Marine Engine Overheating Facts

Overheating is a common problem amongst marine engines, and most overheating problems can be attributed to the water pump. There are three main problems which tend to be the reason the water pump isn’t functional, those being lack of raw water flow, lack of fresh water, and defective heat exchanger. You can check for a lack of raw water flow by noting the temperature of the outlet side of the raw water system; if the water is hot, in excess of 130 degrees, it could indicate a water flow problem. Lack of fresh water will manifest as an increase in temperature difference between in and outlet of the heat exchanger. Noticing a defective heat exchanger is a bit more difficult, in general the easiest way to identify this is by process of elimination from performing the above two checks.

It’s also a good idea to check on essential fluids like marine engine oil. If the oil hasn’t been changed in some time, it could be causing the engine to overheat because the pistons aren’t receiving adequate lubrication.

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NASA Develops Alloy for Outboard Motors

A new aluminum alloy called MSFC-398 was recently developed by a team of engineers at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Partnering with Evinrude, a leading manufacturer of outboard motors, NASA and Evinrude created the E-TEC outboard motor. The E-TEC has a simple design, but is quite effective. It’s the first outboard motor that does not require regular outboard oil changes, winterization, spring tune-ups, or scheduled maintenance.

The E-TEC two stroke outboard motor represents the latest in outboard motor technology. Because of the new NASA designed alloy, the E-TEC outboard motor is much more durable than its other two stroke counterparts. While four stroke engines have replaced two strokes in several capacities, because of the simple design of the two stroke engine, they’re still great for outboard motors and smaller engines.

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Where to Purchase Oil for a Jetski

There are a lot of places you can find the two stroke oil necessary for Jetskis and WaveRunners, but to purchase the best quality oil, you need to know where to buy. In general, department stores like Wal-Mart have a good selection of products, but don’t carry the specialized oil needed for optimal Jetski and WaveRunner performance. There are several brands to consider, but Mercury Quicksilver, Yamalube 2W, and Yamalube 2M oil are all safe bets. You want to ensure that your oil is TC-W3 certified, regardless of which brand you use. Most of the time however, if an oil is from a reputable manufacturer like Yamaha, Evinrude, or Mercury, you can rest assured it is TC-W3 certified even if it’s not listed on the bottle.

The best places to buy two stroke oil are small marinas or online. If you live near a marina, you can purchase there, but if you want to save yourself some time, purchasing online is a way to buy as well.

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Two Stroke Engine Advantages

While representing a much older technology, two stroke engines still have some significant advantages over their more advanced four stroke counterparts. The three main advantages include:

1.) Two stroke engines weigh less: two stroke engines don’t have valves, which simplifies their construction and reduces total weight.

2.) Two stroke engines have more power: two stroke engines fire once every revolution while four stroke engines fire once every other revolution.

3.) Two stroke engines work in all orientations: a two stroke engine works the same right side up as it does inverted, sideways, or diagonal, four stroke engines have trouble functioning if they’re not right side up.

These advantages make two stroke engines a simpler and at times more effective option for a motor. However, two stroke engines also cannot provide enough power to much larger objects. Two stroke engines all use two cycle oil for lubrication. The oil itself is formulated to cope with the intense conditions under which two stroke engines operate.

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Two Benefits of Synthetic Oil

When comparing synthetic oil to regular mineral oil, there is no doubt that synthetic oil is superior. But when synthetic oil can cost double the price of regular mineral oil, it’s important to consider whether the benefits of using synthetic oil apply to you. There are two main benefits that synthetic oil holds over mineral oil: ability to withstand heat, and flow better at cold temperatures. Heat is what breaks down oil, and at some point, forces the oil to lose its lubricating properties which necessitates an oil change. The first few seconds following ignition are some of the most important for engines. If the oil in your engine freezes, it can cause serious damage to the engine. Synthetic oil, unlike mineral oil, will not freeze.

The best reasons to use synthetic oil are during extreme conditions of heat and cold. For outboard motors, which run at high heat most of the time, synthetic oil like Evinrude XD100 or Evinrude XD50 oil will increase the performance and longevity of your engine.

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Bring Home an Award Winner

There are several oil brands on the market and it would be terrible to suggest that some might be lesser than others. But did you know that Evinrude oil was awarded with the title of “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Two-Stroke Engines” by J.D. Power and associates.

J.D. Power is a long running certification program that utilizes consumer satisfaction data and their approval has been the lynchpin for many companies. Now, Evinrude can boast this nod from one of the leaders in consumer reporting. But why just read the report. Applying the usage of Evinrude in your boat or motorbike may have an improved performance; after all, J.D. Power and associates wouldn’t lie about that.

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Utilizing a Manual Oil Pump

Now and then it’s necessary to suck the oil out of your engine. When draining the oil through a conventional drain port, sometimes excess oil is left in the tank. When you need to drain all the oil it’s best to use an oil pump, but amongst oil pumps, there are a few different types. You have your standard electric pumps, your manual pumps, and your fluid extractor kits.

With an electric pump, some need to be plugged in while others run off batteries or a charge, because of this, pumps can sometimes be inconvenient. Manual pumps tend to do the most thorough job extracting oil, but also require the attention of the owner and more effort. Fluid extractor kits are like manual pumps but streamlined for easier use, and though they cost a bit more, these tend to be the best deal. Chances are if you’re removing the oil you’ll also want to have a supply of Yamaha oil (or your preferred brand) on hand for replacement.

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Interesting Facts about Oil Composition

Interesting Facts about Oil Composition Most of us can name a handful of machines, devices, and engines that use oil, but what’s less well known is oil’s chemical makeup. Crude oil contains about 85% carbon, making carbon the most dominant element. This is also why gasoline, which is refined from crude oil, emits significant amounts of carbon when burned. The other chemicals in crude oil include about 12% hydrogen, and trace amounts of nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and metals like iron, nickel, and copper.

There are dozens of different products that are made from crude oil including paraffin wax candles, plastics, and asphalt. In addition, all kinds of fuels are refined from crude oil, including gasoline, kerosene, and jet fuel. Crude oil refined through a different process is also used to lubricate engines; standard motor oil, boat motor oil, and two stroke oil is made from crude.

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Preparing Your Boat for Summer

If you winterized your boat before the winter, there are a few steps you need to take before you set out on the open water in the summer. The first step is to ensure your engine us running well, this involves changing the outboard motor oil and filter, lubricating parts, and cleaning spark plugs. Next check all the hoses and replace those that seem like a problem. Ensure that the battery is working, and clean off grime with a battery brush. Check the wires for kinks or cracks and locate and fix loose connections. Tighten all the screws on essential engine components.

The final steps don’t involve the engine so much as the boat itself. You should make sure you have the necessary safety equipment on your boat including first aid kit, extra fuses, and anchor. It’s also a good idea to check your trailer and make sure the tires have proper air pressure and adequate tread.

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The Great Outboard Motor Oil Debate

If there is one aspect of outboard motors that no two users agree on, it’s whether to use manufacturer branded outboard motor oil or a generic outboard motor oil. You can think of outboard motor oil needing to meet a quality benchmark that is enforced by the TCW3 standards; this is the bare minimum. In addition to meeting these standards, all outboard motor oil contains different additives. For example, the Yamalube brand from Yamaha is marketed as being ideal for use in Yamaha outboard motors.

When it comes down to it, the additives in outboard motor oil make all the difference. While an outboard motor oil made by Pennzoil won’t have the same additives as that of one made by Yamaha, Evinrude, or Mercury, it does contain the basics needed to meet TCW3 standards. For the avid outboard motorist, using manufacturer produced oil makes sense, as these owners will tend to use their engine more. For the owner who uses their outboard motor just a handful of times each year, a generic oil will work fine.

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Two Cycle Oil Shelf Life

I’ve often received questions about whether two cycle oil has a shelf life, and if we’re talking about unused oil sitting on a shelf, then no. There’s no reason you can’t use two cycle oil that was refined even 50 years ago, though it won’t contain the same additives as newer oil. However, you shouldn’t leave oil in your oil tank for more than a year without use. Under these circumstances, the oil can solidify and become quite gelatinous. When the engine is started with this kind of oil inside of it, it can cause serious damage.

The real reason you would use Yamaha 2S oil over Pennzoil two cycle oil made in the 1950s is because the additives in the newer oil will help your engine to run better. In addition, you don’t know whether those older oils are TC-W3 certified; most certainly they wouldn’t meet the modern standards for two cycle oil.

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Boat Engines with Oil Injectors

Most newer boat engines and outboard motors come with oil injection systems, but older models will not. When using an older model of boat engine or outboard motor, it’s often necessary to premix your gasoline and outboard motor oil. Finding the correct gasoline to oil ratio is important, but it’s also important to use the right oil. When it comes to older boat engines and motors, most any TC-W3 certified oil will do. Manufacturers will tell you that you need a specific oil, but this is more an attempt to encourage the purchase of their products than an actual necessity.

Manufacturer branded oil contains special additives, and when purchasing a new boat engine or outboard motor, it’s a good idea to use the manufacturer branded oil to increase its longevity. But with older engines and motors, you can’t expect to prolong their lifetime by a whole lot purchasing expensive oil. In general, you can just buy generic TC-W3 certified bulk outboard motor oil from a retail supplier and it will work fine.

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