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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: 

  • 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

For helpful advice and guidance on many of the following maintenance tasks, check out our 100-hour guides for 2-Stroke and 4-Stroke Yamaha outboards!
MAINTENANCE ACTION20 HRS/3 MOS100 HRS/1 YR300 HRS/3 YRS500 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