Experience Boating like Never Before!

No longer are the days of…..if it pees, it is good. The modern four stroke engines need water to cool the exhaust system. Four strokes are, in most cases, miniature car motors. Car motors have their exhaust exiting through steel and cast iron exhaust systems. All four strokes outboard motors do not have the luxury of using steel or cast iron. They are made with aluminum to not only save weight, but to help with corrosion. Your motor has thermostats to keep water in the block for cooling. The excess water encapsulates around the exhaust housing to cool the aluminum. It is very important that you change your water pump every 100 hours or every year. The downside of not changing it is the aluminum gets very hot and starts to corrode. This problem can occur regardless of outboard manufacturer.

Just because the motor is peeing doesn’t mean it has enough water to cool the exhaust. A lot of manufacturers of four strokes bypass the block to the water outlet, just so you know the water pump is working. However, it doesn’t show if it has adequate flow. A good quality OEM part will expand the life of your motor. Regular maintenance on the water system is crucial. Water pumps are softer than older two strokes, so it can generate more pressure. They tend to wear quicker, which causes loss of water pressure.