Maintaining the quality of your outboard is a breeze. Even if you’re not a mechanic, you can take preventive actions to keep your outboard in working order. Moreover, preventative boat motor maintenance can extend the life of your motor. Tender, Love, Care, and preventative outboard maintenance will aid in safe sailing. This will also help your motor run smoothly for years to come. This blog will walk you through the process of maintaining your outboard motor.
After Every Trip
Whenever you go out and operate your boat, your outboard gets exhausted. After every trip, knowing how to clean and maintain it can extend its lifespan. Below are tips for keeping your outboard after every outing.
1. After Each Outing, Flush the Engine
Remember to flush out the engine when you arrive home from an outing. Above all, remember to do this after every saltwater experience. This is also something you should do when going on a freshwater outing. If you have an older engine, you should get a set of flushing “earplugs.” For example, you can use two flexible rubber seals coupled with a metal clamp. You can connect one of the sides to a garden hose. On the other hand, the other side will be solid, and you can use it as a water intake plug. Place the apparatus on the lower unit, where the water is collected. Connect the earmuff to a garden hose after that. If the earmuffs do not cover any other water intakes, you can cover them with duct tape. Turn on the water by attaching a garden hose to the earmuffs or mount. This step is no longer necessary if you have a newer motor design. Earmuffs are no longer required on newer models because they already come with pre-installed mounts. Start the engine then. Then the water pump should flush the system out.
2. While Flushing the Engine, Make Sure the Water Pump Is Working Properly
Ensure the water pump has proper water flow when flushing out the motor. Place your finger through the stream of water exiting the engine with caution. Doing this should make you feel a warm sensation, not a scorching one. Some debris may be stuck in the outflow tube if the flow isn’t strong enough. If this is the case, be sure to turn off the engine right away. This will keep your outboard motor from overheating and causing damage. Insert a little piece of wire into the flow tube if it becomes clogged. Then, while the engine is off, work it back and forth. Restart the engine and check the water output after that. If those steps do not resolve the issue, you may require a new water pump impeller.
3. Disconnect the Gasoline Line After Cleansing the Engine
After flushing the engine, disconnect the fuel line if you can. Do this if you’re going to store the boat for an extended amount of time. It would help if you allowed the engine to burn the small amount of fuel in the carburetor. This is because old fuel can gum up the machine. Additionally, the best way to keep the motor running high is to burn off all the fuel remaining in the mechanism. Be advised when you own a two-stroke motor with more than one carburetor. The top carburetor will dry first while all cylinders will continue to run. Without gas, you can’t lubricate the top cylinder. Listen carefully because the engine may become louder when the top cylinder overheats. Another thing to watch out for is any burning smell that is unusual for your engine.
4. Ensure That the Key Is Turned off and Any Battery Switches
Make sure the key is not running. Moreover, if your car has a battery switch, turn it off. This ensures that all moving parts will stay in place during the cleaning process.
5. Check for Gasoline or Water Leaks by Removing the Engine Cover
Check for gasoline or water leaks by removing the engine hood. Water or other liquids should not be circulating freely in the engine compartment. Contact a boating mechanic if you discover leaks.
6. With an Anti-corrosive Spray, Wipe, and Splash All Accessible Mechanical Parts and Moving Components
Apply an anti-corrosive spray to all accessible mechanical components and moving parts. After that, wipe them clean to keep them clean. Lubricants like WD-40 or Quick-lube are some of the greatest choices. Ensure to lubricate or oil all moving parts, such as the pivots and shift mechanism. The throttle cables and carburetor valves are also necessary, so keep this in mind.
7. Reattach the Cowling Back to Its Fittings
Reattach the cowling to its fittings. After that, clean it up. Then, cover the entire engine with a plastic covering for the duration of storage.
For Outboard Maintenance
You want to make sure your outboard engine can last as long as needed. You must follow some care and maintenance guidelines to accomplish this. Additionally, There are crucial measures that can substantially impact the engine’s service life. Regular maintenance can, after all, significantly extend the life of your outboard motor. This is true regardless of whether you use it in fresh or saltwater.
1. Replace the Spark Plugs and Plug Your Wires
As needed, replace the spark plugs and plug wires. There are no fixed rules when it comes to changing your spark plugs. They will wear out faster if you use your boat regularly. This is also true if you do not properly maintain your engine. You may have a spark problem if your engine does not start properly. This is also true if your engine started burning a lot more fuel than usual. Unscrew your spark plugs from the engine to inspect them. Install your spark plugs on a spark tester after that. To replace them, disconnect the plug wires first. When you do this, they usually pop off. Then, using the appropriate size of a wrench, remove the plugs. You can screw the replacement plugs in place and snap the plug wires over their ends. The majority of individuals prefer to change the plugs and plug wires simultaneously. The lifespan of plug wires isn’t very long. It is preferable to do so at the same time as the plugs. The former approach is preferable to having them burn out while you’re on the water. Make a mental note of which plug wire goes with which plug. Most importantly, you must make sure to reattach them in the same order as before.
2. Regularly Check if There’s Water in the Fuel
You should inspect your fuel regularly to see if there is any water in it. The presence of water in an engine can significantly reduce its performance. Additionally, this can harm specific components, such as spark plugs. Ethanol is a typical alcohol fuel additive. However, it can act as a solvent. This can cause seals, gaskets, and hoses to break down. All of the aforementioned elements can help you drink more water. If at all feasible, avoid using ethanol-based fuel.
3. Make Sure to Inspect the Fuel Line Fittings
Examine the fuel line connections. Ensure that your gasoline line fittings are appropriately seated and do not leak. Fuel leaks in a cramped, steaming engine compartment are quite harmful. Fuel lines, which can rust over time, require special treatment.
4. Replace the Water Pump Impeller Every Two Years
Every two years, replace the impeller on the water pump. If you use it in saltwater, you should do this once a year. The impeller is a pump component that circulates water while preventing the motor from overheating. These, on the other hand, are prone to becoming clogged with muck over time. Thus, you should change them regularly. For most outboard motors, the operation is pretty basic and simple. Remove the impeller housing’s cover plate. Pull the cover plate off after loosening the screws. Remove the old impeller after that. Grasp the impeller by the blade with pliers and pull it away from the shaft. Remove any debris from the structure. Replace the impeller on the shaft and replace the cover plate with a new one.
5. Ensure That You Only Use Fresh Fuel for Your Outboard Motor
Make sure you’re using only new fuel. Grime and contaminants in fuels are particularly irritating to boat motors. Fuels break down into their component elements and become useless as they age. It’s critical to empty your fuel tanks and lines at the end of every boating season. Dispose of the gasoline and oils in an environmentally responsible manner. Take them to a local recycling center to be appropriately disposed of.
