4 Fundamental Maintenance Practices For a 4 Stroke Outboard Motor

by Ranny Watson Blogger

The evolution of 4-stroke outboard engine has transformed the boating experience in many ways. It offers a long-lasting service only if taken care of in the right way. The maintenance practices are generally less intense since it doesn’t cause excess pollution or a messy mixture of oil and gas. To get the most of an outboard motor, here are 4 maintenance tips to consider.

Change fuel regularly

For many reasons, fuel is a huge problem in boating. Most anglers don’t know that gasoline degrades with time. what happens is that the level of octane deteriorates by about 2 levels if the fuel remains for months in the tank particularly during summer. This problem is very common with low-octane gasoline. Today, engines are designed to operate flawlessly on 87-octane but when the level reduces to 85 or 84, the boat may not run as intended.

Change thermostat and water pump annually

This maintenance practice is critical for the 5hp 4 stroke outboard motor as they operate at high temperatures and compression. The water impeller is very important and so must be serviced after every year. However, it depends on how frequently you use the boat.

Check the external and internal anodes

The anodes are vital for the life of an outboard motor since a 4-stroke engine runs at higher temperatures than a two-stroke model, it has higher chances of being corroded if the anodes are not serviced. This is especially true in areas of salty water.

Flush out the engine after saltwater use

This practice will improve the longevity of your outboard. A lot of engine failures are a result of corrosion which is a common phenomenon in saltwater areas. If your boat operates in muddy places, the mud can stick to the engine harden, and possibly break into pieces that would damage the engine.

If a 20 hp 4 stroke outboard gives maximum TLC, it can provide about four thousand hours of service or even more. Considering that an average boat provides 50 hours, these engines will indeed outlive you. But when we say that the engines are low-maintenance, it doesn’t mean that they should not be checked regularly like what most anglers fail to do. If not checked, they could have a catastrophic engine failure. Therefore, they need extra attention to keep them operating at their peak levels.

Follow these tips and you will be able to maintain your outboard motor for years to come.