Pre-Season Snow Mobile Maintenance: Part Two

While you are conducting the exterior inspection, thoroughly examine the skis and runners for any signs of wear or damage. The runners should be straight and there shouldn’t be any holes, nicks, gouges or scrapes. Now that we’ve examined the outside of the snowmobile, it’s time to bring out the tools and get under the hood.

Begin by greasing all of the fittings and removing any rust or buildup. It’s important to grease all of the fittings each year to ensure their integrity and longevity. Just as your Evinrude oil maintains the inner workings, the grease keeps the fittings in pristine condition. You should have drained any excess gasoline prior to putting the vehicle into storage; if you didn’t, now is the time to.

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Pre-Season Snow Mobile Maintenance: Part One

With a particularly cold winter forecasted here in the Pacific Northwest, it’s time to start thinking about pulling the snowmobile out of storage. Although there may not be any powder on the ground yet, now is the time to go through your preseason maintenance. Hopefully you took the time to clean and tune the vehicle before putting it in storage, as his will make your job infinitely easier.

Start by gathering all of the necessary tools and supplies, including socket wrenches, spark plugs and Yamalube 2M oil. Move the snowmobile to a clear, open space so you have ample room to work. The first step is simply to clean the outside of the vehicle, removing any dirt, grime or debris that may have accumulated while it was idle for a few months. This is also a good time to do a careful visual inspection of the exterior.

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Summertime Boating Adventures

Every summer my cousin, Patrick, invites my whole family to his lake house in Portland to stay for an extended weekend of boating, fishing and barbeques. It’s something we all look forward to each August when the weather is warm and the daylight lasts well into the night. And every summer we always return from our visit with stories of adventure, laughter and family togetherness.

Last summer, in particular, delivered one of the craziest stories from that anticipated trip to-date. Patrick, my father, my aunt, my younger sister and I had voyaged out onto the water for an afternoon of margaritas and fishing when, all of the sudden, the boat motor began to shutter and then it stalled out, leaving us stranded hours from home. Fortunately, Patrick has always been the responsible and prepared one of the family. Within seconds he pulled out a backup supply of Evinrude XD 100 Oil to get things oiled up and running again. We were back on shore in no time and arrived just in time for my mom’s famous Sloppy Joes.

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Why Buy in Bulk?

If you spend the better part of the summer months out on your boat, it makes sense to invest in some bulk outboard motor oil. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Bulk oil, isn’t that for marinas?” True, but recreational boaters can save significant money by purchasing their oil in bulk too. As long as the oil stays in the container with the cap on, it stays good for an incredible amount of time.

Even if you don’t think you can use the oil by yourself, it makes sense to gather a few of your boating buddies and invest in some bulk oil together. You’ll save hundreds of dollars over the next few boating seasons. And since you can buy bulk oil in gallon bottles, you won’t have to worry about the batch going bad for decades.

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What Does Motor Oil Do? Part Four

Last but not least, outboard oil improves your fuel economy. The easier it is for your engine to run, the less fuel it needs to use. In order to maximize your fuel efficiency, be sure to change your oil when recommended and always opt for premium oil. If you don’t know which product to choose, consult your owner’s manual. Or if you’re purchasing outboard motor oil, you can use the TC-W3 Certification as your guide.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association awards TC-W3 certification annually to oils that meet a stringent set of standards. Each of the oils is tested on several engines in a variety of conditions to garner objective, quantifiable data with which to compare the oils. If you want the best for your engine, be sure to purchase oil with the certification.

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What Does Motor Oil Do? Part Three

One of the functions we don’t usually associate with marine engine oil is cooling. In most vehicles, the antifreeze concoction in the cooling system only does about 60% of the work when it comes to cooling the engine. Not only does oil cool the engine as it pulses through the system, it also controls the temperature by reducing friction.

Many of the grooves and spaces in-between the fittings on the engine leave microscopic openings in the system where pressure normally would be able to escape. However, the oil works its way into these gaps and creates a seal, effectively improving the engine’s efficiency. Additives in the oil now help reduce foam, allowing the oil to function to its full capabilities.

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What Does Motor Oil Do? Part Two

Not only does Evinrude outboard oil provide lubrication to the engine, it also reduces friction between the parts. It’s important to find a medium with the viscosity of the oil you use; if it’s too thick, the engine will have to work harder and you’ll lose power and efficiency. The lubrication and friction reduction produced by the oil helps to prevent rust and corrosion throughout the engine. In addition, premium oil will eliminate carbon deposits and prevent sludge buildup.

When sludge forms in the engine, it prohibits the flow of oil, compounding the damage. Part of the sludge is formed when oil reaches the hottest parts of the engine and burns—at least until recently that is. New additives have made oil burn cleaner, helping to reduce buildup in the system.

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What Does Motor Oil Do? Part One

Premium oils available today, such as Evinrude XD50 oil, do much more than simply lubricate your engine. It may not seem worth it to spend a few extra bucks to upgrade to high-grade oil, but your investment will pay huge dividends. First, quality oil facilitates easy starting for your vehicle. But in order for an oil to permit easy starting, you need to be sure that the viscosity is appropriate for the given weather conditions.

The chief purpose of oil—as we all know—is to lubricate the various components of the engine and prevent wear and corrosion. Traditionally, it’s been a challenge to develop oils that can perform in a range of climates and conditions. But thanks to the innovation of synthetics and additives, top oils are now graded for a spectrum of temperatures.

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How to Change Your ATV Oil: Part Four

Now that the oil filter has been changed and all of the used oil is out, the only thing left to do is put in the new Mercury engine oil. Remove the oil cap and place the funnel into the fill hole. Pour your oil into the funnel slowly to prevent any drips or spills. (Always consult your owner’s manual to see your manufacturer’s specifications for oil.)

Once you’ve poured the oil in, turn on the engine and let it run for a few minutes. While the ATV is running, check around the machine for leaks before turning it off and waiting for a few minutes while it cools. Insert the dipstick into the fill hole and make sure that the oil is up to the full mark. Screw the cap back into place, reattach the panels and you’re done.

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How to Change Your ATV Oil: Part Three

After you’ve found the oil filter and oil cap, it’s time to locate the drain plug. It will be positioned on the underside of the vehicle, so you’ll have to get a little dirty. Once you find the plug, place your oil pan directly underneath it. Open the drain plug and allow all of the used oil to run out.

Use your wrench to remove the oil filter while you are waiting for the oil to drain. Scrub off any gunk or oil on the mounting surface. Add some lubricant to the gasket of the new filter and screw it into place by hand. Secure the filter with a couple of turns from your wrench, but be careful not to over tighten it. By now the Yamamlube 2S oil should be finished draining, so put the plug back into place and discard the used oil properly.

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How to Change Your ATV Oil: Part Two

Before you remove the first panel and start digging around in your machine, be sure that you’ve gathered all of the necessary supplies close by. Move the ATV to a spacious area with level ground where you’ll be able to work comfortably. Fire up the machine and let it run for a few minutes. This will heat up the oil and disturb any deposits that may have settled at the bottom, allowing them to be removed with the old Yamalube 2W oil.

Once you’ve run the engine for a few minutes, remove any panels that may be obstructing your access to the filter and oil cap. The dipstick will be connected with the filter, which you can use to check you oil levels periodically. Now that you know where the new oil needs to go, tomorrow we’ll go over how to get the old oil out.

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How to Change Your ATV Oil: Part One

Like all vehicles, you need to change the oil in your ATV periodically to keep the engine running smoothly and prevent buildup. Since you will have to be dealing with the oil filter anyways, this is usually a good time to see if it needs to be replaced too. Before you begin, be sure that you have all of the necessary supplies with you. Here is a quick list of what to have at hand before you get started:

~Yamaha 2M or another leading oil
~Gloves
~Drain pan
~Funnel
~Extra oil filter
~Wrench
~Other necessary tools (varies by machine)
~Towels

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