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Home>The Model Range>Care instructions>Outboard engine
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For outboard engines, proper servicing prior to out-of-season storage and appropriate winterisation are of key importance, because in many cases the value of the outboard is as high as that of the boat. Thorough familiarisation with the outboard’s maintenance is a good way to facilitate and ensure engine durability, operating reliability and user safety.
Technological advances have brought in complex advanced electronics into outboard engines, but on the other hand made maintenance easier. Because there are many different models and technical solutions, you should read the owner’s manual to learn the specifics about your engine.
The manual will tell you what kind of maintenance your outboard requires and how often, and how to properly service the engine prior to out-of-season storage. However, the following are most important general instructions to refresh your memory.
NOTE! We recommend you turn to an authorised service shop and have them service your outboard prior to out-of-season storage. If you, however, decide to service the outboard yourself, the responsibility will lie with you.
Basic instructions for servicing two-stroke and four-stroke outboards prior to out-of-season storage:
Remove the sacrificial anodes, clean them with a brass brush, and replace any corroded ones. The purpose of the anodes is to protect the engine against corrosion. For proper placement of anodes, please consult the manual.
Open and clean the thermostat. The thermostat controls cooling water flow. A stuck thermostat can result in engine breakdown.
Remove salt and dirt by flushing the cooling system with fresh water. Please consult the owner’s manual for more specific instructions.
Change the gear oil. Open both the bottom plug (drain/supply plug) and the top plug and drain the oil. The supply oil is pressed into the gearbox via the drain plug from an oil tube or a propellant gas bottle, for example.
Check the drained oil for any water or metal particles. If either is present, the engine needs to be taken to an authorised service shop to be sealed and repaired.
Remove the propeller and apply water-resistant grease to the propeller shaft.
Check the owner’s manual for parts that require lubricating and follow the instructions given. Lubricate the boat steering cable with water-resistant grease to prevent corrosion. Lubricate the gear shifter cable with water-resistant grease.
Check the condition of the timing belt. The timing belt is normally replaced every 5 years or 1,000 hours, and it is strongly recommended that an authorised service shop make the replacement.
Drain old fuel from the engine fuel tank and replace the fuel filter.
Winterise the fuel lines by filling in a storage mixture. Note! Normal fuel may not remain usable over the winter.
Check the operation of the boat’s main power switch.
NOTE! We strongly recommend you turn to an authorised service shop for carburettor and valve tune-ups. Competence and experience is required for their proper adjustment.
2-stroke engines:
Winterise the 2-stroke engine by feeding in fogging oil, a rust preventive lubricant. Feed the fogging oil through the throttle body until the engine stops. Please consult the owner’s manual for more detailed instructions.
4-stroke engines:
Change the engine oil already before placing the engine in out-of-season storage. Allow the engine to run for a while so that the oil becomes more fluid, and then drain the oil. Pour in a proper quantity of new oil as specified in the owner’s manual. Then check the dipstick to ensure the correct quantity. € Replace the oil filter.
Spring maintenance:
If servicing prior to out-of-season storage has been done properly, all you have to do in the spring is to burn off the fogging oil (applies to 2-strokes) and check that the propeller, spark plugs, hoses etc. are in place and properly connected.
Outboard engine winterisation
Store the outboard engine in a dry ventilated space IN UPRIGHT POSITION. The engine can be left in the boat under a storage cover, but it should not be tilted to allow any water to drain out.
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