Re: boat engines vs car engines
I agree with DH. Your car engine is treated COMPLETELY differently from your boat engine. Here are a few common things...<br /><br />Most people change the oil in their car on a regular basis, where-as you might change the gear oil in your motor's lower unit once a season.<br /><br />It's likely that your car's engine gets run at least 6-days (or more) out of seven, where-as your outboard may get run only on weekends.<br /><br />Rarely does a car driver have to drop the hammer and go from zero-to top speed as quickly as possible. Even if you do accelerate rapidly, how often do you red-line it between gears? Ask a water skiier if a slow, gentle acceleration works for them...<br /><br />Even if a car is left un-attended for long periods, it's internals were liberally slathered with oil the last time it was run. You'd be surprised how little oil residue is left inside your outboard running on 50:1 mix, and even less if you've got oil injection. Condensation starts almost immediately, and if you don't fog it any exposed internal surfaces can and will rust. <br /><br />How often do you run your car at maximum revs? Most people never do. How often do you run your outboard at maximum revs? Most people do quite freqently. The harder you run something the more likely something will eventually fail.<br /><br />If your tire loses a balancing weight, you notice the vibration and you'll likely get it fixed fairly quickly. However, you'd be surprised how many people look at that ding in the prop and assess it as "not that bad" and continue to run it. The imbalanced tire isn't likely to take out your car's engine, but an imbalanced prop can take out your lower unit in a hurry.<br /><br />I've got a 1980 Johnson Stinger 75 with well over 1000 (10 years) hours on a rebuild. I bought it from the original owner who hadn't replaced the waterpump, allowing the motor to cook, taking the top cylinder with it. I checked the compression at the beginning of the season and it read dead-on even 145psi across the board. I use good quality oil, I decarb once a season, and I change the gear oil every 50 hours. I run double oil the last tank of the season AND I use fogging oil when I lay it up, so there's plenty of lubrication inside to protect the bearings, crankshaft and cylinder walls. I replace the waterpump impeller every three years and I check to see that it's pissing out EVERY trip. I also own, and USE a navigation chart - which helps prevent the whole imbalanced prop scenario. I also carry a spare prop and the tools to change it.<br /><br />I take care of the ol' Stinger and it's taken care of me...<br />- Scott
