Repair & maintenance guides
Plain-English, step by step, written for owners. Pick your engine to see the guides that apply to it.
52 of 509 guides · page 3 of 3
Testing Engine Coolant: Test Strips, Refractometer or Lab Analysis
Coolant can look perfect and still be worn out. Learn how to test the coolant in a closed-cooled inboard, sterndrive, diesel or generator with test strips, a refractometer or a mail-in lab kit, what each result tells you, and when the answer is a coolant change or a call to a mechanic.
Two-Stroke Oil Injection vs. Premix: How It Works and How to Check It
A two-stroke engine dies quickly without oil in its fuel, so the oil injection system and its alarms deserve regular attention. Learn how injection and premix differ, what the warning horn is telling you, how to check the system, how to premix safely using your manual's ratio, and the real risks of disabling injection.
Two-Stroke Premix Conversion: Living With an Engine That Had Its Oil Injection Removed
Bought a two-stroke outboard or PWC whose oil injection was removed, or thinking of doing it? Learn how to confirm what was done, mix fuel at the ratio from your manual every single time, label your tanks so nobody forgets, choose NMMA TC-W3 oil and understand the real risks.
V-Drive Transmission Care for Wake and Ski Boats: Fluid, Cooler, Coupler and Shaft Seal
Wake boats and many ski boats put the engine in the stern, backward, and turn the power through a V-drive transmission. Learn how to check and read the transmission fluid, why the cooler and its drain matter in winter, what the coupler and shaft seal tell you, and which noises and leaks mean it's time for a technician.
Safety: BoatMend is for information only and does not replace a certified marine technician. You are responsible for your safety and your boat. Read the full disclaimer.