Category: Engine Upkeep

The outboard motor is an ingenious invention. This compact motor is powered by gasoline, is cooled by the water around it and generates enough power to push a boat and the people on it. Water pumps on outboard motors suck in water, cool the motor and expel it. Because boats operate in the water, rust and other corrosion can occur. This is the primary reason why outboard motor makers suggest replacing the impeller of the water pump once a year.

Installing an outboard motor can be as simple as screwing down a few brackets or as involved as refitting the stern of a boat. Outboard motors provide invigorating power to boating. The average outboard motor installation process should not take more than a few hours.

Most of the lower unit of an outboard motor is nothing more than the mounting for the gear case. The gear case is the “business end” of the lower unit of the lower unit of an outboard motor and, when boaters talk about “changing out the lower unit,” they are actually talking about disconnecting the speedometer cable, removing the gear case, and replacing the old, worn gear case with a new or rebuilt gear case. This is also an ideal time to inspect the prop for nicks and bent blades.

Maintaining an inboard boat engine is much like keeping a car engine shining. Part of the maintenance process is cleaning the engine bay to remove grease and grime buildup. Keeping the engine clean makes it run cooler and extends the life of gaskets, hoses and parts that are susceptible to corrosion. Just like a car engine, cleaning an inboard boat engine takes time and hard work.

Keep this list near your boat to extend the life of your engine’s life span. Make boating more enjoyable.

The most expensive part of a boat is the engine. These tips are for boats three types of engines – inboards, sterndrives, and outboards.

Every time you pull a boat out of the water, you need to flush the engine as part of regular boat maintenance. This is especially important if you boat regularly in salt water because over time, salt water is very corrosive.

You have to check your boat engine oil regularly to maintain the vessel in running condition. You should check whether the oil is low while noting its quality. Use the following steps to learn how to check boat engine oil properly.

The temperatures are beginning to rise, and thoughts turn to … boating. It’s time to think about getting that boat out of mothballs and ready for summer fun. If your boat has been winterized or just stored during the off season, there are some things you should do to make sure all systems are operating [...]

Engine manufacturers typically recommend an oil change every 100 hours, and at least once a year. Even if your engine manual allows for a longer interval between oil changes, changing the oil more often will extend the life of the engine.