![]() It’s more of a metal treatment than an oil treatment. ![]() That means things stay slick even when the oil drains back into the pan. Prolong somehow bonds to the metal surfaces inside the engine and makes things a lot slicker. That was on an old carbureted car, and I physically had to back the idle screw out a turn or so to get it back to normal. I was sold on it when I poured it into the crankcase while the car was running and the idle speed increased by about 200 rpm. It’s not often I recommend a product, but Prolong engine treatment has gone into all my engines for the last 10 years. That sometimes takes a few minutes, which will give you the opportunity to flush the trailer brakes, too. Let the motor run until you can’t taste salt in the exhaust stream. This helps maintain gasket integrity, among other things. Salt deposits in an engine wreak a lot of havoc inside, but flushing an engine at operating temperature every time you use it in saltwater will help keep interior corrosion to a minimum. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been so tired after a day of boating that I didn’t feel like flushing the motors. A simple set of earmuffs and a freshwater rinse every time keeps salt and corrosion away. Avoid premature wear by letting the engine warm up to operating temperature before you hammer the throttle - even if there’s open water available right away. That resistance to flow isn’t as good at protecting engine components, and believe it or not, that resistance actually puts a strain on things like the oil pump and the mechanisms that drive it. Cold oil doesn’t flow well compared with warm oil. ![]() I also like to run fuel stabilizer all summer long - not just during winter storage - to keep the fuel from getting gummy.Īs much as we hate long idles from the boat ramp to open water where we can get on plane and open it up, those long idles are actually good for our engines. Keep the hose and “earmuffs” handy and fire up the boat once a week to keep things loose. Running the engine “on the hose” gets the gas moving so it won’t just sit inside your fuel system and create varnish. Oil drains away from internal components and back into the pan, but running the engine every so often, even when you don’t have a chance to really use it, helps keep things in working order. ![]() We’ve all had those seasons where we don’t get out on the water enough. Enjoy the view for a while at a nice, slow idle. It’s tempting to hit the throttle early, but resist the urge and let your engine warm up to operating temperature first. And I had to say “next to nothing” only because one of these tips does cost a few bucks, but hardly anything in comparison to other maintenance expenses. Too good to be true, right? Nope, not this time. What if I told you there were a few simple things you could do that would prolong the life of your boat’s engine - inboard or outboard, and cost you next to nothing? Everybody is looking for ways to make things last longer, whether it’s our cars, appliances, baseball games, or yes, our boats. ![]()
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