Maintaining Your Outboard Motor
While many boat owners focus on maintaining the vessel and scrubbing down the hull, there’s more to boat maintenance than this. While caring for the deck and hull and other big-picture items is important, you don’t want to neglect what’s providing you with the power you need to soar across the water: the outboard motor. Outboard motor maintenance needs to be kept up diligently, which is why we have provided some tips for getting this done, so read on to learn more!
Regular Maintenance
There are certain maintenance checks you’ll want to keep up on on a regular basis. You’ll find many of these checks are similar to the kind you’d perform on your car or motorcycle. Just like a car and motorcycle, the first step is getting to the outboard motor. In the case of your boat, you’ll probably need to remove the cowling, or outer cover, that protects the outboard motor from water. When you first access the engine, start by looking for signs of leakage, particularly where the joints come together.
Check the battery (first by unplugging it) for signs of low charge or corrosion. Then check the spark plugs. They should be clean and oil-free. When you reinstall spark plugs, make sure they’re torqued to the manufacturer’s specifications.
The outboard motor oil needs to be changed regularly, or if you notice it’s dark and sludgy. If you notice metal shavings in the oil, you need to book an appointment with a professional. It’s important to note that boat engines burn through oil faster than car engines, but if it’s draining too quickly, you might have a leak. You’ll also want to check the air filter and the fuel line to ensure they’re clean and in good shape.
Following Each Trip
After each trip out on the water, you’ll want to rinse and flush the engine. No matter what kind of water you were in, it can corrode your outboard motor if you don’t properly ride it off this additional moisture. Once the boat is out of the water, leave it in neutral while it pumps out water. Unhook the fuel line to burn the last of the fuel, after clamping the fuel line, until the engine sputters dry.
Professional Outboard Motor Maintenance
No matter how skilled you are, part of good outboard motor care is to take it to a professional to get checked periodically. There are certain tools and expertise that you may not have in your garage that a pro would. These can help you identify problems before they get out of control.
If you’re looking for a service department you can trust, visit Boat Masters Marine and chat with our experienced technicians. You can also check out the outboard motors for sale at our location in Akron, Ohio. We are your local outboard motor dealer serving all those in Youngstown and Cleveland.