Maintenance Schedule

Choosing quality maintenance products will only get you so far. For optimal performance and long engine life, you have to use those products consistently and follow the recommended maintenance schedule in your Yamaha Owner's Manual.

We'll help you stay on top of outboard maintenance with:

Service interval reminders. Yamaha lets you know when it's time to service your outboard.

Engine hour meter. Easy to install, Yamaha engine hour meters track engine operating hours, so you know the minute it's time for maintenance. Our Command Link^® or Command Link^® Plus gauges even feature built-in reminders, eliminating an extra gauge.

Color-coded maintenance and care products. Yamalube Lubricants, Quality Care, Maintenance, Fuel Additives and Adhesives are all color-coded by category for easy selection.

Care & Maintenance Products

Why choose Genuine Yamaha components and Yamalube^® care & maintenance products?

Performance. The same engineers who design Yamaha outboards consult in the development of each component and care product. As a result, nothing will protect your outboard or enhance its performance quite like Yamaha and Yamalube^® products.

Reliability. Genuine Yamaha components and care products are engineered specifically for your Yamaha outboard, and are manufactured to Yamaha's exacting standards for quality. They'll work, fit and wear better, and have been proven to provide the ultimate in performance and reliability.

Protection. Yamalube^® oils and care and maintenance products are formulated using proprietary specifications, to provide the advanced protection your Yamaha demands.

Peace of Mind. Never wonder if your Yamaha outboard is properly maintained or protected. Choose Genuine Yamaha components, made to fit it perfectly and Yamalube care and maintenance products, formulated to protect it properly.

Oil & Filters

Yamalube^® marine oils are formulated and tested by many of the same engineers who design Yamaha outboards. These oils are "built around" the operating characteristics of our outboards, and feature a proprietary blend of anti-wear additives, shear-stable polymers, corrosion inhibitors, detergents, dispersants and viscosity index improvers.

No other oil will protect your Yamaha outboard's advanced engineering, enhance its performance, improve its efficiency or extend its life quite like Yamalube. But don't take our word for it.

The National Marine Manufacturer's Association (NMMA^®) has either FC-W^® or TC-W3^® certified each of our Yamalube marine formulas. Oils that earn NMMA certification have passed rigorous testing, and have been proven to provide the performance and protection demanded by today's advanced outboard technology. They stand up to extended full-throttle operation, high loads and the salt and moisture-rich air found in a harsh marine environment.

Yamalube and Genuine Yamaha oil filters—a dynamic duo. Genuine Yamaha oil filters are manufactured to Yamaha's exacting standards for protection and performance. They're also engineered specifically to work with Yamaha outboards. That means they'll work, wear and fit better.

Ratio Rite^® Yamaha two stroke outboards 25hp and down require a 100:1 pre-mix of gasoline and oil. Get the measurement just right with our Ratio Rite.

Fuel & Fuel System

Regular maintenance is necessary to help keep your fuel system in peak condition. From hoses and connections to proper filtration and the use of fuel additives, time spent maintaining your fuel system will pay off.

Check on-engine filtration. Yamaha outboards have a system of fuel filters built into the engine. Know the location of these filters and clean or replace them at the recommended intervals.

Use Yamaha 10-micron filters. They provide an added layer of defense, filtering out debris and separating water from fuel ahead of on-engine filtration.

Lower Unit

Your outboard's lower unit is vital to its overall performance. Simple maintenance procedures, regularly performed, will mean hours of trouble-free enjoyment and increased value.

Regularly inspect the lower unit following these steps:

• Remove the prop and apply marine grease to the prop shaft.
• Remove the lower drain plug and check the color of the lubricant, if you notice any entanglement around the propeller shaft. If your lubricant is white or milky in appearance, water has entered your gearcase. Your lower unit should be disassembled and inspected, and its seals should be replaced before using your outboard again.
• Change the gear lube. The extreme pressures exerted inside an outboard's lower unit eventually break down a lubricant's effectiveness. Use Yamalube^® Gearcase Lube (Gearcase Lube HD for V8 models) according to the schedule in your owner's or service manual to protect your investment. Your dealer can do this, or it's easy to do it yourself. For DIY-ers, be sure to replace the vent and drain screw seals each time.

Power Trim & Tilt

From hole shot to wide-open throttle operation, the power trim and tilt (PT&T) adjusts the thrust angle of your outboard for maximum performance. Simple checks on your PT&T unit will help keep it operating at peak efficiency.

Electrical System

A marine environment can be tough on your electrical system components and connections. This is one of the most vital systems on your boat, so maintain its reliability by outfitting it with Yamaha-recommended components and protecting it with Genuine Yamalube^® maintenance and care products.

The battery. Use only the size and type recommended in your owner's or service manual (see chart for general specifications).

The connections. Make sure that all battery/cable connections use self-locking nuts (not old-fashioned wing nuts).

Accessory-only batteries. Also referred to as "house batteries", they power only accessories, reserving main battery power for starting and other engine functions. Most large Yamaha outboards (150hp and up) have separate battery isolator/charging leads specifically for this purpose.

Components and care products. Yamaha recommends NGK^® spark plugs, and offers a complete range of electrical system care products, including: Yamashield™ Protectant and Lubricant, Yamalube^® Battery Terminal Cleaner and Protector and Yamalube^® Contact Cleaner.

Propellers

For optimal efficiency and performance, your propeller must be correct for your horsepower and designed for your application. Once you've selected the right propeller for your boating style, a little maintenance will ensure a lot of efficiency.

Remove it. Periodically remove your propeller to check for fishing line.

Grease it. While you have the propeller off, grease the propeller shaft with Yamalube® Marine Grease.

Check it. Inspect the blades for nicks, cuts and bends and have it repaired or replaced if necessary.

That's it. For being one of the hardest working components on your outboard, it requires surprisingly little maintenance.

Yamaha offers a full line of propellers, catering to a variety of boating styles. To see our selection, and learn how to select the right propeller for your horsepower and application, visit the propeller section of our website.

External Care

Maintain the value of your Yamaha with Genuine Yamalube® care products. Our complete line is formulated to help protect and preserve your outboard.

Yamalube^® External Engine Cleaner. If you've already cleaned your engine inside—do the outside, too.

Yamalube^® Spray Polish and Instant Detailer. Quickly restores a lustrous shine to paint, chrome, glass and smooth plastic surfaces. Anti-static properties repel dust.

Yamalube^® Silicon Spray Protectant. Conditions and protects neoprene, rubber, and other surfaces from environmental effects. Helps protect metals from rust and corrosion.

Yamalube^® Yamaclean. Effectively cleans most boat and outboard surfaces of dirt, oil, grime and insects.

Equipment

To ensure the safety on the water and the ability to troubleshoot if necessary, never set sail without conducting a systems check and confirming you have all the right equipment.

Check the bottom of the boat. Make sure there are no stress cracks, barnacles or other marine growths on the hull. Also, check your engine's sacrificial anodes and replace them if more than 50% of their material is gone. They're critical for preventing corrosion of metal engine components.

Check the electrical system. Verify tight connections on all batteries and that bilge pumps and navigation lights are all operative.

Check the safety equipment. A few of the items you should have include:

• Life jackets of the correct type available for all passengers
• Flashlight
• EPIRB
• First aid kit
• Boat horn or other signaling device

Check the engine oil and all fuel lines. They should be tight and proper. Also, make sure you have sufficient oil (including extra) on board.

Check on-board maintenance supplies. You should have:

• Metric tool kit
• Spare spark plugs and a wrench
• Spare wire, connectors and crimping pliers
• Spare fuel filters
• Spare propeller and a propeller wrench
   

Check your flushing attachment. For a cleaner engine, make sure you have and use the correct flushing attachment upon return.

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Storage

Preparing properly for extended storage will ensure your rig will be ready to run when you return to use it. Yamalube^® offers a full line of storage prep products to help protect and preserve your engine until next season.

Fog your engine. During periods of inactivity, use Yamalube® Stor-Rite Engine Fogging Oil to coat vital internal engine components with a thick petroleum-based lubricant. This prevents components from rust and corrosion and protects them during start-up when the outboard is returned to service.

Keep it dry. Condensation can collect in your fuel system during extended storage periods. Ethanol fuels can also draw water directly from the atmosphere through the tank's vent. Run Yamalube^® Fuel Stabilizer and Conditioner PLUS through the entire fuel system at all times, but especially prior to extended storage. Also, always store with the tank nearly full of fuel to help prevent over-accumulation of condensation. If stored outside, make sure to lower the engine fully or place a tightly sealed plastic bag over the lower unit to help keep out moisture. Never plug or cap the fuel tank vent, as this allows for natural expansion and contraction within the fuel system.

Do annual maintenance or upgrades. Prior to extended lay-up is an excellent time to perform routine annual maintenance or make upgrades. This can include things like replacing the water pump or installing a new depth finder or radio system.

Prep for next season. Now's the time to check the anchor, chains, dock lines, fenders, etc. Replace any worn or damaged items now so you'll be ready to hit the water next season. Also check the boat for any loose items that need repair. Many of these items can easily be secured with one of our exclusive, Yamalube^® Yamabond^® formulas.