Most outboard engines use 10W30 oil. A 2-stroke engine uses mixed lubrication oil that must be added to the gasoline. The tailpiece itself is supplied with tailpiece oil so that all rotating parts remain well lubricated. A Yamaha outboard motor (translated to Dutch: Yamaha buitenboordmotor) is a very powerful outboard engine which is a luxury nowadays.
Check the propeller regularly
Sometimes it can happen that you hit an object in the water while sailing. Usually you hardly notice this in a Dock boat. To avoid expensive repairs, it is important to check the propeller for damage. Has the propeller blade broken, damaged or bent? Always replace it. The propeller can become out of balance, causing the mechanism behind the propeller (the rotating parts) to wear into each other in the wrong way or even causing leakage, causing the tailpiece to fill up with water with all the consequences that entails.
Have a clean fuel tank!
Always make sure your motorcycle’s fuel tank is clean. Water and dirt are disastrous for the engine and petrol. It is best to replace old iron tanks with a plastic fuel tank. This will rule out rust on the inside of the tank. Are you planning not to sail for a long time and do you still have a lot of gasoline in the tank? Use a fuel stabilizer to preserve the fuel.
An outboard motor is easy to clean
To protect the paintwork of the tailpiece, we recommend cleaning it regularly. This prevents the tailpiece from becoming pale in color. Tip: Use BioClean or another powerful cleaning agent to remove dirt from the tailpiece.
How much oil does a 2-stroke engine need?
In most cases a 1:50 mixing ratio is sufficient for most 2-stroke outboard engines. The engine maintenance book also always indicates how much oil is needed. We are happy to advise you on the correct mixing ratio.
After how many hours of sailing is maintenance required?
If you sail on average between 25 and 40 hours, we recommend annual maintenance on your outboard motor. This keeps the repair costs low and the engine retains its value.
Always check the cooling radius of the outboard motor
The recognizable water jet behind your motorcycle. When you go sailing, it is extremely important to always check the cooling radius of your engine. The cooling jet is actually an optical means of control so that everyone can quickly see whether the engine is cooling itself. Tip: do you have the idea that the engine is cooling well but the control jet does not come out of the engine? For example, use a skewer to remove any dirt. In normal use, we recommend replacing the impeller (the paddle wheel that pumps the water to the motor) once every 2 to 3 years. The impeller is a relatively inexpensive part, but it is extremely important to replace it in time. The impeller is always replaced during a major overhaul. Fortunately, many modern engines have protection systems to prevent the engine from overheating.
Engine oil and tail oil, essential for your outboard
The cooling and lubrication of an engine are decisive for its service life. Good engine oil and tail oil is therefore important, but they also deteriorate as the oil ages. And if the engine is a bit older, water can get into the tail due to outdated or damaged seals. Once it starts to freeze, the tail bursts open.
4 extra tips for your outboard
1. Most 2-stroke outboard motors without oil injection need to be lubricated 1:50, but to be sure, always read the instruction booklet or request the mixing ratio from the company where you bought the boat.
2. There are outboard engines where the manufacturer prescribes a 1: 100 mixing ratio. This is more than sufficient lubrication for normal use, under ideal conditions, provided the correct high-quality prescribed oil is used. Problems arise if the engine is stored without preserving the engine with preservative oil or if the engine accidentally ends up under water, then the 1: 100 ratio turns out to be really poor. You can safely mix a 1: 100 motor at 1:50.
3. With 2-stroke engines, the oil provides lubrication for the entire internal engine block, and this oil is burned with the gasoline after use. The oil will build up carbon deposits on your piston, spark plug, injector and piston rings. As a result, your engine will run less smoothly in the long run, especially when sailing gently. Therefore, only use oil of very high quality. If you do a lot of slow speed (trolling fishing or boating where there is a speed limit), choose the very best oil available for your engine (Evinrude / Johnson XD50 or XD100, Quicksilver Premium Plus or DFI, Yamalube 2M oil).
If, despite the high-quality oil and gasoline, you still suffer from excessive carbon deposits in your engine, especially noticeable during long slow cruising, it is very important to regularly remove the carbon deposits by using Evinrude / Johnson Engine Tuner or Quicksilver PowerTune and with every refueling. Evinrude / Johnson Carbonguard or Quicksilver Quickleen (2).
