Motor Oil | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 41

Offseason Snowmobile Care: Part Four

When your sled is left idle for a prolonged period of time, the fluid levels and charge in the battery to diminish. Before storing your sled for the spring and summer, remove the battery and put it in a safe, dark area悠 recommend putting it where you keep your outboard motor oil and other supplies. Throughout the offseason, charge the battery periodically and fill it with distilled water if the fluid level drops below the fill line.

Fill the carb intake, muffler, and cooling system openings to prevent small animals from crawling into and nesting in your sled. It is also important to loosen the track tension bolts as far as they will go. If the track is kept taut during the offseason stretching and cracking may occur. Tomorrow we will go over the last preparations and finish our series on snowmobile storage.

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How to Change Boat Motor Oil: Part Five

Now that the old oil has been exorcized from the engine and a new oil filter is in place, the only thing left to do is pour in the fresh oil. Each manufacturer will have their own specifications and recommendations for what type of oil to use in your craft, and it is a good idea to consult your owner’s manual before making a purchase. However, it is usually a safe bet to go with a premium product like Evinrude XD 100 oil.

Even if the filler opening is easily accessible, I recommend using a funnel and, if necessary, a hose to minimize spills and keep the process clean. It may seem like a lengthy process, but the time you put into changing your oil will be well worth it. Maintaining clean oil in your system will not only protect your boat and increase its longevity, but you will also notice a palpable improvement in its performance on the water.

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How to Change Boat Motor Oil: Part One

Changing the oil in your boat’s engine is virtually guaranteed to be a messy and time-consuming chore, but it is essential to ensure high performance. For most boats, the manufacturer recommends changing the oil every 100 hours, which few boat owners actually do. There are a few different options when it comes to changing your outboard motor oil, and over the next few days, we will go through these processes step-by-step.

The first and most common way to drain your oil is through the drain plug. Start by placing a disposable container—a foil pan works fine—underneath the engine to catch the used oil. If you have limited space, you can attach a hose to the drain plug and transfer the oil into any container of your choosing. The main downfall to utilizing the drain plug is that it is often difficult to access and space to catch the oil may be limited.

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Preseason Boat Maintenance: Part Four

For most of us, many of the components of the boat motor and inner workings of the craft are arcane and obscure. Even so, there are a few critical parts that every boater should check before the season, and if there is something that you are unsure of, be sure to take your craft to a qualified professional. Of course, the first aspect of the motor to inspect is the fuel line; make sure that the line is intact and that there are no signs of wear. Also check the fuel primer bulb and look for any loose fittings or leaks.

After you’ve inspected the fuel line, move to the tank and check for corrosion, rust and any leakage. Once the fuel tank and line are cleared, make sure that the battery holds a charge and has the proper fuel levels. Finally, change your Evinrude XD 100 and top off the other essential fluids, such as coolant.

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Preseason Boat Maintenance: Part Three

One of the paramount tasks in any preseason maintenance routine is a thorough eye-inspection; it doesn’t matter if your outboard motor oil is topped off and your battery is charged if there is damage to the body. Many people assume that damage to their boat is due to weathering stormy conditions and blasting through choppy water. In fact, many of the repairs that you have to perform will be a result of mooring.

As such, it is important to check the hull of the ship and areas that have a propensity of contacting the dock. It is also advisable to double-check your lines when you tie up your ship to ensure there is minimal slack, which will prevent damage in the future. During this basic inspection, also check for any loose fittings and other parts that may have worn down during last season.

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Preseason Boat Maintenance: Part One

Although it will be several weeks or months—depending on where you live—until boat season is in full swing, it is never to early to start tuning up your craft and preparing for some fun on the water. Personally, I like to go through my checklists and make any necessary repairs well before I take out my boat. This is ensures that I don’t lose valuable time on the water to mundane maintenance.

Over the next few days, we’ll review all of the key components and systems you should insect prior using your boat—from changing the outboard motor oil to inspecting the motor for damage. One of the most important aspects to boat care, and one which is often overlooked, is the necessity of keeping your boat clean. Maintaining a clean craft and applying a good coat of wax will help minimize the damage that is inflicted during normal use.

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ATV Troubleshooting: Choosing Your Oil

Since this blog is dedicated to outboard motor oil, we couldn’t do a series on ATV Troubleshooting without touching on the subject. ATVs are available with two or four-stroke motors, and the type of engine you have will dictate the oil that you should use. In a four-stroke, the oil and gas are separate and the engine is air-cooled. The oil you choose will depend in large part on the weather conditions you are planning to face.

In hotter temperatures, go with a heavier oil, which will provide more protection against the heat. For colder climates, a lighter oil is needed to maintain its viscosity. If you are operating a two-stroke ATV, you can either mix motor oil with your fuel or use a special fluid that your manufacturer has developed. No matter what type of oil or lubricant you put into your ATV, always opt for a quality product; cheap oil may look attractive, but when your engine seizes up, you’ll pay the price.

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ATV Troubleshooting

In this blog, we cover many of the basic maintenance procedures for ATVs and other similar vehicles. However, we sometimes glaze over some of the most fundamental questions that ATV owners raise. Over the next few days, we’ll be answering some of the most frequently asked questions pertaining to basic maintenance and upkeep of ATVs—from what outboard motor oil to use, to the basics of the crankshaft.

Today we’ll start by reviewing one of the most commonly neglected components of the vehicle, the air filter. A dirty air filter will not adequately capture dirt, meaning that gunk and particles will be able to reach your engine. It is crucial to clean the air filter on a regular basis, especially for those with an open-air box. You can clean your air filter without necessarily having to replace it with a new one; doing this routinely will help extend its life.

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Jetting Your Carburetor: Part Three

Just as the main jet controls the flow of fuel and bulk motor oil when the throttle is open, the needle and needle jet take over when the throttle is anywhere from one-eighth to three-quarters open. Since your engine is operating in this range the majority of the time, this carb circuit generally gets the most use. When making adjustments, the needle itself rarely needs any tuning.

As the throttle opens, the needle is pulled up. This allows an increased flow of fuel and oil. If need be, you can make minor adjustments using the clip that is on the needle; raising the clip will make the mixture leaner, and vice-versa. Tomorrow we will go over the final circuit of the carburetor, the pilot jet and pilot screw.

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Jetting Your Carburetor: Part One

Changing your outboard motor oil and doing other routine maintenance is important, but if you want to get the most out of your vehicle, you are going to have to do more than just routine maintenance. One of the most important components of your engine, with regards to the smoothness and efficiency of your ride, is the carburetor. The carb controls the ratio of fuel and air mixture that your engine uses. Finding the proper balance of these two variables will give your machine optimal power and reduce its emissions. The next few days we will be going over how to jet the carburetor on your ATV.

Before we begin, it is important to understand that there are three main carb circuits, each of which controls a range of throttle positions. The main jet is used when the throttle is three-quarters to fully open. When the throttle is open one-eighth to three-quarters, the needle jet is used, and for the final positions, the pilot jet and screw come into play. Tomorrow we will go into more detail with these carb circuits and begin discussing how to jet the carb.

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Anticipating Boat Season

It will still be several weeks until the weather is warm enough to pull my boat out of storage, but I am already planning my summer trips. Each year every member of my family gets to choose a nearby body of water where we go stay for a long three-day weekend. My wife and kids always rotate the destinations they select, but for the last ten years, my choice has always been Lake Chelan.

Although the lake has become decidedly more crowded in recent years, there are still areas you can retreat to where there are no other boats in sight. After drawing straws, it was determined that I would get to pick the first spot we went. I am already anticipating the trip and have even changed the outboard motor oil and done the rest of my preseason checks.

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How to Choose Your Outboard Motor Oil: Other Factors

In addition to viscosity, flash point and pour point, there are a few other specifications that will help you decide whether Evinrude XD100, Yamalube or some other oil is right for you. When oil reacts with sulfuric acid and burned, there is always some amount of solid residue.  The amount of this solid material that is leftover is referred to as the percentage of sulfated ash.

In oils, zinc is used to prevent damage that would be incurred when two metal parts come in contact with one another. The amount of zinc that is used is reported as the percentage of zinc, which is typically about 0.1%. While these specs will give you a good idea of how the oil will perform, you should also consider the base stock and additives that the manufacturer uses in production.

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