Maintenance
Engine Oil<br>& Lube
Lower<br>Unit
Fuel &<br>Fuel System
Power Trim<br>& Tilt
Electrical<br>System
Corrosion<br>Prevention
Propeller<br>Solutions
External<br>Appearance
Additional<br>Tasks
LET’S PREP FOR EXTENDED STORAGE
Preparing for extended storage efficiently and effectively means you’ll have a worry- and hassle-free experience when you return to using your Yamaha outboard. Let’s go over the products to use and steps to take to prepare your outboard for end-of-season lay-up.
CHOOSE YAMALUBE®
Equally distributes fogging oil to cylinders in EFI engines with single-throttle bodies and in all two- and four-stroke gasoline engines. Protects pistons, cylinder walls, and valves from moisture, salt water, and combustion acids for up to one year of storage for four-stroke outboards.
Shop Yamalube products at your nearest authorized Yamaha Marine dealer.
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It’s important to use properly formulated maintenance products, even when your outboard’s not on the water.
Yamalube engine oils, cleansers, fuel additives, fogging oils, and more are engineered to provide maximum protection whether you’re storing a two-stroke or four-stroke outboard. By using them, you can help prevent water from collecting in your fuel system and rust from forming on internal engine components during inactivity.
Yamalube engine oils, cleansers, fuel additives, fogging oils, and more are engineered to provide maximum protection whether you’re storing a two-stroke or four-stroke outboard. By using them, you can help prevent water from collecting in your fuel system and rust from forming on internal engine components during inactivity.
DO IT YOURSELF
Inspect your outboard. Start at the top of the cowling and work your way down to the skeg. Be sure to pull the cowling and propeller off, too. Look for anything that appears damaged, missing or out of place, and repair or replace.
Change the oil and fuel filter. Your outboard’s engine oil has been working hard to suspend and carry away debris and potential corrosives. Get rid of this oil and the oil filter before you lay up for storage. Change your onboard 10-micron fuel filter, too. You don’t want either left sitting there waiting for you next spring, and any water may freeze inside the canister.
TIP: Be sure to lube all grease zerks with the correct grease stipulated in your owner’s manual to help force out any water that may be residing there.
TIP: Charge batteries fully before storage and have them load tested to make sure they’re going to be up to the task come spring. It’s best to check the charge monthly and keep them topped off if you can. If your outboard’s stored outside during the cold winter months, don’t risk them freezing. Bring your batteries indoors to a cool, dry place.Fog your engine. Fogging oil helps protect vital internal engine components during periods of inactivity by coating them with a thick petroleum-based lubricant. This helps prevent rust and corrosion from forming and protects during start-up. For most modern fuel-injected four strokes, use Yamalube EFI Fogging Oil. For two-stroke EFI and conventionally carbureted outboards, an excellent choice is Yamalube Stor-Rite Engine Fogging Oil.
Stabilize your fuel. Water can form in the fuel system during extended storage periods, due to natural condensation. In addition, ethanol fuels can draw water directly from the atmosphere through the tank’s vent.
Run the proper storage amount of Yamalube Fuel Stabilizer & Conditioner PLUS in your fuel, and thoroughly course it through the entire system prior to shut down. Always store with the tank 7/8 full of fuel to help prevent over-accumulation of condensation. Never plug or cap the fuel tank vent, as the vent allows for natural expansion and contraction within the fuel system. Plugging the vent may potentially cause damage to fuel tanks and fittings.
TIP: If your outboard’s stored outside during the cold winter months, make sure to trim it to a full-in, negative trim angle or place a tightly sealed plastic bag over the lower unit once it’s thoroughly dry inside. This will help keep moisture from collecting in the lower unit, which could potentially freeze and crack it.
Wash your boat and outboard. Give your boat and outboard a thorough cleaning with one of our Yamaclean® washes before storage. Always make sure that your boat is bone-dry before closing it up or sealing it off. Where applicable, a coat of sealant or wax will serve as a well-worth-it protectant.
TIP: This may be the best time to pull the boat out of the water and clean the hull as necessary. Remove any marine growth or barnacles with a thorough washing or sanding. If appropriate, now might be an excellent time for a new coat of bottom paint, too. Adhere to local legal and environmental requirements and appropriate safety precautions during these procedures.Inspect your rig. Just prior to extended lay-up is an excellent time to perform routine annual maintenance and take care of any outstanding service issues. Check the anchor, chains, dock lines, and fenders too. Replace any worn or damaged items and check the boat for any loose items that need repair. If needed, one of our exclusive Yamalube Yamabond® formulas will hold things tight.
Wrap your boat. Many Yamaha Marine dealers offer shrink-wrapping services. This encapsulates your boat and helps protect it from the elements until you’re ready to resume the good times. It also keeps your boat looking as good as it did when you wrapped it.
Inspect and replace. This is a great time to check for any loose, sagging, or rotted bunks, lift straps, or rollers that need to be replaced. Inspect trailer wheel bearings for signs of water intrusion.
Lubricate. Grease trailer bearings and lift roller assemblies using Yamalube Marine Grease and lubricate winch cables with Yamalube Yamashield.
Clean. Yamalube Brake & Contact Cleaner will help clean and restore proper taillight and dock light connections, while helping keep your trailer’s brakes clean and in good working order, too.
WHAT’S YOUR EXTENDED STORAGE CHECKLIST?
Know instantly with the Siren Connected Boat<sup>™</sup> AppWhat steps should you take to prep your outboard for storage? Know what to do with the Siren Connected Boat app. It keeps checklists, offers how-to videos, and tracks DIY and dealer-completed maintenance right on your smartphone.