- Operating your Yamaha outboard at various speeds
- Allowing sufficient time for the engine warm-up and cool down
- Typical cruising speed near 3000 to 4000 rpm range
Yamaha Outboard Service Schedule
How many hours will a Yamaha outboard last? Many commonly cite 1,500 - 3,000 hours when this question is presented to them. However, well-maintained Yamaha outboards will often last many, many thousands of hours beyond this range.
Yamaha outboards are well-engineered, well-constructed, and designed to last. However, the marine environment – heat, humidity, salt, UV rays, etc. – is hard on outboard boat motors, and storage during cold weather months also strains Yamaha outboard motors.
How often should you perform routine maintenance on your Yamaha outboard? Our Yamaha Outboard Service Schedule outlines replacement and inspection activity based on "typical" use. Typical use is defined as:
MAINTENANCE ACTION | 20 HRS/3 MOS | 100 HRS/1 YR | 300 HRS/3 YRS | 500 HRS/5 YRS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Replace Gear Oil | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Replace Engine Oil | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check/Replace wiring harness connections and lead coupler connections | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check/Replace engine start switch and engine shut off switch | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check/Replace ignition coils/ignition coil leads | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check/Replace propeller/propeller nut/cotter pin | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check/Replace fuel line (low pressure) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check/Replace fuel line (high pressure) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check/Replace fuel filter (Can be disassembled) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check/Replace cooling water leakage | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check/Charge/Replace battery (electrolyte level, terminal) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check/Adjust/Replace throttle link/throttle cable | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check/Adjust/Replace shift link/shift cable | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Lubricate greasing points | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check Yamaha meter/gauge | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check water inlet | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check pilot water | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check PTT unit | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check fuel/oil leakage | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check engine idle speed/noise | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check engine starting condition noise | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check/Replace timing belt | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check/Replace thermostat | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check/Replace spark plugs | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check/Replace impeller/ water pump housing | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Replace engine oil filter | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check anodes (cylinder head exhaust passage) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check anodes (external) | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check cowling lock lever | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Check/Replace fuel pump | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Replace OVC filter | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Check anodes (cylinder head, cylinder block thermostat portion, oil cooler cover, exhaust guide) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Check/Adjust valve clearance | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
20 HOURS/3 MONTHS
- Replace Gear Oil
- Replace Engine Oil
- Check/Replace wiring harness connections/lead coupler connections
- Check/Replace engine start switch/engine shut-off switch
- Check/Replace ignition coils/ignition coil leads
- Check/Replace propeller/propeller nut/cotter pin
- Check/Replace fuel line (low pressure)
- Check/Replace fuel line (high pressure)
- Check/Replace fuel filter (can be disassembled)
- Check/Replace cooling water leakage
- Check/Charge/Replace battery (electrolyte level, terminal)
- Check/Adjust/Replace throttle link/throttle cable
- Check/Adjust/Replace shift link/shift cable
- Lubricate greasing points
- Check Yamaha meter/gauge
- Check water inlet
- Check pilot water
- Check PTT unit
- Check fuel/oil leakage
- Check engine idle speed/noise
- Check engine starting condition noise
100 HOURS/1 YEAR
- Replace Gear Oil
- Replace Engine Oil
- Check/Replace wiring harness connections/lead coupler connections
- Check/Replace engine start switch/engine shut-off switch
- Check/Replace ignition coils/ignition coil leads
- Check/Replace propeller/propeller nut/cotter pin
- Check/Replace fuel line (low pressure)
- Check/Replace fuel line (high pressure)
- Check/Replace fuel filter (can be disassembled)
- Check/Replace cooling water leakage
- Check/Charge/Replace battery (electrolyte level, terminal)
- Check/Adjust/Replace throttle link/throttle cable
- Check/Adjust/Replace shift link/shift cable
- Lubricate greasing points
- Check Yamaha meter/gauge
- Check water inlet
- Check pilot water
- Check PTT unit
- Check fuel/oil leakage
- Check engine idle speed/noise
- Check engine starting condition noise
- Check/Replace timing belt
- Check/Replace thermostat
- Check/Replace spark plugs
- Check/Replace impeller/water pump housing
- Replace engine oil filter
- Check anodes (cylinder head exhaust passage)
- Check anodes (external)
- Check cowling lock lever
300 HOURS/3 YEARS
- Replace Gear Oil
- Replace Engine Oil
- Check/Replace wiring harness connections/lead coupler connections
- Check/Replace engine start switch/engine shut-off switch
- Check/Replace ignition coils/ignition coil leads
- Check/Replace propeller/propeller nut/cotter pin
- Check/Replace fuel line (low pressure)
- Check/Replace fuel line (high pressure)
- Check/Replace fuel filter (can be disassembled)
- Check/Replace cooling water leakage
- Check/Charge/Replace battery (electrolyte level, terminal)
- Check/Adjust/Replace throttle link/throttle cable
- Check/Adjust/Replace shift link/shift cable
- Lubricate greasing points
- Check Yamaha meter/gauge
- Check water inlet
- Check pilot water
- Check PTT unit
- Check fuel/oil leakage
- Check engine idle speed/noise
- Check engine starting condition noise
- Check/Replace timing belt
- Check/Replace thermostat
- Check/Replace spark plugs
- Check/Replace impeller/water pump housing
- Replace engine oil filter
- Check anodes (cylinder head exhaust passage)
- Check anodes (external)
- Check cowling lock lever
- Check and replace fuel pump
500 HOURS/5 YEARS
- Replace Gear Oil
- Replace Engine Oil
- Check/Replace wiring harness connections/lead coupler connections
- Check/Replace engine start switch/engine shut-off switch
- Check/Replace ignition coils/ignition coil leads
- Check/Replace propeller/propeller nut/cotter pin
- Check/Replace fuel line (low pressure)
- Check/Replace fuel line (high pressure)
- Check/Replace fuel filter (can be disassembled)
- Check/Replace cooling water leakage
- Check/Charge/Replace battery (electrolyte level, terminal)
- Check/Adjust/Replace throttle link/throttle cable
- Check/Adjust/Replace shift link/shift cable
- Lubricate greasing points
- Check Yamaha meter/gauge
- Check water inlet
- Check pilot water
- Check PTT unit
- Check fuel/oil leakage
- Check engine idle speed/noise
- Check engine starting condition noise
- Check/Replace timing belt
- Check/Replace thermostat
- Check/Replace spark plugs
- Check/Replace impeller/water pump housing
- Replace engine oil filter
- Check anodes (cylinder head exhaust passage)
- Check anodes (external)
- Check cowling lock lever
- Check and replace fuel pump
- Replace OVC filter
- Replace anodes (cylinder head, cylinder block thermostat portion, oil cooler cover, exhaust guide)
- Check/Adjust valve clearance