Synthetic or Conventional for Outboard Motors

It’s not uncommon for an outboard motor owner to ask: “What’s the difference between conventional and synthetic oil, should I be using one or the other?” The truth is, most boaters go hundreds or even thousands of miles using conventional bulk motor oil, and never experience problems with their outboard motor. However, the reason synthetic oil costs more isn’t simply because it’s more advanced than conventional oil, synthetic oil also helps your engine to last longer. For boaters who take their boat on extended trips or use it year round, it’s wise to switch to synthetic oil to preserve the quality of your outboard motor. Synthetic oil works to preserve your engine when the engine is used frequently or under extreme conditions.

However, for most boaters who just use their boat on the weekends or a couple of times per week, using conventional motor oil works just fine. The chance that your outboard motor will wear out before you stop using your boat are slim provided you take proper care of the engine and only use it a few times per year.

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TC-W3 Oil Certification

It’s often that outboard motor owners ask “Do I have to use the manufacturer’s brand oil in my two stroke outboard motor?” There’s not a clear answer for this, but here are the facts. From the manufacturer’s point of view, they apply their brand name to two cycle oil manufactured by oil companies like Penzoil, Texaco, Exxon, and that oil might contain different additives depending on the manufacturer’s standards. However, most two cycle oil must also meet the TC-W3 certification test that is administered by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). There are few recorded incidents when an owner found that using any TC-W3 certified oil in their two stroke outboard motor resulted in noticeable decreased performance or damage to the engine.

In general, it’s fair to say that as long as the two cycle oil you’re using is TC-W3 certified, you’re making the most of your outboard motor. However, for those more particular outboard motor owners, the different additives in manufacturer branded oil might offer slight increases in performance, though depending on who you talk to, this might or might not be true.

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Motor Oil Re-Refinement

Contrary to popular belief, when motor oil becomes ‘used’ it’s not actually the oil that degrades in quality, but the additives within the oil. The oil refining process takes the dark odiferous crude oil, and refines it into the motor oil we use in engines. Through a similar process, we can also take used oil, remove the grit, combine additives, and allow it for reuse. The additives that go into motor oil are essential for preserving the quality of the engine. For example, if you were refining bulk outboard motor oil, you would need to combine additives that prevent water from entering the motor oil.

Re-refining is a newer process that became popular when oil recycle stations became popular in hardware stores, auto stores, and marinas. Through re-refining, people can conserve fossil fuels, and also help the environment. As oil prices continue their rollercoaster ride on the market, methods to use less oil will become much more important.

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When to Replace Your Outboard Motor

It’s always exciting to purchase a brand new outboard motor, but sometimes it can be difficult to recognize when it’s time to replace your old one. There are several problems that can arise in older outboard motors, some of which can be fixed, and some of which cannot. Common problems that can be fixed include broken propeller, busted water pump, and non-functional recoil spring. These items can be replaced with newer parts, and done by the owner with a little effort and a repair manual. Problems that cannot be fixed, or are not worth fixing, tend to involve the condition of the actual engine; for example, if the engine block is cracked, it’s best to purchase a new outboard motor. It can be difficult for an owner to diagnose more serious problems, and sometimes it’s necessary to consult a maintenance technician.

In order to keep your new outboard motor in top condition, make sure to perform regular tune-ups including oil changes (just as you would with a car). It’s also pertinent to use high performance outboard motor oil, like Yamaha 2M oil for two stroke engines. This will help your outboard motor to last longer and receive more usage.

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Interesting Two Cycle Oil Facts

2 cycle outboard oil, also known as 2 stroke oil, is an engine oil intended for use in 2 stroke engines. The main difference between a 2 stroke engine versus a 4 stroke engine is that the 2 stroke doesn’t feature oil sumps to collect and recycle oil, thus the oil must be mixed with the fuel for distribution throughout the engine. There are various ratios which 2 cycle oil must be mixed at, often between 1:16 and 1:50. Because 2 cycle oil is burned with the fuel, it results in a blue smoke exhaust and a unique odor.

In general, 2 cycle oil also has a much lower ash content compared to other motor oils. This lower ash content is necessary to minimize deposits of sludge and grit that form if there is ash present in the oil which is burned in the engine’s combustion chamber.

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Accessories for New Boat Owners

When purchasing a new boat, there are a number of peripherals and accessories that you may also want to purchase right away. Sometimes these accessories will come with the boat, and sometimes not (mostly dependent on whether it is new or used). Here’s a sample list of boating accessories you might consider:

~Anchor (often comes with the boat)
~Outboard Motor Oil (Yamaha 2S oil, or Yamaha 4 Stroke oil depending on engine)
~Boat Hook
~Dock Rope
~Life Vests and Life Preserver
~Depth/Fish Finder
~GPS Unit

The current market for boats and boating supplies has been weakening, and some dealerships are offering amazing deals; it’s a great time to buy!

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Two Stroke Oil Differences

When it comes to two stroke oil, there are different formulations depending on the kind of engine in which it is used. For example, two stroke oil designed for use in outboard engines (often called outboard oil), is formulated to operate with water present. In contrast, two stroke oil designed for use in a standard lawnmower will not be formulated in this manner. It’s important to double check the formulation of two stroke oil before you put it in the engine. While it might not be so dangerous for oil in a lawnmower to contain an additive allowing it to function with the presence of water, if oil bereft of this additive was used in an outboard engine, it could cause serious problems.

Most of the different formulations of two stroke oil are available in hardware stores, but if you’re looking for a specific brand it’s best to check in a location that sells similar engine products; for example, a gardening store will likely have two stroke oil for use in lawnmowers, weed cutters, and chainsaws.

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Winterizing Your Outboard Motor

When storing your boat and outboard motor during the colder months, it’s important to winterize it beforehand, as this will help it to remain in top condition. You’ll need outboard motor oil (Evinrude XD 100, Yamalube 2S, Yamalube 2M, whatever your preferred brand is), an oil filter, a water hose, gas treatment, and grease for the lower unit. The first step is to hook your hose up and combine the gas treatment with a gallon of gasoline. Run the treatment through the engine until the motor stops, it often takes about 20 minutes. When this is complete, drain the motor oil, remove the oil filter, and replace the filter and the oil. Next drain the lower unit grease, and replace it, you should also grease the prop shaft.

The last step is to grease the wheels of your trailer so they don’t seize up or freeze during the cold weather. Congratulations, you’ve successfully winterized your outboard motor!

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Two Strokes: Yamaha vs. Mercury

Yamaha and Mercury are two leading manufacturers of outboard motors, and both offer quality products that tend to be a solid investment. However, in some circumstances, such as two stroke motors, one brand shines over the other. Yamaha two stroke motors are renowned for their longevity, despite Mercury offering a more powerful motor. The parts for Yamaha motors are a bit more expensive, but because they almost never give out, you won’t be replacing parts often, if at all. In addition, the Yamaha two stroke is one of the highest ranked outboard motors amongst users.

Whether you use Yamaha’s Yamalube oil, or Mercury oil, either brand will work in these outboard motors. The stigma that you must use a particular brand’s oil in the corresponding motor is mostly used to boost sales, though there are some circumstances in which it’s true, however this is more dependent on how the outboard motor is used by the owner.

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Yamalube 2M vs. 2W

Yamalube oils offer unrivaled quality and ensure that your engine remains in excellent condition throughout its lifespan. However, when it comes to comparing two Yamalube oils, like Yamalube 2M oil and Yamalube 2W oil, it’s not so easy to make a distinction. When selecting a Yamalube oil for your engine, first consider the kind of engine you have, and how you will be using it. For example, the Yamalube 2W oil contains large amounts of metallic additives, which is necessary for the constantly changing RPMs on a personal watercraft. Yamalube 2M is more designed for outboard motors, and is intended for use in extreme engine conditions, such as rapid acceleration in sports boats, or trolling on fishing boats.

Different formulations of outboard motor oil are intended to be used during different engine conditions. It’s also wise to check with the manufacturer of your engine and ensure that the kind of oil you are using will not void its warranty.

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Benefits of Yamalube 2-S Oil

The Yamalube brand of motor oil for use in snowmobiles, ATVs, and motorcycles has a number of unique benefits that conventional motor oils do not. Yamaha formulated their Yamalube 2S oil to withstand intense conditions, and help to preserve the longevity of the engine. Here are a few of the more well documented benefits of Yamalube 2S oil:

~Low Smoke – Yamalube 2S oil can reduce visible smoke by up to 50%; meaning less smoke when starting up and moving.

~Reduce Engine Wear – by using special additives, carbon build-up in the engine can be reduced by up to 40%, translating into extended engine life and better performance.

~All-Weather Performance – Yamalube 2S oil contains an additive to help maintain liquidity and prevent gelling in freezing conditions.

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Fuel Efficiency with Yamaha WaveRunners

Yamaha is the leading manufacturer of personal watercraft in the world, and has taken great effort to design fuel efficient and clean burning engines. The Yamaha WaveRunner brand of personal watercraft has changed the face of the industry, with newer models capable of saving consumers hundreds of dollars each year in fuel costs compared to competitor models. The WaveRunner offers this kind of fuel efficiency without sacrificing speed due to Yamaha’s innovative engine design. Yamaha 2W oil is the company’s specially formulated brand of motor oil for use in their WaveRunner personal watercraft; this motor oil combined with WaveRunner engine technology allow for increased fuel efficiency and longevity.

Yamaha designs several different WaveRunner models, with most having higher top speeds than competitor models despite consuming less gallons of gasoline per hour of use. Some WaveRunner models also offer performance level quality and run on regular unleaded gasoline.

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