| It's hard being a boat engine! Unlike its automotive | | | | service. You should take care whenever you |
| cousins, a boat engine is run at extremely high | | | | complete a voyage to ensure that all electrical |
| RPM's and under quite a load when in operation | | | | components are turned off and, if you have a |
| and it sits in storage a whole lot of the time. It's | | | | main battery switch, be certain that it is turned |
| kind of the worst of both worlds. Today's marine | | | | off. Whenever the boat is stored for any |
| engines are very well made and unlike their | | | | prolonged period of time, the battery cables |
| predecessors, really experience very few | | | | should be disconnected. |
| mechanical problems if they are properly | | | | Lower Unit Lubrication - The lower part of your |
| maintained. | | | | outdrive or outboard engine is filled with a lubricant |
| Water Pump Maintenance - Most marine engines | | | | fluid that keeps all of the moving parts properly |
| are cooled by their pumping of lake or ocean | | | | lubricated and running smoothly. The reservoir |
| water into the engine from a pickup in the lower | | | | should never contain any water in the fluid. The |
| unit of the outdrive or outboard engine. This | | | | drive should be inspected at least annually to |
| water is circulated by a water pump that contains | | | | ensure that the drive is full of fluid and that no |
| a rubber or plastic impeller or fan which pulls the | | | | water is present. This is relatively simple and |
| water from the lake and pumps it up and through | | | | inexpensive to accomplish. |
| the water jacket of the engine to keep things | | | | Electronic Control Module - Most modern marine |
| cool. As you might expect, there are sometimes | | | | engines are controlled by a computer call an |
| impurities in the water or the operator | | | | 'Electronic Control Module' (ECM) which regulates |
| (somebody else, I'm sure) that runs the lower unit | | | | the flow of fuel and air as well as the timing of |
| aground and the impeller picks up sand, dirt or | | | | the ignition system. Another valuable function of |
| other grit. These foreign substances wear on the | | | | the ECM is that it stores operational data while |
| impeller and sometimes cause it to shred into | | | | the engine is running. Certified marine mechanics |
| pieces and fail. Also, if the engine is stored for a | | | | have digital diagnostic tools which can be |
| period of many months, sometimes the rubber of | | | | connected to the ECM to learn the running history |
| the impeller gets brittle and cracks up. In any | | | | of the engines as well as any problems. |
| event, it is simply a good idea to proactively | | | | Anodes On the underwater section of every |
| replace the impeller every 3-4 boating seasons. If | | | | outdrive and outboard engine, there are one or |
| the impeller fails while you are running and you fail | | | | more little metal attachments called 'anodes'. They |
| to notice the temperature rising, your engine can | | | | are usually made of zinc and are designed to |
| easily and quickly overheat and self destruct. | | | | attract stray electrolysis. This occurs when stray |
| Oil Change - Marine engines are typically not run | | | | voltage in the electric system of a boat is |
| more than 60-80 hours per year and, therefore, | | | | transmitted through the metal parts of the boat |
| do not require oil changes very frequently. Usually, | | | | in search of a ground. The anodes are designed |
| it is a good idea to change the oil (and filter) once | | | | to be sacrificial and to absorb the stray current |
| per year at the end of the season. If the old, | | | | and gradually deteriorate. This process is magnified |
| dirty oil is in the crankcase when the engine is | | | | in salt water. At least once a year, you should |
| stored in the off season, it can turn acid and | | | | check your anodes for decay and replace those |
| damage the internal engine components it is | | | | that appear to have decayed greatly. |
| supposed to protect. Of course, 2 stroke | | | | Replacement anodes are not tremendously |
| outboards have no crankcase and therefore no oil | | | | expensive and they serve to protect your boat |
| to change. On these applications, it certainly does | | | | from some serious decay of some very |
| pay to stabilize any fuel remaining in the tank and | | | | expensive metal marine parts. |
| to fog the engine with fogging oil before storage. | | | | If a marine engine is properly maintained, it should |
| Fuel Injectors - Most newer marine engines are | | | | give you many years of trouble free operation. It |
| fuel injected and, when fuel is permitted to age | | | | should be important to you to know a qualified |
| and thicken during storage, the fuel injectors can | | | | marine technician in your area. As with most |
| easily become clogged and may fail at the start | | | | things, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound |
| of the season. To avoid this occurrence, it is a | | | | of cure". Have a great cruise! |
| good idea to run some fuel injector cleaner mixed | | | | Don Seibert is a veteran of the U S Coast Guard |
| into the last tank of fuel before the engine is put | | | | and is a retired marina owner and boat dealer, His |
| up for storage. | | | | websiteMore Free Boating Articles, has many |
| Battery - If you take care of your boat's battery, | | | | more free articles related to recreational boating. |
| it will provide you with several years of good | | | | |