Tips for Outboard Motor Maintenance to Enhance Effectiveness

4 Best Outboard Motor Maintenance Tips

You should take care of your boat as well as and as often as you take care of your car.

The outboard engine included!

You would never go in for a car maintenance appointment and say, “but don’t worry about the engine, just the car body.” Right? The same is true for your boat!

For both DIY and professional outboard motor maintenance tips, check out our guide below.

 

First, Know the Parts of Your Motor

When you bought a boat or found that outboard motor for sale, you probably had to learn the ins and outs of what an outboard motor was, or at least, that it has a specific name.

While it’s great that you learned all of those specifications when you bought the boat, you need to know some things about owning an outboard, as well.

Part of what you need to know includes the anatomy of your Outboard. Just like you need to know the general anatomy of your boat or your car – so you can find parts and address problems when things go wrong.

So, let’s start from the top down. This guide is more general, and some motors will have additional parts/features.

 

The Power Head

The part of the Outboard that’s most visible from your boat, or is located above the water, is called the powerhead. It’s the biggest part of the motor and is usually where the manufacturer will put their brand logo.

Inside the powerhead is the internal combustion engine, which generally a two-stroke or a four-stroke.

The powerhead is often called the cowl, which is the name for the covering large plastic piece.

If you don’t know whether you have a two-stroke or a four-stroke engine, look at the paperwork that your boat came with, if you bought it with the motor, or call your dealer.

 

Tiller

Your tiller is what you use to steer your boat, depending on whether your engine has one or not. It’s a rod that tells the propeller what direction to go in.

 

The Midsection

In the midsection, you have the exhaust housing. It’s where you have water and air intake and the different pumps that go with it.

 

The Lower Unit

Under the midsection, where the engine starts to jut back out again, is the lower unit. It consists of the propeller, the water intake, and the skeg.

There are additional internal parts, but the above is what the average boat owner needs to know.

 

Outboard Motor Maintenance Tips

The best way to maintain your outboard motor is to have it serviced regularly by a trustworthy and authorized dealer.

However, there are some things you can do yourself, which we’ve listed for you below.

 

Tip 1: Engine Flushing is Mandatory

You should flush your engine every single time you use it. Yes, every single time.

Flushing your engine means sending fresh water through your engine every time it comes out of the water. This should be fresh water from the dock or marina that you could technically (but still shouldn’t) drink.

Most people think you only have to flush your motor if you take your boat in saltwater, but that’s not true. While flushing away salt particles is essential, there are contaminants in freshwater that can do long-term damage to your engine, as well.

 

Tips for Engine Flushing

When you’re flushing your engine, look at what you’re doing. Does it have good water flow through the pump? You shouldn’t put your hands near any working, moving parts, but you should be able to eye-check this one.

When it’s safe, check the outcoming stream of water from your engine. It should be warm, not hot. The warmth comes from the processing of the engine (just like how your car engine warms up the fluids in your car), but it shouldn’t be hot.

If it’s hot, then your engine is working too hard to flush the water through, and you should get the engine to a mechanic.

Finally, look at the output of the water you’re flushing. It should be strong. Maybe not as strong as when you’re out on the water, but it should look normal given the amount of water the motor is taking in.

If you don’t see sufficient output, turn your motor off and wait a few minutes. Then, take a small piece of wire into the flow tube and circle it around – to make sure there are no blockages.

If there’s a blockage, call a mechanic and ask them what to do.

 

2. Don’t Leave Fuel in the Tank

Have you ever wondered why you see boats docked with their motors still on, not going anywhere?

If the people on the boat seem like they’re packing up and getting ready to leave, they’re not wasteful. It’s bad for your engine to leave Fuel in it when it’s not in use.

Allowing your boat to burn off any excess fuel will keep your carburetor and motor safe while it’s in storage.

 

3. Check the Fuel Line

Every time you fill your fuel tank, you need to take a look at the fuel line. Over time and with exposure to the elements, it’s not uncommon for fuel lines to get cracks or overly worn spots.

Not only will a damaged fuel line over-use fuel and drain your tank/bank account, but it’s also dangerous.

If you ever see any fuel pooling or leaking from the line, get back to shore as soon as possible and turn off the engine.

 

4. Cover the Engine When You Store Your Boat, Too

We see a lot of people who cover their boat with a tarp but leave the Outboard exposed to the elements.

It’s just as sensitive as the rest of your boat to weather conditions and should be covered as well.

Talk to your boat dealer about custom outboard covers or cut a tarp to the right size, if you need a DIY solution.

 

Give Our Service Centre a Call

The final and best tip we have for outboard motor maintenance is to get your boat checked out and tuned up by a professional regularly.

It should, at the very least, come to us for the beginning of the season and an end of the season check, if not for a tune-up in the middle.

Our service centre has everything you need, from expert service to an extensive parts and accessories catalogue.

Schedule an appointment online today!