Step-by-step instructions on how to change the motor oil and lower unit gear oil on an outboard motor. An easy DIY project that will keep some money in your pocket. My outboard is a Tohatsu 4 stroke 9.8 horsepower.
Very well done video! Just bought myself a Tohatsu 20hp and just completed the 10hr break-in period. Now I have to change the gear oil. Seeing you do it really helps. Thanks for sharing! Beneteau 373 owner from Montreal, 🇨🇦
Thanks, much appreciated! The only thing I wouid stress on the gear oil is to make sure it’s coming out of the top in a steady stream and not just in spurts. Double check with the amount remaining in the gear oil bottle to make sure you’ve added the required amount into the lower unit. I have a Hunter 30, but if I bought another monohull it would probably be a Beneteau. Nice boats! Been to Canada and loved it!
Well done video. Another method to check the lower unit oil level after changing is bend the tip of a zip tie at a right angle and use it as a dip stick. Has worked well for me.
At the moment it is raining and storming. We have 17 degrees outside temperature. It should be warmer again next week. Many greetings from Switzerland. Dustin Sorry google translator. ;-)
I just did both of these oil changes. The video is very helpful, but I have one suggestion. When I squeezed the bottle to fill the lower unit, it seemed like it was going very slow and my hands were tiring. I had to stop. I took it out, looked at it and realized that the end of the piece you stick into the engine has only a pin hole. I was squeezing like hell and hardly anything was coming out. I took a knife and cut about 1/8 inch off the end, and the hole was much larger. I squeezed the oil in without any trouble.
Always wanted to visit Switzerland! How’s the weather over there today? Great day to get out on the water here - sunny and 72 F. Plan to get out on my paddle board! Thanks for watching!
If it’s running fine I would say no. But the owner’s manual says that the fuel filter should be checked for water or debris before every use. I doubt very many people do that. It wouldn’t hurt to check it occasionally to clean or replace. As to the valves, I know of no regular maintenance required for the valves.
Awesome content!! Just bought a used 2006-2008 8hp long shaft nissan (which as I understand it is same as tohatsu) that I plan on going through and servicing. Question, what is the adjacent screw that is next to the (top) fill screw on the lower unit, and what purpose does it serve? Thanks in advance 😊🙋♂️
I think you’re referring to the water plug. But we have different motors. It’s used to flush the motor with fresh water. Your owner’s manual explains that process. Confirm with your manual, but remember the upper plug on the lower unit is not the fill plug. You fill the lower unit from the same plug you drain the oil from. That seems counter intuitive, but that’s the process for outboard I’m familiar with. If you didn’t get an owners manual with your used outboard - you can always find it on line. Lol I’m just a DIY guy and not a mechanic, but I’m big on trying to follow the manufacture’s instructions. Good luck and thanks for the comments! Much appreciated!
Lol - isn’t that the truth! Everything I drop on the deck ends up in the water (including 2 cell phones). It’s such a pain to get it loaded up to take it home to work on it - I just take my chances at the dock! Thanks for watching and commenting!
thanks for your instructions. you can put the image of the oil in the lower part that I could not see in detail. and the accessories you need to change the oil. please.
If you’re referring to the engine oil drain plug: it’s a metal washer and I didn’t replace it. I don’t know the part number. If you’re referring to the lower unit gear oil drain plug and level check screw gaskets: At 8:58 on the video I explain that I’m replacing them and show the OEM package with part number on the screen. The OEM gaskets aren’t metal, paper or rubber. Maybe some type of fiber.
Correct, it doesn’t have an oil filter to change. Apparently there is a screen for the oil under the motor, but it isn’t something you change with the oil.
Getting ready to order a 2022 Tohatsu 9.8. I assume since yours is 10 years old it’s been working pretty well for you? Getting a Highfield 2.8m inflatable to put it on. I’ll have to see if the stock prop is gonna work well
I’ve been really happy with my motor. Always starts on the 1st or 2nd pull and runs smooth. Is the one you’re going to buy fuel injected? I think most of the sailing channels have Highfield’s now. My channel isn’t big enough for them to offer me a deal on one - lol!
@@tcsadventures just plan on getting the carburetor model. Do you think the fuel injection model is worth it? I’m also just getting a light weight air floor Highfield since it’s going in our travel trailer
I don’t know what the price difference is, but I know from experience if you let fuel sit in the carb you’ll have a lot of problems. My Achilles has an air floor. I wanted the air floor for transport, but I ended up just leaving it in the water year round floating behind my sailboat. For me, I should have gotten a hard bottom.
@@tcsadventures understood. If I use 10% ethanol fuel in any of my small tools the carburetors fail quickly when then aren’t used frequently. With ethanol free gas, and a good stabilizer, I’ve never had an issue. An air floor wouldn’t be my preference but given our smallish travel trailer it’s a must
i got a new 9.9 2021 tohatsu and still not broken in yet .. its heavy to carry.. wish i got a 6hp instead... time to sell my 9.9 and its fuel injection
When I first read this I thought you were talking about my Yanmar engine and replied accordingly (since deleted). I normally follow what the manufacturer recommends for the climate the motor is operated in.
I am wondering why you couldn’t put the bottom gear oil screw in first then pour the oil in the top hole until it is overflowing. I don’t understand this method of trying to get the bottom screw on while the oil is flowing out.
I can you tell you for sure that it’s what the manufacturer recommends (I think I put language from the owner’s manual on the screen), and I believe the purpose is to push any air up and out of the lower unit. For me, if I have a doubt about something I often call tech support at the manufacturer and get the info straight from the people who make the product. (lol - instead of trusting that I know what I’m talking about!)
@@tcsadventures I’ve had other machines, like a Honda rototiller that have this same 2 hole design for the gearbox. They always said to plug bottom and fill from top until it overflows. Air bubbles go thru oil. Slower then water but still easily. Can’t wrap my head around this but thanks for replying. Cheers.
All outboard or I/O outdrives are filled this way, from the bottom up. It's about pushing air bubbles up is my understanding. They have a pump that mounts to the bottle that attaches to the bottom screw hole for just this purpose. He mentioned it in the video.
@@MrMkirk23 I buy most of my OEM Tohatsu parts from East Marine LLC. Typically they charge $5 to ship light weight parts to my location in CA. You can find non OEM gaskets on Amazon and pay less. The link below is for part #332 6006 1 (which is superseded by same number but last digit is a 0 instead of a 1). The page lists all the motors that the gasket is compatible with. My motor is a 2012 9.8 MFS A3. See link below: www.tohatsu.us/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1000_1164_1168_1169_15874&products_id=101092
No it hasn’t. It could be that the intake is blocked with trash or other debris or your impeller may need replacing. The following link isn’t my video but it covers those areas: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RVGgVCJ12bE.html
I let it sit so all the oil drains out and then I add the manufactures specified oil capacity. In the video I discuss what that amount is. I think it’s 800 ml. That should get it to the top line on the dip stick.
I’m assuming you’re talking about the lower unit drain screw and the gear oil level check screw. The motor oil drain is a bolt. If it were me I would first spray some PB Blaster or something similar on it. It may not penetrate enough to help but it’s worth a try. Then I would get my largest screw driver (that still fits the screw slot) to get some leverage to crack it open. Using an impact screw driver you risk stripping the slot or breaking off the head of the screw. Then you would have to use an extractor bit to get the remaining screw out. If you use an impact I would put it in the lowest setting and see how it goes. Good luck. Let me know how it goes.
Exactly, they are slot screws and probably should be hexagon headed so that you can get some serious torque on the bolt. Thanks for that I was worried about using the impact driver. I have tried WD40 with no success and I bought an extra large screwdriver again no success. Do you think heat (hot water) applied to the area might just shift it?@@tcsadventures
Have you already seen this thread on The Hull Truth? www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/830907-stuck-lower-unit-oil-fill-screw.html If the slot isn’t stripped, a lot of people suggest using a screwdriver and a wrench on the handle - and tapping with a hammer. If you have a good outboard shop I would call them for suggestions. Mine’s on my dinghy year round on the water - for 12 years now. Knock on wood, I haven’t had this problem yet. Good luck and keep me posted. Really interested to see how you solve it.
I have a 2012 9.8 Tohatsu 3V(MFS9.8A3). I don’t know if you have the same model that I have and I don’t want you to order the wrong part. If you search your year and model and Tohatsu Parts Catalog - you can confirm the part number and then search that number to see who sells it. Below is the link to the catalog for my model and links to the gasket and washer. After you receive parts, I would always compare them to the original you are replacing to make sure they are the same. Catalog link: www.tohatsu.us/docs/pdf/Parts%20Catalog%20MFS8A3-9.8A3%20(2012)%20-%20(00221051-8).pdf Gasket Link: www.tohatsu.us/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=101092 Washer link: www.tohatsu.us/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1000_1239_13418&products_id=112656
I’m sorry I don’t think I’ve ever used their oil. But if it’s branded Tohatsu specifically for outboards and it’s the correct recommended weight and type (motor vs gear oil)- it should be fine.
