Nissan
Outboard FAQ's
1.
How can I get a replacement owner's
manual for my Nissan outboard?
2.
How can I get a service manual and/or
parts manual for my Nissan outboard?
3.
How do I order a Nissan outboard
from your site?
4.
How soon will I receive my outboard
once I've placed my order?
5.
What horsepower motor should I put
on my boat?
6.
What size propeller should I use?
7.
How do I order replacement parts
for my Nissan outboard?
8.
What is the ratio of oil and gas
that I need to mix for my Nissan outboard?
9.
Can I use any kind of oil in my
Nissan 2-Stroke outboard?
10.
Can I use any kind of oil in my
Nissan 4-Stroke outboard?
11.
Do I have to use any special type
of gas (super unleaded, regular unleaded, etc)
in my Nissan outboard?
12.
I don't have any water coming from
the "tell tale" water hole on my outboard.
What should I do?
13.
How often should I have my water
pump impeller changed?
14.
Is there any way to shut off my
Nissan outboard without having to pull the safety
lanyard cord off each time?
15.
Do Nissan outboards come with lower
unit oil already installed from the factory?
16.
Do Nissan 4-stroke outboards come
with crankcase oil already installed from the
factory?
17.
How can I tell what shaft length
my outboard needs to be?
18.
I have a Nissan 2.5hp (or 3.5hp)
outboard. What size shear pin do I need to use?
19.
What is the break-in procedure
for my Nissan outboard?
How
can I get a replacement owner's manual for my
Nissan outboard?
Nissan outboard owner's manuals are available
for downloading from our website at no charge.
The manuals are in Adobe Acrobat "PDF"
format. Replacement printed owner's manuals can
be ordered through any of our Nissan dealers.
Click here to view the
manuals.
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How can I get a service and/or parts manual
for my Nissan outboard?
Service manuals for Nissan outboards are available
from Clymer Manuals and can be ordered through
us. Please give us a call at 1-888-708-4703 and
let us know which manual you need and you'll be
able to buy it right over the phone.
*(Nissan
is not responsible for the information contained
in 3rd party manuals).
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How do I order a Nissan outboard from your
site?
It's actually very simple and easy. Just give
us a call toll free at 1-888-708-4703 and let
us know which outboard you would like and where
you would like us to ship it. Once we have your
information we accept payment several different
ways. You can purchase your new Nissan outboard
by major credit card, wire transfer, or mail us
a check or money order. If you are paying by personal
check we will need to wait until it clears our
account before shipping your motor.
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How soon will I receive my outboard once I've
placed my order?
It depends on where you live in the United States
and when you order. Your outboard will normally
ship within 48 hours unless you order during the
weekend. Generally, any 9.9 HP and less will be
shipped by UPS ground and can be delivered in
3-7 business days. Larger motors are shipped by
a freight carrier and can be delivered in 3-10
business days.
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What horsepower motor should I put on my boat?
There is no one simple answer to this question.
There are many factors which must be taken into
account, most importantly is to never exceed the
horsepower rating of the boat. Other factors to
be taken into account are the weight of the boat,
weight of passengers/gear, and your expected use
of the boat (do you want to water ski? troll around
your local lake? etc).
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What size propeller should I use?
As with trying to choose the right horsepower,
choosing the right propeller to fit your needs
requires you to take a number of factors into
account. We have put together a detailed section
regarding propellers to help you determine which
is the best prop for the job. Please bear in mind
that there is no one magic answer that will absolutely
guarantee that the prop you choose will give you
the performance you expect; sometimes it's simply
a matter of trying different props to determine
which one will work best for your particular application.
Click here to view our
prop selection chart.
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How do I order replacement parts for my Nissan
outboard?
Give us a call at 1-888-708-4703 and we'll make
sure you get what you need. Nissan only sells
through our dealer network. Nissan strives to
maintain a 24 hour turn-around on all parts orders
received from their dealers, so if we do not have
your particular part in-stock, we can usually
receive it within a matter of a few days. (Federal
Express/UPS Next Day shipping options are available...please
see your dealer for details).
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What is the ratio of oil and gas that I need
to mix for my Nissan 2-Stroke
outboard?
With the exception of our outboards which have
oil injection systems, Nissan 2-stroke outboards
require a 50:1 (2.5 ounces of oil for each gallon
of gas) oil/gas mixture after the initial break-in
period. Nissan outboards which have oil injection
will automatically mix the correct amount of oil
and gas depending on the engine requirements;
you don't have to pre-mix your oil & gas with
these systems. Click
here to see a handy chart to help you calculate
the amount of oil/gas to mix.
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Can I use any kind of oil in my Nissan 2-Stroke
outboard?
For your 2-stroke outboard, be sure and use only
2-cycle outboard oil, with an NMMA (National Marine
Manufacturers Association) certified rating of
TCW3. Never, never, never use automobile oil in
your 2-stroke outboard. You can find Nissan 2-stroke
outboard motor oil at your local dealer.
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Can I use any kind of oil in my Nissan 4-Stroke
outboard?
For your 4-stroke outboard, you can use any type
of automotive motor oil with a rating of SAE10W-40
(API Grade SG, SF, SH or SJ).
Your
Nissan 4-stroke outboard is equipped with an Engine
Oil Warning Lamp. When the warning lamp is off,
it indicates that sufficient oil pressure is present.
If the warning lamp is on (red light is on) or
blinking on/off, immediately shut down your outboard
and check the oil level. Replenish as needed.
If the oil level is at the appropriate level and
the light continues to stay on or blink, consult
your local dealer for assistance (do not use your
outboard until a dealer has corrected the problem).
You
may notice the engine oil warning lamp come on
when you first start your outboard. This is normal
and should go off after a few seconds.
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Do I have to use any special type of gas (super
unleaded, regular unleaded,
etc) in my Nissan outboard?
The minimum octane rating that you should use
is 87, however, we recommend using gas with an
octane rating of 89 or higher.
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I don't have any water coming
from the "tell tale" water hole on my
outboard. What should I do?
Immediately shut down your outboard! Do not start
your engine back up until the problem is corrected
or you will overheat and severely damage your
engine. First check the water intake on your lower
unit and make sure that it is unobstructed. If
the water intake is clear then chances are your
water pump impeller needs to be replaced or you
have an obstruction inside your lower unit. Take
your outboard to your nearest dealer for inspection.
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How often should I have my water pump impeller
changed?
You should inspect your water pump impeller each
year before taking your boat out on the water.
We recommend you change your impeller every year
at a minimum depending on the amount of use you
put on your outboard. One thing to remember is
that even if you only use your outboard a couple
of times a year you still need to have your impeller
checked/replaced every year. Water pump impellers
are made from rubber and will deteriorate over
time even without being used (commonly referred
to as "dry rot"); this can be just as
damaging to your water pump as wear and tear.
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I don't have a remote electric
start engine, is there any way to shut off my
Nissan outboard without having to pull the safety
lanyard cord off each time?
Yes, simply press in the "button" where
the lanyard cord attaches to the outboard. This
will shut off the engine without having to remove
the lanyard cord.
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Do Nissan outboards come with lower unit oil
already installed from the
factory?
Yes. The lower unit gear oil has already been
added at the factory, however, you should check
to ensure it is completely full before starting
your outboard for the first time. To replace/add
lower unit oil we recommend any SAE 80 or 90 weight
oil. You may also want to check out our web page
giving you step-by-step instructions on how to
change and check the oil in your lower unit.
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Do Nissan 4-stroke outboards
come with crankcase oil already installed from
the factory?
NO!!! Nissan 4-stroke outboards are not filled
with oil from the factory. Before you start your
4-stroke outboard you must add oil to the crankcase.
If you do not add oil, you will severely damage
your outboard. Running a 4-stroke without crankcase
oil would be like running your car without oil...the
engine will seize up and you will end up having
to replace the engine block/powerhead (this type
of damage is not covered under warranty). Any
SAE 10W-40 motor oil will work fine. Please consult
your owner's manual for the proper amount to add
and for the proper break-in and operating procedures.
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How can I tell what shaft length my outboard
needs to be?
Measure from the top of your transom to the bottom
of your keel. If it is from 14" to 16"
long you'll need to get a Nissan outboard with
a "short" shaft. If it is from 17"
to 22" long you'll need our "long"
shaft outboard. Nissan outboard shafts are measured
from the bottom of the engine mounting bracket
to the cavitation plate on the lower unit. Generally
most boats need either a short or long shaft although
some boats require a 25" shaft (ultra-long
shaft) outboard.
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I have a Nissan 2.5hp (or 3.5hp)
outboard. What size shear pin do I need to use?
Any 5/32" x 1" (4mm x 24mm) shear pin
will work just fine. Remember that if you are
using a resin prop you need to buy a brass shear
pin so that you do not damage your prop if you
strike an object (stainless steel shear pins won't
"give" and you will end up damaging
a resin prop). Stainless steel shear pins are
available and should be used with only aluminum
props.
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What is the break-in procedure for my Nissan
outboard?
The break-in period is the most critical time
in the life of your Nissan outboard. Correct operation
during the break-in period will prolong the life
of your new outboard and will ensure optimum performance.
Properly breaking-in your new outboard will ensure
the initial smooth operation and lubrication of
all moving parts (pistons, gears, bearings, etc).
For a complete
list of break-in procedures for all Nissan outboards
(both 2-stroke and 4-stroke) click here.