Protect Your Outboard Engine Investment

Few things can stop an outboard engine dead in its tracks quicker than lubrication failure. Annual servicing by a qualified dealer includes changing engine crankcase oil and oil filter; the general rule for service interval is every hundred hours of operation, not to exceed two years.

The accompanying photo shows a rusted/leaking oil filter cannister from a low-hour engine, within the recommended service interval. The cause of the rusting was a very slight leak from a cooling water fitting, located above the filter. Luckily the owner discovered the oil leak before the engine was damaged.  

The take-away here is to never assume all is well under the engine cowling…remove it regularly and perform thorough visual inspections.

Another situation that arises in certain Yamaha outboards occurs when the fibrous drive gear on the engine balancer and/or its drive belt has worn to the point where debris accumulates in the oil sump and clogs the oil pickup, (see photo), which can result in damage or complete seizure of the rotating assembly. During regular annual service the technician opens the inspection ports to inspect for this condition.  

The annual service by qualified technicians is designed to avoid major failures and there’s definitely more to it than meets the eye.   

Have a safe and fun spring season!

Chris Mapp

Coastal Bend Marine – Port O’Connor, TX
Coastalbendmarine.com – 361-983-4841