January, 2009 | Outboard Motor Oil

Switching from Conventional to Synthetic

synthetic oil vs conventional oil

When switching from conventional oil to synthetic oil in your outboard motor, there is one central precaution of which to be aware: you can’t switch back. Synthetic oils, like the Evinrude XD100 oil, offer increased performance and are friendlier to the environment. However, synthetic oils also cost more than conventional mineral oil, and it’s important to note that the switch, if made, is permanent. The additives in synthetic oil replace all of those in conventional motor oil, but synthetic oil also contains different molecules. These molecules work to preserve the condition of your engine while synthetic oil is being used, but if mineral oil which doesn’t have these molecules is used after the engine has adapted to synthetic, the absence of the molecules can cause engine damage.

It’s important to make sure you can consistently use synthetic oil if you switch to it, otherwise, you risk permanent engine damage and ultimately, buying a new outboard motor.

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Removing Oil Stains in the Garage

garage stains

Storing your boat in the garage is a great way to keep it sheltered from the elements and in top condition. But now and then your outboard motor might leak and leave those unpleasant oil stains on the garage floor. Cleaning outboard oil stains is often a simple process that can be done with household cleaners, but older stains tend to require more effort. The best time to clean up an outboard oil stain is as soon as you recognize it; if you’re changing the oil in your outboard motor and you notice a few drips, clean them up with a damp cloth as soon as possible. The earlier you make an effort to clean up stains, the more likely they’ll be successfully removed. For older stains, you can use a solution of water and vinegar to remove them. When a stain just won’t come out, you should wipe it away as much as possible, and then pressure wash the surface.

It’s important to be aware of runoff from oil stains, no matter how small the stain is, even a small amount of oil can contaminate an enormous quantity of water. When pressure washing, be careful to wipe up as much of the oil as possible so that just the faint outline is left.

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Don’t Treat Your Boat Like a Car!

Don't Treat Your Boat Like a Car!

Marine engines are quite different from automobile engines, and because of this, require special care. Marine engines and outboard motors are asked to perform like automobiles never could; for example, when a boat plows through the wake of another boat or a wave, the engine strains to keep its RPM output consistent. We would never do something similar to this to an automobile engine, because it would breakdown fast. It’s important to take care of your marine engine or outboard motor through changing the oil often, and ensuring that you are using the proper Yamaha oil with specific additives to reduce condensation in the fuel tank and clean the injectors.

It’s important that you avoid using automobile oil and that you treat your marine engine our outboard motor like it should be treated. Because we expect so much more out of our boat than we do our car, it deserves a lot more than just the standard 3000 mile oil change.

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Water Cooled and Air Cooled Engines

Water Cooled and Air Cooled Engines

When it comes to two cycle engines, there are two distinct types and each type uses oil with some similar and some different additives. When comparing two cycle engines, an outboard motor is considered a water cooled engine, and is characterized by its constant and high speed. Fresh water is circulated throughout the engine to keep it cool, and heavy oil is necessary to prevent the pistons and cylinder walls from scuffing. With air cooled engines, like chainsaws, heavy base oils can cause engine deposits of ash and soot to form on the engine walls. These deposits can later cause serious problems including spark plug failure, loss of torque, and engine block damage.

When choosing two cycle oil, it’s important to know the correct gasoline/oil mixture, and also to use oil with additives intended to work with your two cycle engine. If necessary, a two cycle engine can use any two cycle oil for a short period of time without harmful side effects, but over time, the incorrect oil can cause damage to the engine.

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Outboard Motors for your Dinghy

Outboard Motors for your Dinghy

For times when there isn’t a dock present, it’s nice to have a dinghy to avoid swimming or wading to shore. Rowing out to your boat in your dinghy can be exhausting, and there’s nothing worse than having to row to shore after day of boating. Whether for leaving shore or heading into shore, it’s great to have an outboard motor for your dinghy. Though you will want an outboard motor sized to fit an inflatable craft, maintenance for smaller outboard motors doesn’t differ from your standard boat model. Evinrude outboard motors are great for smaller craft as they’re easy to maintain; you just need to check the Evinrude outboard oil levels every so often, and change the oil filter and spark plugs.

When using your dinghy, ensure your outboard motor is secured to the craft, and that it is submerged correctly in the water. If your dinghy happens to deflate a little, the outboard motor can change levels in the water.

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Simple Marine Engine Oil Changes

Simple Marine Engine Oil Changes

One of the simplest methods to change the oil in a marine engine is through use of a marine oil pump. Marine oil pumps are made by several different manufacturers, though often the most used are Evinrude oil pumps. Changing the oil on your marine engine or outboard motor is necessary task, but with a marine oil pump it can be accomplished in about 15 minutes. When using an oil pump, the pump attaches to the drain hose of your boat via a small connecter. The oil will drain for about 10 minutes or sometimes longer, and turning on your engine while the oil is draining can speed up the process. If you do turn on your engine, make sure to have a water supply feeding the impeller, and disconnect the propeller before turning on the boat.

Once the oil is drained, simple refill the engine with your choice of motor oil, check to ensure the proper amount of oil is inside, and you’ll be ready to go the next time you take your boat out on the open water.

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Buying Outboard Motor Products in Bulk

Buying Outboard Motor Products in Bulk

When it comes to purchasing outboard motor products in bulk, there are a number of options to explore to find the best deal. Perhaps the most common outboard motor product that is purchased in bulk is oil. You can often find deals on bulk motor oil at local marinas, boat repair shops, and smaller retailers. It’s often possible to negotiate with owners of smaller retailers, but of course larger retailers have prices that are set by corporate and thus any bulk motor oil prices aren’t negotiable. Those smaller retailers are also great for purchasing filters, parts, lubricant, and grease in bulk.

If you don’t live in a location near water, chances are there are few retailers who sell parts in your location. Under these circumstances, shopping online is a good idea, but it’s also a good idea to browse online to compare prices. You might even find bulk outboard motor products with better prices than in stores.

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Daily Outboard Maintenance

Daily Outboard Maintenance

Outboard motor owners should be aware of a few simple daily checks that will preserve the condition of your engine. First, it’s important to check the outboard motor oil levels in your engine before you intend to use it. Outboard motors can burn through oil much quicker than automobiles, so frequent checks are necessary. You should also ensure that you have adequate fuel for your trip, and more importantly, that your fuel tank vent is open. Check your propeller and ensure that nothing is tangled with it, even fishing line needs to be removed as this can cause serious problems later.

Lastly, make a smell check for potential fuel leaks and oil, and also if you tow your boat on a trailer, and run it in salt water, flush the cooling system with fresh water. Performing these simple checks will increase the longevity of your outboard motor and increase its overall performance too.

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Yamaha Launches Four-Stroke Oil Line

Yamaha Launches Four-Stroke Oil Line

Yamaha, the leading manufacturer of all kinds of sporting vehicles, recently announced its new line of four stroke oils. The Yamalube brand of oil, licensed by Yamaha, is a well recognized brand in the industry, and with the new line of Yamalube four stroke oils, the company has advanced into the twenty-first century. Yamaha’s Yamalube four stroke oil is designed to endure the stress and accelerated performance of four stroke engines. In addition, all of the Yamalube four stroke oils are JASO rated based on their application and enhance the performance of all Yamaha engines.

Whether you have an outboard motor with a four stroke engine, or a Yamaha motorcycle, Yamalube oil is the best formulated oil for all your needs. Yamalube contains special additives that work best with Yamaha engines, so for maximum performance, it’s important to use the best Yamalube four stroke oil!

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Common Ailments of Outboard Motors

Common Ailments of Outboard Motors

While there are a number of serious problems that can be attributed to a malfunctioning outboard motor, here are some of the common problems for when the motor appears to be running rough:

~Burnt Spark Plugs – spark plugs need to be replaced about once a year, and are easy for an owner to replace without professional help.

~Malfunctioning Carburetor – this often happens in older outboard motors, but isn’t uncommon in newer motors either. It’s best to consult a professional if you think a busted carburetor is what ails the engine.

~Dilapidated Oil Filter – it’s a good idea to replace your oil filter at least once per year, should you not, it can cause oil to turn to sludge and eventually seize your engine.

~Incorrect Gas Mixture – older two cycle outboard motors often require premixed gasoline and oil, thus it’s important to ensure you have the proper ratio of two cycle outboard oil to gasoline for the best performance.

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Synthetic or Conventional for Outboard Motors

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

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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