One of the most important aspects of boat care is proper lubrication. With proper care and the right mix of products you can extend the life of your engine and prevent expensive repairs, and best of all, you can do most of this maintenance yourself. Now, before we give you some helpful hints, we want to dispose of some myths about oil and engine manufacturers.
First, you will not void your warranty by using oil other than the engine manufacturer brand. As a matter of fact, Sierra offers the most extensive warranty in the marine business. No engine manufacturer backs their oil and lubricants with a longer or more extensive warranty. If your engine is damaged because of the quality of a Sierra lubricant we will pay for parts and labor to repair, plus we pay for incidental expenses like haul-out and towing. Sierra offers the best warranty in the marine business, hands down!
Second, Sierra offers the widest variety of oils on the market to match your engine’s needs. 4-stroke, 2-stroke, gear lubes and engine greases. Sierra has the right lubricant for the job. Our oils are blended to the same high standards as the OEM oils and meet the same FC-W and TC-W3 certification standards. Sierra offers specific oils for your brand of engine, not a “one oil fits all” like some companies.
The following list is a general maintenance that “most” engines will require or should have performed. Be sure and read your engine manufacturers recommendations and follow the maintenance schedule specified for your engine.
Inboard/Sterndrive
Engine oil and filter should be changed every 50 hours or at a minimum of once per year. Sterndrive gear lube should be changed every 50 hours of operation or a minimum of once per year. Gear lube should be checked for water and debris that could signal internal damage before each and every use of the boat!
Sterndrive zerk fittings on the outdrive should be lubricated several times during the coarse of the season with a non-Teflon marine grease, like Sierra’s Premium Marine Bearing Grease. Sterndrive pivot pins and steering cable ends should also be lubricated with Sierra Marine Bearing Grease.
Outboard
Keep oil reservoirs filled with Sierra NMMA Certified TC-W3 2-stroke oil. 4-stroke outboards should have their oil and filter changed every 50 hours or at a minimum of once per year with Sierra NMMA Certified FC-W oils in the specified weight for your engine. Gear lube should be changed every 50 hours or at a minimum of once per year. Gear lube should be checked for water and debris that could signal internal damage before each and every use of the boat! Trim rams, pivot pins and steering cable ends should all be lubricated as necessary with Sierra Premium Marine Bearing Grease.
Trailers
Wheel bearings should be checked and the grease topped off with Sierra Premium Marine Bearing grease. Formulated specifically to not liquefy and wash out when submerged like non-marine rated greases. Wheel bearings should be re-packed once per year and the bearings inspected and replaced as necessary. Trailer brake fluid reservoir should be checked for moisture and debris by a trained brake technician with the proper tools to bleed and purge your brake lines.