September, 2011 | Outboard Motor Oil

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.

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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.

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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.

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Two Stroke Motorcycles

Riding a two stroke motorcycle or puts a strain on the engine. Ideally, you should only need to change oil in once a season, but to be safe; I check the oil before every ride. When the oil needs to be replaced the process takes only a few moments of my time.

First I park the bike on a flat surface and place a drain pan under the engine block. Then I unscrew the drain plug and allow all the two cycle oil to drain out. I put the plug back in place, unscrew the top oil cap, and pour in new yamalube 2 cycle oil. Once the tank is full, I check the dipstick and screw the cap back in place.

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Changing Oil in a Yamaha Wolverine

The Yamaha Wolverine 350 is an all terrain vehicle (ATV). It is powered by a four-stroke, air-cooled, single overhead cam engine. Every six months or every 160 hours of operation – whichever comes first – the oil needs to be changed. Fortunately, conducting an oil change on a Wolverine is not too difficult.

Simply warm up the engine to get the oil flowing, then turn it off and place a drain pan under the engine. Take off the oil filler cap, remove oil drain bolt, and allow the oil to drain out into the pan. Reinstall the oil drain bolt and refill the engine with two and one third quarts of Yamalube. Put the oil filler cap back on and you’re good to go!

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Used Outboard Motors: Good Idea?

When I shop for cars, I prefer to purchase slightly used or “pre-owned” vehicles. A new car loses its value as soon as you drive it off the lot. In my mind, there are only two reasons to purchase new: 1) if you are trying to build credit or 2) there are no quality used vehicles to be found. A friend of mine recently queried me as to whether I would buy a used outboard motor.

This one made me pause for a bit. Truth be told, I have always bought my outboard motors brand new. After considering his question, I concluded that yes, if the motor were in excellent condition, I would not be opposed to purchasing a used outboard. Of course, I would be sure to inspect the motor carefully, clean it, and fill it up with Yamaha outboard oil to ensure a long lifespan.

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Review: Yamalube 2W PWC Oil

While I’m going about the process of winterizing my boats, my friends and relatives down south are still enjoying the open waters (in between hurricanes). One of my friends has been raving about Yamalube 2W PWC oil. He uses the lubricant in his r and Sport Boat engines.

In his glowing review of Yamaha 2W oil he emphasized several key points. First off, the formula produces low smoke; in fact, my friend estimates that his visible smoke has been reduced by 50 percent. Second, the rust protection is phenomenal. Finally, the lubrication has helped significantly with everyday wear and tear.

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What Makes an Oil High Quality?

There are many different engine lubricants available on the market. This can make it hard to determine the good from the bad. Quality oils will have certain characteristics no matter the brand. For instance, quality oil will be made from polymers that are resistant to breakage under extreme circumstances. These additives protect an expensive engine from corrosion, rust, and sand particles.

Quality oil should be thick and viscous. The oil needs to cling to engine parts when running, but also flow to the lowest parts of the engine to coat rings and bearings. Personally, I go for Yamaha oil as I know that whether I need two stroke or four stroke oil, their brand delivers quality.

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Benefits of Yamalube 2S Oil

For years now, I have been a big fan of Yamaha products, especially their line of lubricants for outboard motors. I have taken to using Yamalube 2S two stroke oil. The Yamaha 2S oil uses a technologically advanced semi-synthetic base stock and additive system to ensure high performance all season long.

The Yamaha 2S oil reduces the amount of visible smoke the engine gives off. The lubricant also reduces carbon and varnish deposit buildup, leading to longer engine life. Another aspect of Yamalube 2S oil I greatly appreciate is its ability to work in a range of temperatures, including sub-freezing conditions. Simply put, the oil won’t gel, which makes it great for use in snowmobiles.

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Tools for Yamaha Outboards

For any engine, having the right maintenance tools is a necessity. Yamaha has several specific tools that will keep outboards running in tip top condition. Take for instance, the Yamaha 10-micron fuel and water separating filter. The filter can be used for around 100 hours before needing replacement. The filter is critical to winterization setup.

A multimeter is another important tool to have in your arsenal. It is a device that is used to check electrical connections onboard and identifies problem areas. Though not strictly a tool, lubrication is vital to the function of a Yamaha outboard. Yamaha 4M oil is advisable for four stroke engines, and Yamaha 2M oil is advisable for two stroke engines.

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Evinrude’s Answer to Four Stroke Engines

Four stroke engines are known for their easy start, smooth operation, and fuel economy. Two stroke engines, on the other hand, have in the past been scolded for inconsistencies, bad idling, and too much gas consumption. Evinrude decided to tackle the two stroke flaws and created the Evinrude ETEC engine.

The Evinrude ETEC engine is a direct injection two stroke outboard motor. It is able to idle at lower revolutions per minute and is far quieter than its predecessors. Plus, for the first 300 hours of use, the ETEC does not require maintenance. Once you do hit those 300 hours, be sure to change out the oil with XD1 Evinrude ETEC outboard motor oil.

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Changing Oil on a 2008 Yamaha Waverunner

For every 100 hours of use, the oil in a Yamaha Waverunner should be changed. The process of changing oil in a Waverunner is different from other vehicles because the oil has to be sucked directly out of the engine instead of draining into an oil pan. Begin by warming up the oil by running the engine for a few minutes. Then, place the Waverunner in a horizontal position.

Remove the oil filler cap and insert the oil changer tube. Next, siphon out the old gas into an appropriately sized container (figure enough to hold three quarts of oil). Remove the old oil filter with a wrench, and then install a new oil filter. Add in two and a half quarts of new Waverunner oil. Screw on the oil filler cap and you’re all set!

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