You have just purchased a new outboard motor to enhance your maritime experience, however along with all the fun involved, there also comes certain responsibilities to help aid in a long lifespan for your new outboard equipment.
You can vastly increase the lifespan on your outboard, and save money in the long run, by having regular check and maintenance done as well as storing the engine correctly when not in use.
Read our 15 helpful tips below for boaters on methods to help extend the life of your outboard engine.
What can you do to Enhance the life an outboard engine?
1. Regular Oil Checks
Regular checking of the oil levels on your outboard motor is one of the most important things you can do to extend the engine life. When your oil levels get low, it can lead to additional wear and overhearing of the inner parts, which in turn can cause long-term harm and damage to the motor mechanism.
As a good practice, you should inspect your oil levels each time before you take your boat out.
1.1 Change the Oil Regularly
Outboard engines are just like any other motor and require regular oil changes to keep the engine running smoothly. It is always best to use high quality oil and check the manufacturer's recommendations for oil change intervals.
1.2 Use quality outboard motor oil
Using the correct quality oil for your outboard maintains performance and also extends its life.
Using quality oil it reduces friction, helps cool the engine and prevents buildup of harmful deposits. All this contributes to a long-lasting motor,
Marine-specific oils are designed especially for outboard motors and should be used as they offer better protection in the harsh conditions that outboard motors operate under. If you use the wrong oil for your outboard, it can lead to increased wear, tear and later possible high cost,
2 Use the correct Fuel-to-Oil Ratio
The correct fuel-to-oil ration is extremely important. Too much oil can lead to your spark plugs getting clogged leading to excessive smoke; Too little oil on the other hand can cause serious damage to your engine due to overheating. This correct ratio is especially applicable to you if you are using a 2-stroke outboard engine.
Consult the owners’ manual to check for the correct ratio to use when mixing your oil, and always measure it as precisely as you can. As an additional safety measure you must remember that you use high quality oil designed for two-stroke marine engines to help protect the motor and increase the overall lifespan.
3 Propeller Use and inspection
Having an efficient propeller is essential and a critical element of your outboard motor; it ensures it runs efficiently and does not get overloaded.
Over time, the propeller can become damaged and entangled by pieces of debris in the water. This will affect your outboard’s performance and thus the propeller should undergo regular inspections for any bends, nicks or obvious damage.
Propeller damage can cause abnormal vibrations, which in turn adds stress to the outboard, which in turn leads to damage in the long run.
By overloading the propeller you run the risk of overheating the motor , which immensely reduces the lifespan of the outboard.
For this reason it is best to periodically remove the propeller to check for any objects that may have been caught up, or gotten itself wrapped around, the shaft of the propeller.
If during this inspection you notice any major damage, it is best to replace the propeller as soon as possible to avoid further damage to the internal of the outboard and ensure longer lifespan.
4 Flush the Engine After Every Use
Corrosion is a bigger killer of outboard engines than the overuse of the engine, and is one of the biggest factors that can influence the lifespan of your motor.
The combination of salt water and dissimilar metals is one of the biggest factors that promote corrosion.
Saltwater is especially damaging if left to build-up inside the engine housing for extended periods.
Salt water combines with the heat of the engine and leaves salt residue and build-up of deposits in the cooling water passages. These cause damage to your engine if left to dry in place,
For this reason, flushing the engine after every use, especially after being out in salt water is vital to prevent the build-up of harmful corrosion and other residue buildup that clog the internal cooling system and cause damage.
Most modern outboards have a designated flush port that can be used to connect your water source and flush the internals of your outboard.
When flushing, let the water run for at least 15 minutes to properly rinse out all the salt deposits. Even if you run your outboard in fresh or brackish water, it is still good practice to flush your outboard after use, as mud, algae and other contaminants get left in the engines water passages.
Using a quick-connect flushing device such as the Flush-M, makes the process even simpler with a handy connection system for your hose to your motor’s flush-port.
Certain people even use the extra measure of an anti-salt solution while doing the flushing maintenance to make it even more effective and remove every last bit of the deposits.
By making flushing a routine task, and equipping yourself with a quick-connect flush port, you can extend your motors lifespan by protecting its internal parts.
5 Monitor the Fuel System and Quality of Fuel
Using quality fuel is one of the vital elements to extend the life of your outboard. Always use the correct octane-rating and never use old fuel that has been sitting or stored for a long time as this could possibly have become mixed with contaminants that will get into your outboard if run through.
If your motor is going to be sitting for an extended period of time, consider using a fuel stabilizer.
These stabilizers prevent the fuel from degrading and thus avoid build-up which can clog the fuel system during storage.
Fuel lines and connections must be inspected regularly to ensure they remain clean and clear of blockage.
6 Check The Water Pump Impeller
The water pump is the element that takes care of cooling the engine and avoiding overheating during use. This pump is responsible for circulating water through the engine to keep it cool while it is being used.
You should check the water pump at regular intervals as over time the pump can wear out and become damaged.
Recommendations are that you replace the impeller after every year or 100 hours of operation, whichever comes first.
Immediately replace it should it not be working correctly, as a damaged water pump can cause major engine damage and reduce motor lifespan if not attended to.
If you detect that your outboard is running hotter than usual, this could be a sign that the impeller needs replacing and should be taken care of immediately.
7 Greasing
Ensure that you make regular greasing of all moving parts such as the propeller shaft and tilt system part of your regular maintenance routine.
Depending on the make of your outboard, there will be several grease points located on various points of your outboard engine to make note of.
Near the engine mount there will be 2-3 jutting attachment points that need to be lubricated. They will in turn lubricate the up and down motion of the engine as well as side to side motion of the steering cable.
Be sure to use waterproof grease for this.
As an extra precaution you should also lubricate the other moving parts of the engine including the throttle linkage, cowling latch, and various pivot points.
8 Check the Spark Plugs
Regularly inspect the spark plugs of your outboard for any signs of wear or corrosion build-up, replacing them if necessary, ensuring your outboard performs smoothly. They are a vital component of your engine’s ignition system and can cause complications such as misfires and reduced performance if left unchecked.
Having proper maintained spark plugs prolongs the lifespan of your outboard significantly.
9 Monitor Engine Temperature
Keeping your engine cool at all times and accurately monitoring it is essential for the long lifespan of your outboard engine.
Avoid running the motor at high speeds for prolonged periods of time, immediately shut off your engine if you find it overheating.
10 Inspect the Lower Unit
Over a time of use, water can get into the lower unit of your outboard engine and start mixing with the oil and delicate components housed within, causing damage.
Regularly check the lower unit for signs of water that may have got in, as this should be kept dry. Should you detect any sign of this intrusion you must immediately replace the seals of the outboard.
A simple way to check for this is to check your oil for any milky appearance, which is a sign of water contamination.
11 Correct Storage
The correct storage of our outboard when it is not in use is vital to keep your engine in good working condition in the long term.
You want to store your motor in an upright position to prevent any water residue from running into the cylinders and causing corrosion. Store it in a cool, dry location and use an engine cover to protect from any debris and dust.
As an extra measure you can use a special marine storage oil that helps protect the internal parts of the outboard from rust.
12 Check the Battery
One of the vital components to starting your engine and powering the other accessories on board is a healthy battery.
Make it routine to inspect the battery terminals for corrosion on a regular basis, cleaning them if necessary, and ensure that the battery is always adequately charged.
If you do notice any signs of damage such as the battery struggling to hold its charge or a swollen battery casing, you should replace the battery before it fails unexpectedly.
13 Protect Your Motor With a Cover
A high quality motor cover is a great investment for your outboard motor and ensures that it is protected from the elements such as UV rays and rain as well as accumulating dirt and dust inside the motor’s components when not in use, all preventing corrosion and fading
This not only keeps your outboard looking good but extends the life, keeping it running like new for longer..
14 Read the manual
So many users fail at the first step of basic outboard maintenance and ensuring a long life, Reading their owners manual before operation.
All the information dealing with routine maintenance schedules as well as specifics about the manufacturers requirements in terms of oil and fuel you will need is in there, so don’t forget about this simple basic, it could be the one you need.
15 Get a Professional Service
Not everybody is a professional mechanic or comfortable performing maintenance and repairs on their outboard. For this reason it is often best to leave these matters to the professionals.
Having a qualified technician perform regular, scheduled, maintenance on your outboard will give you a fore warning of any potential future problems that may occur as well as keep your motor in the optimum running condition.
Now that you are armed with these 15 points to extend the life of your outboard, you can ensure that it lasts a long time and performs in the ideal condition for years to come, helping you avoid costly repairs or replacements and also ensure that you enjoy your time on the water worry-free.
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