Boating | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 33

Two Stroke Oil Differences

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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Launching Your Boat

boat launch

When launching your boat, whether at a conventional boat launch or in a less trafficked location without a boat launch, there are a few precautions to take before you start boating. First you will want to check the boat motor oil and fuel levels to ensure you have enough of both. Second you will want to inspect your propeller whether you use an outboard motor or an internal. In case you have boated recently, also check the hull of your boat for invasive plant species, this is pertinent for lakes and contained bodies of water.

After you have launched your boat, a few handy items to have for boating include a boat hook, a rope to tie off at docks, and a small dingy or inflatable craft should there be an emergency.

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Save Money, Use Less Gas

boating-on-lake

Boating enthusiasts know that frequent summer outings to the lake can end up costing a hefty amount of money. Outboard motor oil and gas are two of the biggest expenses. One tip to save some money is to buy motor oil in bulk. Many brands, like Yamaha 2w oil, can be purchased by the case. Gas saving practices can also save money.Gas Saving Tips:

~Go through the storage compartments in your boat to eliminate extra baggage. Your boat motor burns more gas when your boat’s weighed down.

~Try only using your trolling motor when fishing. Eliminating the use of your primary motor conserves fuel.

~Keep the bottom of your boat clean. When your boat is stored for long periods of time algae grows in the hull. The drag created by the algae forces the engine to use more gas.

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Outboard Motors

outboard motor boat

I was thinking about buying a boat, but I didn’t really know where to start. I knew that I wanted something fast and spiffy. But I also wanted something that was mechanically sound. A friend of mine told me a priority in buying a boat is to make sure it has a good outboard motor. I had no idea what this meant.

After doing a little online research I realized that outboard motors are so important because they provide steering control for the boat. Outboard motors can be found on most all boats. Just like any motor, outboard motors need oil. It turns out my friend has always used evinrude outboard oil for his boat, so I decided that’s what I would use whenever I found my boat.

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Fashion penguins

penguins-sweaters

If you’ve ever seen a picture of a penguin running around in a hand-knitted sweater and thought it was just dog sweaters to the extreme, think again – these sweaters serve a legitimate purpose. Penguins are dressed in the brightly-colored sweaters after an oil spill to keep them from preening and to keep them warm.

The sweaters are knit from volunteers around the world, and placed on penguins that have been doused in the slick oil, so that they can’t ingest it when they preen themselves. Sweaters are also placed on the penguins that have had the oil cleaned and scrubbed off of them, because the detergents strip away the natural oils penguins produce to keep warm.

So next time you’re disposing of your boat motor oil, do it in a safe way. One quart may not equal an oil spill, but every little drop can be harmful to the environment.

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Don’t buy cheap oil

Yamaha oil

The better the oil you put in your motor, the better your boat is going to run. Look into high-quality Yamaha oil, which will keep your engine lubricated and running smoothly without any wear.

Yamaha oil will also keep you engine clean and safe for the environment, and extend the life of the engine at the same time. So, don’t just go for the sale price. Choose a quality product when it comes to shopping for oil.

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What’s the best oil for me?

Yamalube outboard motor oilWhen choosing what kind of oil to use in your outboard engine, it’s not always wise to go with whatever’s cheap. In order to keep your motor running smoothly and for quite some time, do a little research into what type of oil will best suit your boat. Don’t scrimp on oil, because it will just cause you problems later.

One type of recommended oil is Yamalube outboard motor oil. It’s a mineral oil that has anti-wear protection against piston wear and binding, which extends the life of the engine. It also promotes enhanced cleanliness of the engine components, anticorrosion and antirust components, leads to low levels of exhaust smoke, and has a low aquatic toxicity, among many other features.

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Preparing your outboard motor for winter

outboard motorAs autumn ushers in the cold weather that can be destructive to outboard motors, boat owners should think about the steps it takes to prepare their vessels for winter. The first step in getting an outboard motor ready for the winter is to remove all remaining gas from the carburetor – either by adding a gas stabilizer and running the engine until it dies, or draining and storing the gas for next season. Once the gas has been emptied, it’s safe to remove the motor and begin draining and refilling the lower gear unit.

Old gear lubricant should be drained from the lower gear unit and replaced with fresh lubricant to prevent rusting, freezing or breakage. The spark plugs should also be replaced when preparing an outboard motor for winter. Once they’ve been removed, an aerosol commercial fogger should be sprayed into the spark plug hole to prevent the piston and cylinder walls from corroding. After fogging the cylinder, rotate the engine flywheel to distribute the outboard motor oil on the cylinder walls, and finish with new spark plugs.

And even though the gas has been drained from the motor, the fuel filter should be removed and cleaned to drain any remaining trapped gas. If these preparative steps are taken every year, your motor should be running smoothly when spring rolls around.

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Coast Guard Contains Oil Leak off California Coast

marine engine oil

Coast Guard and California Department of Fish and Game officials responded to an emergency Monday morning that involved a leak of marine engine oil into Humboldt Bay, Calif., just inside of the Pacific Coast.

The leak came from a large wooden-hull boat tied to a dock in the town of Fields Landing. Coast Guard and Fish and Game officials were on the scene in roughly 30 minutes to contain the spillage, which involved the use of absorbent pads and a diver being sent down to patch up the source of the leak.

Officials said they had the situation under control and damage to the bay was kept at a minimum, though residents said they noticed a rainbow-colored sheen on the surface of the water. Authorities said the effects on the area’s wildlife were not clear. The name of the owner of the boat was not released.

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The Mercury Trailer Boat at Rest

The Mercury Trailer Boat at Rest

If your Mercury boat takes you into salt water, it is recommended that you park with the outdrive in the down position. This prevents barnacle formation on the bellows; if barnacles form, they can cut into the bellows and ultimately sink the boat. There have been many recent instances in the Midwest where beavers have eaten enough boat bellows to sink the craft and render it useless. If your Mercury outboard is stored in the sun with the outdrive down, it will also alleviate the effects of dry rot on the bellows.

Bellows should not have to be replaced more than once every five or six years, barring formation of a leak or hole. When performing preventative maintenance on the bellows, you may have more success with Mercury parts-they have a bellows kit-the Mercury shop manual, and/or Mercury’s Master-certified mechanics. There are special tools, a thread lock and a certain adhesive you will need for bellow replacement. Once all this is done and it’s time to go out on the water again, stock up on Mercury engine oil and happy boating!

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Outboard Motor

An outboard motor for boats is a development that is supposed to be a self-contained device that has an engine component, subsidiary systems and a propeller. It is designed to be mounted at the rear of the boat. The most common type of boat that you will find an outboard motor on is a smaller vessel, though there are outboard motors on sizeable sailboats to help propel them out of bays and through calm waters. As well as the ability to propel a boat, an outboard motor with the aid of outboard motor oil, is designed to help steer the vessel as well.

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How to Change Your Outboard Motor Oil and Filter, Part 1

How to Change Your Outboard Motor Oil and Filter, Part 1

With a four-stroke outboard motor, you will need to change the boat motor oil at frequent intervals. (A traditional two-stroke outboard motor doesn’t require engine oil because the oil and gasoline mix provides lubrication for the motor.) For a four-stroke outboard engine, it is generally recommended that the oil is changed once a year or every 100 hours of running time in fresh water, whichever comes sooner. For saltwater usage or if the four-stroke motor is run hard, the oil should be changed twice as often-for every 50 hours of running time and or twice a year if you are a frequent boater. A tip before you begin: have plenty of rags or absorbent pads ready to use during and after the oil change.

Pull the boat out of the water onto dry land and remove the engine cover (which usually is secured with one or two latches), setting it off to the side so that its surface does not become scratched. The top section of the outboard engine is called “the power head” and below it is the lower gearcase. Pull out the dip stick to assess the condition of the oil inside the crankcase. The drain plug is in the midsection of the outboard engine, and it will need to be loosened in order to drain the oil.

A table can be helpful to provide some leverage for the draining process. One technique is to turn the steering wheel so that the drain plug on the motor is facing inward, placing an oil pan on the table and under the drain plug to catch the existing oil. Back the drain plug out with the appropriate socket wrench, having a pan ready to catch the oil, because it will flow freely. Once all of the oil has drained, wipe up excess oil. Replace the drain plug, making sure it is secured.

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