3 Tips to Maintain Your Outboard

Use fuel additives

Anytime you fill your tank with a fuel containing ethanol, be sure to use a fuel additive. Ethanol deteriorates at a quicker rate than regular gasoline, which can lead to problems if it’s left untreated. Additionally, if you don’t plan to use all the fuel in your boat within the span of a few weeks, it’s a good idea to add a fuel stabilizer, which prevents “phase separation,” in which water contaminates your fuel. Don’t forget: 10-percent ethanol is the highest mix approved for use in an outboard, so never use E15.

Flush your outboard

After every use, flush your outboard with fresh water, even if you’re only boating in fresh lakes and rivers. Flushing for 10 minutes using your average garden hose will clear the outboard of particulate matter, mineral deposits, and other contaminants to keep your engine’s cooling system clean and reduce the risk of corrosion. Watch Mercury’s Flushing an Outboard Motor video for an easy how-to.

Take the manufacturer’s recommendations

Your owner’s manual contains recommendations from the manufacturer on how to best care for your outboard engines. It’ll recommend how often to have the powerhead and lower unit oils, filters, and spark plugs changed and inspected. It’ll also provide guidance on when the water pump impeller should be inspected or replaced.

Your local dealership can handle these jobs quickly and efficiently, but it’s up to you to stay on schedule. While maintenance needs vary depending on your Lowe boat, the general rule is to bring it in for service every year or every 100 hours, whichever comes first. The average boater puts about 50 to 75 hours of operation in annually, which means scheduling a yearly maintenance service is the best bet.

Keeping these three major tips in mind can help you keep your outboard in great shape for a long time. If you make sure to cover the outboard to protect it against the elements and care for it by washing and waxing it on a regular basis, you’ll ensure years of exploring your waterways and finding the big catch on your Lowe boat.