Maintaining Your Outboard Motor

Outboard motors are a great way to get your boat speeding along, but only if you take good care of them. Maintaining these complicated pieces of hardware is easier than you think, though. We here at Club Royale know that might be hard to believe, so we’ve put together some general outboard maintenance tips below. To learn more, or to see the outboard motors we have for sale, contact our store in Waterford, Michigan, today!

The Owner’s Manual

With any big maintenance task, your first resource should always be your machine’s owner’s manual. We have plenty of good general advice, but your manual was written for your outboard motor in particular. It will contain manufacturer recommendations for products to use or avoid, maintenance schedules and logs, and other important advice. If you can’t find your owner’s manual, go to the manufacturer’s website for a version that you can download or print for yourself.

Regular Maintenance

Whenever you’re going about maintenance tasks for your boat, make room in your schedule to care for the outboard motor, as well. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, after all. 

First, remove the cowling or outer cover that protects the inner mechanisms from the water. Check for any signs of leakage or excessive wear and tear. Next, examine the spark plugs to ensure they’re both clean and intact. You’ll probably want to replace them about once every year, though your owner’s manual may say otherwise. Again, listen to the manual above us. 

Oil

The oil in your outboard motor can seriously impact how the motor performs in general. Unless your owner’s manual says otherwise, you should change the oil every three months or after every 20 hours of use, whichever comes first. You should also check the oil’s condition regularly. If it’s dark, speckled, or sludgy, it needs immediate replacement and you may need to check the filter as well.

When To Ask For Help

There are plenty of tasks you can handle on your own when it comes to outboard motor maintenance, but trying to tackle things more complex than you’re used to can actually cause damage. If you’re uncertain about a specific task or test, don’t hesitate to call our service department here at Club Royale. Our expert technicians and maintenance specialists will be happy to take a look for you and get your motor up to spec.

We hope this guide helps you get started on your outboard motor maintenance! For more information, or to see the outboard motors we have for sale, contact us at Club Royale. We proudly serve the people of Waterford and Rochester, Michigan—let us serve you today!