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Replace gear oil?

T

TVZ

New member
I bought a new Suzuki 20 recently, and have just finished my 10-hour break-in period. Now my season is over and I need to prepare it for outdoor (freezing) winter storage. Do I need to change the gear oil at this point? I seem to recall that they used to say that you needed to do that every fall to prevent water that might have gotten in there from freezing. Is that still true (if it ever was)? Or can I hold off and do that next year?
 
If you’ve just ran the motor within the last hour, so pull out the bottom, drain plug, and see if the oil looks milky. If so, change it. If it’s clean oil, it’s fine.
If the motor is been sitting on a stand for several days, pull up the drain plug and see if any water or just clean oil comes out. There’s no water and clean oil you’re fine.
The reason they ask you to change it every year if there is water in there and it freezes, it will expand and crack your case, and do damage to bearing.
If in doubt, change it, those little motors use very little oil.
 
Edchris177 said:
If you’ve just ran the motor within the last hour, so pull out the bottom, drain plug, and see if the oil looks milky. If so, change it. If it’s clean oil, it’s fine.
If the motor is been sitting on a stand for several days, pull up the drain plug and see if any water or just clean oil comes out. There’s no water and clean oil you’re fine.
The reason they ask you to change it every year if there is water in there and it freezes, it will expand and crack your case, and do damage to bearing.
If in doubt, change it, those little motors use very little oil.
Click to expand...
Thanks Edchris! I'll check that tomorrow. What about the engine oil? Any need to change that at this point?
 
After break in, I would always change the oil. It barely over a litre it’s cheap. Read the owners manual that came with your new motor and follow it. The motor will serve you well.
If you have to store it in the shed or somewhere else that’s not rodent proof leave the cowling off it will prevent mice and chipmunks from trying to build a home under there.
 
Edchris177 said:
After break in, I would always change the oil. It barely over a litre it’s cheap. Read the owners manual that came with your new motor and follow it. The motor will serve you well.
If you have to store it in the shed or somewhere else that’s not rodent proof leave the cowling off it will prevent mice and chipmunks from trying to build a home under there.
Click to expand...
Thanks Edchris! Interesting idea about the cowling and mice. I leave the motor on the boat under a good cover, and mice have definitely been a problem in the past. I'm thinking of setting a bunch of mouse traps under the boat (which is on a trailer). Hopefully the mice will go there first, and go no farther...
 
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