May, 2009 | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 2

The Truth about Synthetic Motor Oil

The Truth about Synthetic Motor Oil

With people all over the world turning towards synthetic and hybrid synthetic oils, it’s important to recognize the facts about synthetic oil and how it differs from mineral oil. There’s a lot of confusion about synthetic oil as most people are not well versed on its benefits and drawbacks. The first synthetic oils received a bad reputation for leaking because the engine seals shrank due to a different seal-swell rate. Motor oil would leak from the crankshaft and rocker cover seals. Then, when the owners would switch back to the mineral oil, the seals where compressed when swelled and the entire engine started to leak. This situation plagued pioneers of synthetic motor oil, but the situation has much improved since that time. However, it’s still a good idea to stick with either synthetic or conventional mineral oil and not switch back between the two.

There are numerous hybrid synthetic oils that contain conventional mineral oil, and these can serve as a happy medium between conventional and synthetic oil. With hybrid synthetic oils like Evinrude XD50 oil, it’s okay to put in a quart of conventional mineral oil with the hybrid synthetic when the supply starts to run low.

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Servicing an Evinrude Engine

Servicing an Evinrude Engine

In addition to engines and motor oil, Evinrude is the premier manufacturer of numerous products for engine maintenance. Evinrude is committed to being a full service provider for all manner of engine cleaning and maintenance products. Performing regular maintenance with Evinrude products will protect the engine and the investment. Evinrude emphasizes prevention before potential damage occurs with all their engine care products. For example, Evinrude offers two and four stroke engine fuel conditioner, which will keep engines free of build up. It’s good to use fuel conditioner during times where the engine is unused, during the winter for example. Evinrude also offers products like the Carbon Guard which is an additive for the gasoline that will decrease carbon build up and remove existing build up inside the engine.

Evinrude also offers a wide range of products that can help protect the exterior of the engine, including their anti-corrosion spray to prevent rust and corrosion in marine environments including salt water. Evinrude also offers marine grease for boat trailer wheel bearings and other components that require lubrication and are exposed to the water. For all Evinrude engines, it’s best to use Evinrude oil because the additives are designed to keep the engine running at top performance.

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Yamalube Highlights High Performance Oils

Yamalube Highlights High Performance Oils

In 2008, Yamaha introduced new packaging for their entire line of high performance motor oils. The Yamalube line of oil has represented the pinnacle of performance motor oil for more than a decade, and with their new packaging, Yamaha seeks to put the spotlight on their new oil. While Yamaha still manufactures two stroke motor oil, their new line of four stroke Yamalube motor oil is drawing the most attention. This new line of Yamalube oil offers conventional, hybrid, and synthetic oil for a full range of vehicles. Yamalube is the ideal oil for outboard engines, sportbikes, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, and much more. The new Yamalube oil is designed to meet stricter standards for the prevention of damage to the environment, and in addition, offer better performance. Newer Yamalube oils will now be contained in a bold new bottle with distinctive diamond plate and a custom 3-D mold.

The new Yamalube oils are available at dealerships across the country at the affordable prices expected from Yamaha. Because Yamalube oil is designed by the same engineers who create Yamaha’s engines, the oil features increased performance and will help the engine last longer.

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Preventive Maintenance for Outboard Engines

Preventive Maintenance for Outboard Engines

It’s important to keep an outboard engine in the best condition for superior performance, and with this goal comes a number of annual checks that will ensure clean and efficient operation. Take these annual steps to keep the outboard running at its best:

_Lower Unit: change the gear lubricant in the lower unit on an annual basis, and inspect the old outboard motor oil for metal fragments (if found disassemble the gearbox and for maintenance) and evidence of water intrusion (if water is found replace the seals).

_Water Pump Impeller: it’s best to replace the water pump impeller at least once every two years, or each year if the engine is exposed to salt water. Inspect the pump housing, and replace it if damaged, and also inspect the old impeller for missing pieces, and remove from engine as necessary.

_Powerhead: do a full inspection of the powerhead on an annual basis. Make sure to check the engine wiring for corrosion, inspect the fuel lines, replace the spark plugs, check all the fasteners, and lubricate the essential engine components as needed.

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Evinrude E-TEC 2009 Centennial Model Engines

Evinrude oil

With their celebration of 100 years on the water, Evinrude pulled out all the stops and designed their 2009 E-TEC engines. These new centennial model year engines offer new features paired with Evinrude’s lasting reliability. Here are a few of the benefits found throughout the line of Evinrude’s centennial model year engines:_No dealer scheduled maintenance for three years or 300 hours of use, including a three year warranty, and no oil filters, oil changes, belt or chain adjustments, or throttle linkage adjustments required.

_Cleaner and quieter performance reduces impact on the environment; low carbon emissions while idle, EPA and EU compliant, low particulate emissions.

_Best-in-class power and performance with up to 40% more torque, faster top speed, and superior fuel economy.

Pair these new E-TEC engines with Evinrude oil and owners will have an engine guaranteed to last for decades to come. E-TEC engines are low maintenance and high performance, making them ideal for all boat owners!

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Outboard Engines More Popular in Foreign Countries

fishing boat

While we often like to think of North America as the native market for outboard motors, in truth, outboards are much more popular in foreign countries. Sales of outboard motors in North America account for around 35% of the annual world outboard motor sales, or about 300,000 of the 850,000 units produced. The markets where outboard motors are the most popular include European nations where pleasure boating is a common pastime, and developing nations where outboard motors are used for work including fishing, transportation, and diving. In Europe, most of the outboards used for pleasure boating are attached to inflatable watercraft and have just a fraction of the horsepower of the average outboard sold in North America. In developing nations, it’s important for outboards to be reliable and low cost, which includes upkeep costs like fuel, marine engine oil, and occasional maintenance.

While there are a number of popular outboard motor brands, Yamaha, Mercury, and Evinrude tend to stand out with the highest numbers in customer satisfaction, sales, and units produced on an annual basis.

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The Future of Outboards: Ethanol Blended Fuel

The Future of Outboards: Ethanol Blended Fuel

The EPA has mandated that the use of increased renewable resources must be used in motor oils. Throughout the U.S., ethanol is the most widely available renewable fuel that can be added to conventional gasoline without significant changes. But unfortunately, in a marine environment, ethanol-blended fuels can cause potential damage to outboard engines. Throughout the marine industry, many companies are working towards ways to mitigate the negative effects of ethanol-blended fuel. The EPA wants to increase the ethanol blend wall in gasoline from 10% to 15%, but most older outboard motors cannot function with a ratio higher than 10%. Building compatible outboards for fuel containing 15% ethanol is possible, but there are a lot of older outboards that won’t be able to accommodate the new fuel blend without ill effects. The EPA hasn’t put a formal law in place that would require an E15 fuel blend, but it seems to be on the horizon.

One possible solution is for companies to create outboard oil that would counter the effects of using an E15 fuel on older engines. This outboard oil could prevent damage caused to the engine, and allow older boat engines to continue functioning.

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Benefits of Yamalube 2M Oil

Benefits of Yamalube 2M Oil

There are several popular brands of motor oil for use in sport boats, but Yamalube oil stands out amongst the competition for several reasons. Yamalube 2M oil, Yamaha’s motor oil formulated for sport boats, is well renowned for providing engines with superior performance. Yamalube 2M oil is TCW-3 certified, while other popular motor oils used for sport boats are often not. The 2M oil is formulated to perform under intense conditions of heat, and to provide the engine with better lubrication which results in increased speed, lower exhaust, and less engine wear. Yamalube 2M oil is the choice of numerous professional sport boaters, and is even used in some models of personal watercraft because it is formulated to perform under extreme conditions.

When switching from another brand of motor oil to Yamalube 2M oil, it’s important to remember to drain the engine of the other oil beforehand. It’s not a good idea to mix various brands of motor oil because the engine can suffer damage and decreased performance on the water.

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Maintenance for Yamaha WaveRunners

Maintenance for Yamaha WaveRunners

It’s important to be aware of the regular maintenance intervals for Yamaha WaveRunners. Because WaveRunners are such powerful machines with sensitive engines, owners who ignore the regular maintenance intervals often find themselves with a busted engine. The current service intervals are as follows:

First Service – 10 hours of use (this will often occur after two to three outings)

Initial Maintenance – 50 hours of use or 6 months (whichever comes first)

Follow Up Maintenance – 100 hours of use or 12 months (whichever comes first)

Extended Maintenance – every 200 hours of use or 25 months (whichever comes first)

It’s important to note that the frequency of maintenance can be altered according to the operating conditions. For example, when operating in salt water or muddy water, the engine needs to be flushed with clean water after use. In addition to the scheduled maintenance, it’s important to use the right fuel and oil to keep the engine in top condition. Yamaha WaverRunners are designed to operate on regular unleaded petrol and to use Yamaha 2W oil.

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