Outboard Service

5 Common Questions About Suzuki Outboard Motor Maintenance

Outboard maintenance is so vital for your Suzuki motor between outboard services. You should conduct a quick maintenance check before taking your boat out on the water and another one after returning. If you haven’t had a chance to get your boat out in a while, it’s a good idea to pull it out and give it a thorough check. If your motor is looking like it’s seen better days, it could be time to book it in for an outboard service with Edge Marine. As an authorised Suzuki marine dealer and service provider in Cairns and with over 25 years of experience in marine mechanics, we’ve undertaken a lot of outboard repairs and answered a lot of questions about outboard maintenance. Here are 5 of the most common questions we hear every day. 

1. How often should I book an outboard service? 

Your first outboard service for a new motor should be scheduled for three months or after 20 hours of use. After this, you’ll need to organise a service every 12 months or 100 hours, whichever comes first. Naturally, if you’re having issues with your motor between services, make sure you bring it in so the technicians at Edge Marine can run diagnostics and make outboard repairs. Potential issues include; 

• Motor not starting

• Motor losing power

• Rust on any part of the motor

• Smoking or producing more exhaust than usual

2. How do I flush my motor? 

Every time you come home after a day on the water, you should be flushing your motor. If you don’t observe proper outboard maintenance and flush your engine after use, you run the risk of water corroding your outboard’s engine. There are two ways to flush your Suzuki outboard motor; using flushing earmuffs or via a screw-in flushing attachment. Make sure you check with your Suzuki dealer about which flushing method works best for your motor. 

The first method of flushing, with the earmuffs, should go as follows; 

1. Slide your muffs over the bottom of the gear case and the water pickups. Make sure to create a sealed surface. 

2. Plug your garden hose onto the outside of the muffs. 

3. Turn on your hose to flush cold water through the engine to flush out salt water.

4. Turn on your engine. 

5. Once the engine is running, there should be a steady stream of water running from the water telltale. If there is no water coming from the telltale, turn off your engine. 

6. While keeping an eye on the engine to ensure the earmuffs don’t fall off, leave the engine running for about 5 minutes. 

7. Turn the engine and garden hose off and remove the earmuffs. Your motor is now flushed. 

Using a screw-in attachment doesn’t require you to turn on the motor’s engine, making it the ideal flushing method for late at night. The process should go as follows; 

1. Unscrew the plug on the port, located at either the side or on the front of the engine.

2. Screw in your Suzuki flushing attachment. 

3. Plug the end of your garden hose into the flushing attachment. 

4. Turn on the hose.

5. Make sure there is a steady stream of water pressure coming from the telltale. 

6. Let the hose run for 5 minutes. 

7. Disconnect the hose and unscrew the flushing attachment.

8. Make sure you put the plug back into the port. 

If you’d like to see a video demonstration of how to flush your engine, check out Suzuki Marine’s step-by-step process here. 

3. What’s the best petrol to use in my Suzuki outboard motor? 

Your owner’s manual will tell you the minimum recommended octane rating for your engine, but it’s recommended that you use alcohol-free, unleaded fuel whenever you can. However, some of our outboard motors are capable of running on E10 fuel. If you’re in doubt, have a chat with a technician at Edge Marine during your next Suzuki outboard service. 

4. How do I check the oil on my motor? 

An essential aspect of outboard maintenance is regular oil checks. This will ensure your engine runs smoothly and efficiently when you’re out on the water.  To check your oil, follow these steps; 

1. Make sure your outboard is sitting upright in a vertical position. 

2. Locate your oil dipstick, which may be black or yellow depending on your model of Suzuki outboard. 

3. Locate the oil marks on the dipstick and make sure there is oil on the stick around the high mark. 

4. Wipe your dipstick off on a rag and repeat step 3, making sure your oil is sitting at a high level. 

5. Wipe the dipstick on your rag again and return it into the engine. 

If you notice your oil levels are low, and you want to top it up yourself, we recommend using Suzuki 4 Cycle Engine Oil. This will ensure your engine is lubricated and protected from the harsh effects of the marine environment. To top up your oil, follow these steps;

1. Locate the bright yellow cap on the top of your motor and unscrew it. 

2. Top up your engine with Suzuki 4 Cycle Engine Oil until it reaches the level on your dipstick. 

3. Screw the cap back in. 

If you’d prefer to watch this process, check out Suzuki Marine’s step-by-step process here. 

5. How can I book a service with Edge Marine? 

You can contact us to either organise your outboard service or outboard repairs, or you can arrange to have a mobile mechanic to come to you. Give us a call today to find out what we can do for you. 

Why Suzuki Marine for Outboard Motors?

Suzuki outboard motors are by far the best value for money in the industry. Suzuki have spent 100 years developing innovative technologies, and their range of outboard motors have been international favourites since 1965. The company continue to create and meet world-wide demands while simultaneously developing solutions to global challenges. One of their recent innovations responds to escalating fuel prices. The Lean Burn Control System was designed to give boating enthusiasts more bang for their buck by ensuring Suzuki motors can take people further on less. Edge Marine offer a wide range of Suzuki outboard motors for sale in Cairns as well as providing Suzuki outboard parts in Cairns.