5 TOP DIY ENGINE TIPS

Some important chores to do to get your boat ready for the season.

Maintenance remains the key to a betterrunning engine and longer engine life. While there’s more to know than any one article can include, make these recommended checks of the following five systems.

frothy, it’s contaminated by water — bring the engine in for service.

Check power-trim fluid levels. Inspect trim-pump reservoir caps for the milk-cartonlike seal under the cap. Discard this; it inhibits venting and may lead to leaks.

Remove the lower gear-case drain screw and check the condition of the lubricant. It should be clean, amberor green-colored, and not dirty or contaminated by water. Burnt lube means improper gear lash and impending failure; milky means water is leaking through a seal, which leads to rusted gears, shafts and bearings.

Don’t forget to inspect engine coolant and power and hydraulicsteering fluid levels.

2 COOLING

Run the engine on a hose adapter or at the dock to ensure proper cooling-system operation before you go.

When the engine is cool, check water hoses for age, brittleness and dry rot. Hoses should be pliant yet firm, not mushy.

3 DRIVES AND PROPS

Check the propeller shaft for straightness by standing directly behind it and rotating the propeller, watching