why the continuosly dropping price comes as such a surprise. With already rock bottom prices, how can it get any better?

It just did! For less than $22/gallon you can stop using the other stuff and start using the oil that was designed for YOUR engine. If you need a TC-W3 compliant oil then this is for you. So stop by and check out the lower price on XD 50 motor oil!

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