See full version: Sterndrive vs Inboard Motors: Which One You Should Go For
On the other hand, you can indeed get injured if you fall out of the boat right into the motor, so there’s a certain degree of carefulness that you need to maintain. This also applies to driving your boat with the drive trimmed up. here
As we’ve mentioned at the beginning, it isn’t possible to say that one kind of a boat motor is clearly better than the other. There are many factors in play which need to be considered by you when trying to pick a motor for your boat.
Sterndrive motors can pose a danger if you’ve got pets or children with you. In a boat with a sterndrive motor, you would need to keep an eye on your companions all the time. Or if you don’t want to deal with any propellers that are more or less exposed, you need to go for an inboard motor. here
Essentially, the cons of inboard motors more or less mirror the pros of sterndrive motors. But you don’t have to figure out the downsides of inboard motors yourself since we’re going to provide you with a ready list: more
There are many arguments for and against with both inboard and sterndrive motors. And since either type of boat motors has its advantages and disadvantages, we can’t say that one of them is clearly better than the other. Which one is going to be better for you will depend on your needs, as well as the water conditions you will be boating in. more
Steve Pennaz with tips on caring for your lower unit
Tip: These drain screw crush washers serve as gaskets and are not reuseable. They are a main source of protection against water intrusion into the lower unit, which can cause catastrophic dilution of the lubricant. Do NOT try to save a few pennies here. Lower units are very expensive. It’s best to always have some extra drain plug gaskets on hand. here
You may choose to do these procedures yourself, or you can have your authorized Yamaha Marine dealer do them for you. Either way, performing them is important for proper continued operation and your continued satisfaction and enjoyment. [links]
Tip: All the items in this catalog are available through your local authorized Yamaha Marine dealer. More information can be found at YamahaOutboards.com.
Tip: It’s best not to run the outboard right before checking the lower unit lubricant, as this will agitate the oil with whatever air is trapped inside. The resulting fine bubbles might be confused with the milky appearance that occurs with water ingestion. here
Yamaha recommends replacing your lower unit lubricant after the first 20 hours for a new outboard, then every 100 hours after that. Also, if it’s milky in color or smells or looks burnt when you’re checking it, it’s time for a change. To do it yourself, place a pan under the bottom drain screw, remove the screw, and then remove the upper vent screw on the side of the lower unit. Allow all of the lubricant to drain into the pan. While you’re waiting, check the drain screw. It’s magnetic; so any metal particles or shavings present in the lubricant will be attracted to it. Fine metallic dust is normal, but if you find larger chips of metal on the screw or in the pan as the lubricant drains, have your local Yamaha Marine dealer check for possible internal damage. Also at this time, replace the small crush washer present on each screw (commonly known as “drain plug gaskets”). If you don’t see one, it may still be adhering to the outboard. Use a pick to pull it free, as these must be located, discarded, and replaced each time these screws are removed. [links]
As lower unit oils are much different from other automotive engine oils, so there are different types of these oil which includes FC-W for four Stroke engines and TC-W3 for two stroke engines. These are the requirements from National Marine Manufacturer’s Association for lower unit oil and Yamaha lower unit oil meets these requirements. Following are different types of lower unit oils:
5W-30 Full-Synthetic—this is the best oil for high performing outboards.
10W-30 Mineral Base (conventional)—this is a universal oil ideal for almost all types of environments.
20W-40 Mineral Base (conventional)—for the larger outboards and warm climate this is best.
However whatever oil you choose, ensure that it is of the right type and required viscosity and best suits your needs. [links]
As the lower unit is always in the water and in salt water things get more dangerous as it can corrode the interior of the outboard engine. So the Yamaha lower unit oil helps to prevent from such damage.
In salt water the salt begin to crystallize if temperature rises above certain limits, and blocks the cooling passage of the outboard engine which can cause serious damage to the engine due to overheating. So Yamaha lower unit oil is made to keep the temperature low thus preventing such damage.
How to choose right oil for lower unit
As the lower unit have to deal with much greater drag force of water so it have to work in heavy load, so for its best performance in heavy load lower unit oil is needed for its best functioning. more
The working speed of and outboard engine is much greater due to the resistance of water. So you should use Yamaha lower unit oil, instead of an ordinary automotive oil, which is specially made to help lower unit work efficiently. [links]
Re: Can you change the oil in a lower unit WITHOUT having an oil pump?
I've changed mine before with out a pump on an I/O once I filled it up I used the trim to crank it up and down a few times and topped off again. Worked fine. [links]
Re: Can you change the oil in a lower unit WITHOUT having an oil pump? more