Know Your Oil Viscosity
Viscosity is a measure of friction. Specifically, the term refers to a fluid’s resistance to flow when subjected to external pressures. You can also think of viscosity in reference to a liquid’s thickness at a specified temperature. Molasses is a famously viscous liquid; just try to coax a dollop or two out of the bottle for proof. Pure water sits at the other end of the viscosity spectrum, flowing freely at room temperature.
Viscosity is a particularly important measurement in motor oil. As oil heats up, it thins out; likewise, oil thickens in cold temperatures. Boat owners with outboard motors will want to choose an oil with enough viscosity to lubricate a hot engine, but if the oil is too viscous it won’t be thin enough for cold starts.
To test a fluid’s viscosity in a rather rudimentary way, try stirring it with a spoon. The molecules in viscous liquid are bunched tightly together, so they provide more resistance to stirring. This concept can be carried over to 2 cycle oil in outboard motors. High-viscosity oils prevent metal-on-metal contact inside an engine by providing adequate lubrication. However, too much viscosity can gum up the works, decreasing energy efficiency and making your boat slow as molasses.
By selecting oil with the proper amount of viscosity, you can prolong the life of your outboard motor.
For rapid acceleration and blazing speed, boaters the world over turn to lightweight, compact outboard motors. These motors have progressed by leaps and bounds – especially in the last 40 years – in terms of increased efficiency. By the late 1970s, the world was beginning to gain an environmental conscience. As a result, boaters began scouring the outboard motor landscape for engines that created less pollution.
Many people experience the thrill of the open road every day without even pulling out onto a public street. Kart racing is a fun and affordable alternative to pricier motorsports that require an enormous financial investment. Some hobbyists revel in the chance to make physical alterations to their karts’ chassis, and others prefer to take a ready-made kart out for a spin.
If you’re the kind of person who likes to do it yourself, here are some suggestions for performing maintenance on your outboard motor. First, it’s important to note that present day marine equipment is quite sensitive, and represents advanced technological machinery. Make sure to have the proper training before performing maintenance on these sensitive technological systems. Don’t perform maintenance that’s not covered in the service manual unless aware of the procedures and precautions, otherwise, your safety could be at risk. There are simple procedures, like premixing fuel with gasoline and 
When looking through the standard owner’s manual for a boat engine, it’s important to note that the engine oil capacities listed are approximate. In addition, the engine oil capacity is reflective of the entire lubrication system. For this reason, when filling the engine, sometimes boat owners will notice that the engine is filled before the indicated amount of oil is used. Once oil is inside the engine, it’s quite difficult to ensure that all the oil is drained during an oil change. The residual oil left in the engine is the reason that it cannot be filled with the recommended amount of oil.
The average outboard engine runs for about 1,500 hours before requiring significant maintenance. While this number might seem a little surprising, the average owner only uses their outboard for about 200 hours per year, thus, the average outboard motor can be expected to last 7-8 years, which isn’t an unreasonable amount of time. However, it is possible to ensure an outboard lasts much longer with regular maintenance, and a few due diligence practices. For example, with two stroke outboard engines, it’s important to have the right mixture of gasoline to 
