Maintenance Monday - Oil Levels

It's "Maintenance Monday", and today we're talking about how to check the oil level in a four-stroke outboard engine. Checking the oil level in a four-stroke outboard should be part of the “pre-flight” routine of every outboard owner. But I’m guessing many outboard owners go an entire season without lifting the cowl, because our boats–like our road vehicles–are so reliable and maintenance-free these days that we don’t give much thought to oil and filters. I know that more outboard owners would check the oil level if the cowl was easier to remove. Lifting the lid on a big V6 can take muscle and agility, especially if the boat’s in the water. Another benefit of removing the cowl for a routine oil level check is that you’ll have a chance to examine the powerhead for other issues, such as a fuel leak, a blossom of corrosion, or loose battery connections. Consult your outboard owner’s manual (which I hope you’ve read, or at least saved somewhere) for the exact oil check routine for your motor, because each brand and model is a little different. For example, you’ll want to check Mercury FourStroke 115 oil level with the engine cool, but a Yamaha 115 should be at o

perating temperature before you check the oil. Pay special attention for instructions on how to read the dipstick. Add oil slowly though the fill until it reaches the recommended markings on the dipstick. Keep in mind that the motor’s orientation is also critical. If the boat is on a trailer, put a carpenter’s level on the anti-ventilation plate and adjust the trim until the plate is horizontal to the ground. Because a Yamaha outboard oil sump is cone-shaped, just a little angle to the motor magnifies the actual oil-level reading on the dipstick, which is why that cross-hatch on the dipstick is so wide – it’s designed to give you some leeway. Details like this will be explained in your outboard owner’s manual. If you'd like a no-obligation, no-cost consultation on maintenance on your boat's outboard motor, call us today at #MarinerServicesInc. at (239)776-4253!