Changing your motor's oil is no different from any other maintenance work; keeping up with it consistently will help avoid damages and better the longevity of your motor's life. Maintaining clean and full oil in your boat can help keep the engine running smooth for a lot longer. A lubricated engine makes for a happy engine--and a happy owner. 

How Often to Add Oil
Depending on what type of outboard you are running, oil maintenance will be different. With 2-Stroke outboards the oil goes straight in with the fuel which means there is no changing, per say, just re-adding. With 4-stroke engines the oil is kept separate and the engine doesn't burn through it the same way 2-Stroke engines do, so you have to change it rather than just add more. For most 2 Stroke outboards the fuel to oil ratio is 50:1, so for every 50 gallons of fuel you use, you should add 1 gallon of oil. Older engines may differ in required oil ratios, depending on their year. For four stroke outboards, it is recommended that you change your oil every 50-100 hours or, to simplify, once a year. Depending on the frequency that your motor is used, it may be beneficial to change oil more often.

What Type of Oil to Use
When picking out the best oil for your outboard there are advantages to using brand compatible oil. Outboard branded oils are specially formulated for that brand of motors. When using Evinrude's XD oil in an ETEC, for example, you are assuring that your oil is meeting your engine's standards. All outboard brands make outboard oil and it is manufacturer recommended to use your outboard's brand for best results.

It's an ongoing discussion: is conventional or synthetic oil better for your engine? Sometimes it just depends on preference. Conventional is a mineral based oil while synthetic is chemically created, or man-made. Conventional oil is cheaper than synthetic oil, but in the long run sometimes synthetic can be cheaper. Your engine will burn through less oil when using synthetic which can make the extra expense worth it. If you're looking for something in the middle, there is also a synthetic blend. A synthetic blend is a mix of conventional (30%) and synthetic (70%) and it offers some of the benefits from synthetic at a lower price. 

Tips For Changing Your Oil
Taking your boat into a service department for an oil change is quick and well worth the time and money spent. However, with the right tools and information about your motor, changing your oil yourself can be worth it as well. Here are a couple of tips for changing the oil in your 4-stroke outboard yourself.  

1. Run your engine first
This one small step will make a huge difference.  When oil is cold it gives the dirt and grime a chance to settle and get left behind, but when oil is hot it suspends the contamination and allows for it to be removed with the oil. Running the engine beforehand also makes it easier because heating up the oil thins it out, making it easier to drain. Run your engine for about 5 minutes before changing the oil and you won't regret it. 

2. Prepare for disposal and drips
When changing oil it is very important to be cautious of oil spills. Before changing your oil, you should make sure that you have something ready to catch drips and old oil for disposal. If draining your oil by removing the drain plug, a garbage bag (or two) can be attached to your motor for direct disposal. Lining the trash bag with a cardboard box, in the place where the bag and outboard meet, makes for a more spill free draining. On top of that, you can use absorbent mats or rags to help catch unexpected drips and spills. 

3. Out with the bad...(filter too!)
There are different methods to ridding of the contaminated oil. The simplest, yet sometimes messiest, way is to remove the drain plug and let it pour out. This way can be easy, but catching the old oil and disposing is not as simpleas other methods. Another option is to use a manual hand pump or other systems that can come with an attached container for disposal. Usually these manual tools get to the oil through the dipstick tube of your engine. When you're changing your filter, it's beneficial to change your filter as well. A lot of grime can build up there, might as well kill two birds with one stone. 

5. ...in with the good
After you've drained your old oil, its time to fill 'er back up. Before doing so, know how much oil your outboard needs, draining out after overfilling can be a pain. This information can be found in the owners manual. Once you got that lucky number, remove the filler plug, pour in the new oil, and check the level using your dipstick.

If your outboard seems like it would be an easy change, save yourself money and time by doing so yourself. However, there are always service departments ready to help. Don't hestitate to contact or stop in to Van's Sport Center with any boating needs!