Marine Engine oil | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 3

Basic Outboard Maintenance: Part Four

One of the most perilous times for your boat is the transfer from dry land to the water. This often involves a lengthy drive and being in reverse when the end of your trailer is over 20 feet away. Particularly when you’re backing your boat, the motor is extremely susceptible, so it’s imperative to take some precautionary measures to make sure your boat makes it into the water in one piece.

First, always make sure your vessel is topped off with fuel and outboard motor oil before you reach the marina. When backing the boat towards the water, always have a spotter outside the boat to guide you. If you are unfamiliar with launching your boat, it’s a good idea to take some dry runs in the driveway before you try the real thing. Use your mirrors as you are reversing, moving the steering wheel in the direction you want the back to go.

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Essential Boating Supplies

When you neglect to bring extra gas and supplies with you on a road trip, the consequences are minimal—perhaps you’ll have to phone in for a tow truck or get a ride to the closest town. But when you forget to pack the proper supplies on a boat outing it can sometimes be difficult to garner immediate assistance. To avoid incident on the water, here are a few essential supplies to always keep on hand:

~First aid kit

~Emergency Radio

~Extra food and water

~Gasoline and outboard motor oil

~A set of tools

~Extra parts, such as prop fins and fasteners

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How to Change Outboard Motor Oil

While the two-stroke engine has fallen out of favor, it does boast one distinct advantage over its four-stroke successor: you don’t have to change the outboard motor oil. Sure, you have to mix the oil with gasoline consistently, but changing your oil can be a hassle. And if you neglect to do it, you can cause serious damage to your engine. You don’t have to worry if you have a four-stroke, however; changing your outboard motor oil is simple:

~Take the boat out of the water and put it on a trailer
~Remove the engine cover
~Check the oil using the dipstick in the crankcase
~Use the trim button to raise the motor, allowing the oil to drain out from the crankcase easily
~Drain the oil into an empty container. Take out the drain plug to allow all the oil to draw off.
~Replace the drain plug and refill the oil until it reaches the full level

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Preventative Outboard Motor Care: Part Two

Before we delve into the maintenance procedures, I have a quick caveat: Unless you are a mechanic, have a professional tune-up periodically. It’s good to have a grasp of the basics like changing your Evinrude XD100, but an expert mechanic is sure to detect some problems before you do. Their routine should include a pressure test of the lower unit, testing of the spark plugs, seals and pump, and a comprehensive examination of the rest of the components. Trust me, it’s worth the time and money to nip these systemic problems in the bud.

One of the easiest ways to maintain the integrity of your engine is by flushing it after each outing. Admittedly, sometimes I cheat and go an outing or two in-between flushes—do as I say, not as I do. Salt water is particularly corrosive, so there are no exceptions here. Tomorrow we’ll go over some basic checks you can do for the 10-15 minutes while you are flushing your engine.

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