Outboard & inboard Marine engine basic checks

1. Basic Engine Checks
Outboards & Inboards
www.instructorresources.co.uk

2. Acronym for
Outboards = F.L.O.P.P.
Fuel
Lines
Oil
Power
Propellor

3. FUEL
Do you have enough?
Uncontaminated?
Reserve?
Tank vent open? (external
tank)
Fuel filter clean?
Fuel tap open? (internal
tank)

4. LINES
Connections secure?
Good condition? (no
splits or kinks)
Primer bulb firm?

5. OIL
Enough?
2-stroke (pre-mix oil
with fuel)
4-stroke (integrated -
check with dipstick)

6. POWER
Battery charge level?
Connections?
Switches/breakers on?

7. PROPELLER
Condition of blades?
Prop nut tight?
Free of debris?

8. Acronym for
inboards = WOBBLE
Water
Oil
Belts
Battery
Look
Exhaust

9. Water
Raw water intake
Sea cock open?
Raw water strainer
filter?
Closed water
cooling loop?

10. Oil
Engine Oil?
Dip-stick level

11. Batteries
Sealed or unsealed?
Unsealed -
distilled water top
up?
Charge?

12. Belts
Auxillary drive
belts
Splits/cracking?
V belts - approx
10mm deflection
under moderate
pressure

13. Look
Corrosion?
Leaks?
Grease?
Clean filters? (Fuel
/ raw water)

14. Exhaust
Colour? = Engine
Health
White = Over-
fuelling or coolant
leak
Black = Poor
combustion
Purple/Blue = Bad!