Honda BF-50 maintenance reset

[five20too]

I just recently bought a 2013 BF-50 (installed in 2014) attached to a Weldbilt aluminum boat. The previous owner said he never used it much and it really did look like it. For fun, and my own reassurance, I went ahead and changed the lower unit oil and the engine oil and filter. I was looking on the Honda website for instructions on how to reset the maintenance indicator and all I could find was for serial numbers above mine (which is BBEJ-1105927) that speak about the motor beeping when you turn the key on in gear and whatnot. Mine doesn't beep at all. I plan on doing annual maintenance on it anyways but I would like to know for sure that I was within my intervals. Is there any other way to know without an hour-meter?

 

[hondam]

As far as i know hour meter is it. Most people around here don't use them near the 100 hours to worry about it, they just change it once a year. Just make sure your using the recommended FCW rated 10W-30 marine oil in it.

 

[five20too]

Thanks for the quick reply. I will go with the annual instead of worrying about it. Is the FCW recommended? My owner's manual states SAE 5W30 for some reason. It's the only one that I've found that recommends that grade. Not sure why.

 

[Sea Rider]

Go per what Honda Service Manual dictates regarding oils. With 5W OB will handle less temp better if boating in very cold environments. Could use 5W-30 during winter, 10W-30 during summer.

Happy Boating

 

[hondam]

FCW is the NMMA marine designation. It is designed for higher rpm so that it maintains proper viscosity, corrosion resistance, foaming and areation resistance for the 100 hours in the marine enviorrment. I believe it is required by all engine manufactures.now.

Honda label oil is a specially formulated Mobil 10W-30 to obtain the FCW rating.

 

[tommarvin]

Would it be ok to use 100% synthetic motor,gear,two cycle oils ?

 

[hondam]

It is a four stroke so no need for 2 cycle oil.

As far as synthetic engine oil, depends on the number of hours. Honda tells you not to use it during the break in period. As far as once the break in period is done its up to you, i probably wouldn't use it unless there are more than 1000 hours on the engine. That would give everything a chance to be well broke in.

Now the gear lube, it really doesn't matter as long as your using a marine gear lube. If your lower unit is perfectly sealed up regular gear lube and marine gear lube will protect just the same but marine gear lube is much more tolerant to water. It will actually absorb a significant amount of water before it starts to separate and damage the internals.

 

[five20too]

Well I may have messed up then. Prior to posting this I did a full fluid and filter change. I went with Quiksilver for the lower and Mobil 1 5W30 with a Honda OEM filter for the engine. Guess I need to change it out again and use some Dino FCW oil. Is FCW just really better for saltwater, hence the corrosion protection?

 

[hondam]

Well I may have messed up then. Prior to posting this I did a full fluid and filter change. I went with Quiksilver for the lower and Mobil 1 5W30 with a Honda OEM filter for the engine. Guess I need to change it out again and use some Dino FCW oil. Is FCW just really better for saltwater, hence the corrosion protection?

Definately not, a semi synthetic FCW rated oil is what should be used. The FCW rated oil is specially formulated to run for hours on end at 4000-6000+ rpms on an engine that may be turned on its end and bouncing around, a scenario that automotive engines rarely if ever see. For the 2 quarts of oil that it holds its worth putting the right stuff in there especially considering it probably has a few more years under warranty.