October, 2011 | Outboard Motor Oil - Part 2

Cleaning Up Oil Spills

Oil spills are par for the course when working on the engine of a boat, car, or truck. It is possible to get rid of these spills, even when the spill is on a concrete floor. Start by laying down a layer of kitty litter or sawdust over the spill. The kitty litter or sawdust will soak up any excess oil still on the floor.

Once the liquid has been soaked up, sweep the kitty litter or sawdust into a dustpan and dispose of properly. With soap dish and a nylon bristle brush, rub the stained area to loosen up the oil. Finally set a pressure washer on a narrow, focused stream of water to break up the oil even further. These few steps should get the oil stains out of a concrete floor, even if you have a large spill involving bulk motor oil.

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Benefits of Painting Bottom of Aluminum Boat

Aluminum that is exposed to air will oxidize, thus creating a protective coating. This is why few aluminum boats have visible paint. Below the surface is a different story.

Aluminum boats are painted below the water line for several reasons. First off, the paint slows down fouling and chemical corrosion. Second, for avid fishermen, a camouflage paint design gets rid of the tell-tale sign of aluminum which would otherwise dissuade prey. While out purchasing paint, don’t forget to pick up boat motor oil.

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Repairing Boat Carpet

At first, I was skeptical about adding carpeting to our family boat. After all, boats get wet and mold breeds in damp conditions; however, upon further research I did find plenty of stylish marine carpeting to choose from. The flooring addition definitely gave the boat a more elegant look.

Every now and then, the carpeting gets damaged from water or from everyday wear and tear. Rather than ripping out all of the carpet and starting anew, I use leftover carpeting from the original installation for repairs. I simply use a knife to remove the damaged section, and then fill the spot with new carpet – making sure to match the direction of the weave. While I’m working on repairs I usually send the boys out to run some errands, like picking up the best outboard motor oil.

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Repairing Damaged Boat Floor

As much as I love being out on the water, I don’t like it when the water comes into my boat. More often then not, water in the boat is caused by a damaged floor. Fortunately, a few simple steps are all that’s needed to restore a boat floor.

Start by sanding the damaged area with a 60 grit sandpaper, and then increase to 80 grit. Apply wood filler liberally to the sanded area. Once the filler has dried, sand the area until it is flush with the rest of the floor. Apply waterproof sealer and then varnish to finish the job. When you’re out purchasing floor repair supplies, take a moment to stock up on amalie oil.

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Two and Four Stroke Oil Formulas

Yesterday we tackled the reasons why 2 cycle and 4 cycle oils are not interchangeable. Today I will explain how the formulas differ. For starters, 4 cycle oil is specifically manufactured with additives, like viscosity index improvers, to inhibit oil consumption. In other words, the formula makes oil harder to burn.

On the other hand, 2 stroke oil is specifically formulated to burn away, leaving minimal residue on spark plugs, cylinders, and exhaust ports. Another aspect of the formula is to inhibit pre-ignition. The formula also protects against rink sticking and crankcase sludge.

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Common Question Answered

I am often asked, ‘is 2 cycle oil interchangeable with 4 cycle oil?’ The answer is a resounding NO! Two cycle and 4 cycle oils have different formulas for use in two distinctly different ways.

If you were to put 4 cycle oil in a 2 cycle engine deposits will build up. Deposits can gunk up and severely curtail the life of a two cycle engine. Likewise, 2 cycle oil is too thin to provide effective lubrication to 4 cycle engines.

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Nautical Theme Party

We spend most of the summer at the beach, so I wasn’t surprised when my eight year old asked for a nautical theme birthday party. (Okay, he actually asked for a pirate birthday party). We had a lot of fun picking out and creating different decorations, like treasure chests full of gold and eye patches for the kids to wear instead of party hats.

For the place cards, we folded paper boats. Each child’s name was written on the flag atop the main mast. The nautical/pirate theme was a great success. Perhaps when he’s old enough to know how to change the Yamalube oil, I’ll let him have a real boat party.

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Boat Safety

When my boys were old enough to get their boating license, I made them jump through all sorts of hoops before I would give my consent. First, they had to take a . I quizzed them on what they learned, especially Coast Guard recommended safety precautions.

I then had them promise me that life vests would be worn at all times. They assured me and went one step further by showing me where and how they looked up weather reports before each outing. The final step was to make sure they knew all about boat maintenance, including how to check and replace Yamalube 2W oil. Both of them met my expectations and were allowed to apply for their boating licenses.

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Mini-Ferry Links UW and South Lake Union

Out here in the Seattle area, ferries are quite common. It’s often much faster to commute via ferry than to drive all the way around Puget Sound to get to your destination. A new mini-ferry recently opened that runs between South Lake Union and the University of Washington, much to the delight of Husky fans.

For five dollars, commuters can get from one shore to the other in 22 minutes. This is ideal for UW employees who want to take a lunch break or run an errand on the opposite shore. It’s also ideal for football fans that are more likely to find parking further away from the stadium. I’m not sure what sort of motor Captain Matt Stark uses, but Yamalube 2W is usually among the best options.

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