Taking Care of your Marine Outboard Engine is a very important step into a satisfied boating experience. The way a marine engine is used is often compared to that of a car engine but both engines are used under a completely different load. This will cause individual components in the marine engine to wear down much faster. A tipical outboard engine has a certain amount of hours used being in a safe zone and when exceeded the engine runs literally in a borrowed time. The amount of hours used can differ tremendously per used vessel and thus shall the engine be taken care for accordingly. In the carribean we are able to boat all year around and this requires a different care from countries where outboards have to be winterized. Taking care of your motor and using only high quality parts and lubricants in companion with a engine diagnostic “health check” will convert a sometimes headache into a carefree boating experience. We follow your engines service manual for the exact maintenance procedure and replace parts and lubricants as mentioned. In General there’s a difference between 2 stroke and 4 stroke engines but basically the following steps are performed during maintenance.
• Visual outside check of engine for impacts and/or damaged areas
• Visual “Under the hood” inspection Check for corrosion, loose bolts,
internal zincs or anodes and other damaged or malfunctioning parts.
• Change engine oil if 4 stroke
• Check amount 2 stroke oil if 2 stroke
• Change oil filter(s) if 4 stroke
• Change internal fuel filter(s) and check fuel lines and connections
• Change thermostat(s)
• Perform cylinder pressure test for each cylinder
• Perform ignition coil spark plug test for each coil
• Check marine engines tilt system fluids if present
• Check hydraulic steering system fluids if present
• Change spark plugs
• Change external fuel/water filer
• Check external fuel lines and connections
• Check fuel tank conditions and connections if reachable.
• Check anodes and change when necessary (Cost of anodes not included in program)
• Grease all steering and swivel shaft grease nipples with exact required lubricants
• Inspect and Remove the propeller.
• Check prop shaft splines for damage and remove any fishing line or other material
if it’s wounded around the prop shaft and check prop shaft-bearing for leakages
• Remove lower unit and inspect the drive shaft splines/gearbox connection and visually
inspect for any anomalies like extreme corrosion on drive shaft.
• Perform lower unit service including;
◦ Change water pump/impeller using maintenance kit for engine
◦ Change gearbox oil
◦ Perform gearbox pressure test
◦ Lubricate/clean required lower unit parts
◦ Change all lower unit parts where described in manual.
• Install serviced lower unit back to marine engine
• Inspect gearbox for proper working
• Reinstall Propeller
Test run engine in the water. Look if water pump is working, check if fuel/oil pump is working in 2 stroke engines and look/listen for further anomalies if any. Perform a full computer scan and create a Main Engine Diagnostic Tool Report. Contact owner if anything measured or observed need further repair or replacement outside the scope of the Maintenance Program.
Make a test run with the vessel and owner to assure proper working of serviced marine engine.
If any of the performed checks or inspections require further action not mentioned in the service manual or here above the vessel’s owner will be notified and appropriate action should be taken according the outcome of the check, scan or inspection to assure the safe operation of the marine engine.
The owner has the right to ask for a second opinion and the right of selecting the marine of choice for eventual repairs if this would be necessary. After the marine engine is brought within acceptable specifications the maintenance contract can continue. If owner fails to bring engine into specifications this contract will be terminated immediately. We only service and maintain marine engines that are up to serviceable standards as mentioned in the service manual and measured by full computer and manual scans and terms as mentioned in terms and conditions.
From the Silver Contract a free bi-monthly computer scan will be provided to address any forthcoming issue. If needed this contract will provide in a test ride of the vessel together with the owner to inspect/check certain issues at no additional charge. At special request owner can ask this program to run a test on the marine engine without the owner being present. We never test ride vessels without the owner or representative present.
Common further action is usually found in things like; battery overdue and need replacement, bilge pumps not working according specifications or hose damage, external Water/fuel filter brackets and fittings and hoses need to be replaced because of normal wear and tear, proper follow up action if cylinder pressure test is inconsistent with required standards or coils not firing properly, proper action if gearbox pressure test is not within specifications, any observable impact damage on propeller, prop shaft splines or lower unit, malfunctioning starter motors or pinion/bendix, frozen flywheel, in- or external anodes or zincs need replacement, Thomson belt damage from wear and tear, hydraulic steering system corrective action, Manual cable steering system or cables from throttle/gear worn out and need replacement, injector cleaning or replacement, tilt system malfunction, carburetor alignment or cleaning and any other action that is mentioned by the scanner program in the marine engine check report that needs to be addressed.