Suzuki ECSTAR Lubes | Oils | Additives

Suzuki ECSTAR Lubes, Oils, and Additives - Resources & Information

Marine environments are some of the harshest environments in which to operate an engine - especially salt water. That’s why it’s important to service your Suzuki outboard engine with only the best lubricants, oils, and other additives from Suzuki’s ECSTAR brand to preserve your Suzuki engine for optimal performance and longevity - even in the off-season.

PartsVu.com is happy to offer a wide selection of certified Suzuki outboard ECSTAR lubricants, fogging oils, fuel stabilizers, grease, and other additives to match the exact specifications of your Suzuki outboard engine. We’ve also stocked all Suzuki 100 hour service kits with Suzuki ECSTAR lubes and oils to make it easy and convenient to maintain your engine worry-free. 

PartsVu is proud to help boaters service their engine by providing helpful resources for all models of Suzuki outboard motors:

• Suzuki Outboard Engine Oil Capacities & Oil Filter Chart
• Suzuki Outboard Engine Gear Lube Capacity Chart
• Suzuki Outboard 100-Hour Service Checklist
• Suzuki Outboard Season Breakout Guide

Suzuki ECSTAR Lubes | Oils | Additives FAQ

Should I have my oil tested by a lab?

Several laboratories provide performance testing of used ECSTAR Suzuki oils, allowing you to learn more about the health of your engine. Blackstone Labs is one such provider, and they have a convenient mail-in kit that includes everything you need to submit an oil sample. They can also test gear oils, hydraulic fluids, and oils from your other vehicles or toys. 

Oil test results can tip you off to an accelerated wear condition inside of your engine long before any other symptoms show up. If you still want to know more about your engine, purchase an oil filter cutter and open the spent filter to look for evidence of contamination and metal dust or shavings.

Once you have inspected your spent Suzuki ECSTAR oil and filter, set them aside for proper disposal. If you removed the drain screw to empty your oil, carefully reinstall the drain plug. The new oil filter should be removed from its package and the o-ring lubricated with a thin coat of fresh engine oil. Spin on the new oil filter and gently tighten to seat the o-ring without over-torquing.

Loosen the oil fill plug on the top of the engine and pour in fresh Suzuki ECSTAR engine oil (the best oil for Suzuki outboard engines). We recommend adding slightly less than the stated capacity. With the engine trimmed down, check the oil level on the dipstick after allowing a few minutes for the oil to drain into the oil pan properly. Filling the oil to the lower level on the dipstick will help you to measure if the oil level changes over time with the engine in operation.

Can I use automotive engine oil in my Suzuki outboard engine? 

No, it’s highly recommended that you DO NOT use automotive engine oil in your Suzuki outboard engine at all. 

While many boat owners wonder about using automobile oil they have laying around in their garage, the short answer is that Suzuki 2-stroke outboard motors and Suzuki 4-stroke outboard motors are vastly different from your automotive engine. Because marine engines operate in close proximity to water, Suzuki marine oil is designed to withstand some water infiltration and perform under different tolerances. 

Use only Suzuki ECSTAR marine oils and other lubricants designed specifically for your OEM Suzuki engine. Refer to your Suzuki owners manual for weights and capacities specific to your engine model and year. 

How do I fog my Suzuki outboard engine? 

Fogging oil is a wax-based oil that coats the engine, removes carbon deposits, and prevents corrosion. Fogging your Suzuki outboard is a smart move for winterization, as water deposits and other harmful corrosives (including leftover fuel) can eat away at the metals in the outboard engine. (Read “How To Winterize a 4-Stroke Suzuki Outboard Motor” about winterization)

As you work through this process, you’ll understand why this process is called fogging, as the engine will produce plenty of white smoke to indicate that the oil has worked its way through your engine. 

Because you will not be in the water while performing this task, you will need to use a motor flusher to keep the engine cooled at a safe operating temperature while you complete the fogging process. Follow the Flush Your Outboard with the Engine Running procedures detailed above.

Before fogging your Suzuki outboard engine, you’ll need the following:

• Fogging oil
• Crescent wrench 
• Replacement spark plugs
• Motor flusher 
• Garden hose
• Water supply

Begin by either removing your engine’s air cleaner to gain access to the carburetors or cylinder air intakes. 

Once you have access to the carburetors or cylinder air intakes, disconnect the fuel line. The purpose of this is that the fogging oil forms a barrier against any new gas, while also removing the old fuel.

Rev the engine to a bit above idle, and with the engine running, spray the fogging oil into the carburetor(s) or air intake of each cylinder. You may need an assistant to spray the oil or rev the engine depending on how your Suzuki outboard is mounted. 

Continuously spray fogging oil into your engine’s carburetors or cylinder air intake until the engine stalls. Be sure to spray a coating of fogging oil into each cylinder or carburetor. Don’t spray too much oil at once and kill the engine immediately, but after a continuous spray, the engine will eventually stall. This is precisely what you want, and the stalling indicates that the engine is thoroughly covered with fogging oil. 

Next, use your crescent wrench to remove the spark plugs and spray fogging oil into each cylinder. Turn the flywheel with a crescent wrench to move the cylinders allowing you to coat each cylinder wall entirely. Alternatively, you can also simply start the engine for just a few seconds to allow the fogging oil to coat the cylinder walls. Repeat this process a couple of times to be sure that you’ve adequately coated each cylinder.

Last, replace old spark plugs with new Suzuki spark plugs so that you are ready to go in the spring.

How do I service my Suzuki outboard lower unit? 

Changing your Suzuki gearcase lube oil is a relatively simple procedure:

First, Suzuki lower unit gear lube is drained by removing the lower drain screw first and then the upper plug vent to allow air in. On most models, both plugs are clearly visible on the lower unit, but on models with low water pickups, the forward pickup will need to be removed to access the drain plug. 

Make sure to have a drain pan and extra rags handy as the lower unit oil will begin running down the skeg as soon as you remove the upper vent plug. Be sure to collect the fiber gaskets from both plugs after removal, as these are not reusable and should be discarded.

Use a properly sized screwdriver assisted by a wrench if necessary to loosen these screws which should be pretty tight. An impact driver and hammer may be needed depending on who serviced your engine last. The drain screw has a magnetic tip, so inspect the plug after removal to see if heavy deposits exist. Some fine shavings are normal, but chunks or a large quantity of metal are cause for further inspection. 

How do I stabilize the fuel system of my Suzuki outboard motor?

Before stabilizing the fuel system of your Suzuki outboard engine, you’ll need the following:

• Fuel stabilizer suitable for long-term storage
• Motor flusher 
• Garden hose
• Water supply

We recommend using a fuel stabilizer all of the time when running ethanol-enriched gasoline. Additionally, it is vital to use a fuel stabilizer when your boat will be sitting unused for any more than two or three months - failure to do so can damage your Suzuki outboard, as corrosion can occur from the fuel.

Add the amount of fuel stabilizer directed on the product’s packing to your fuel. This may include 1 ounce per gallon of fuel, or require more/less for other concentrations of fuel stabilizer.

Run the engine with stabilized fuel for 10-15 minutes to thoroughly circulate the stabilized fuel throughout your fuel system. If your boat is out of the water, it is absolutely essential to use a motor flusher to keep your outboard operating at an appropriate temperature.

Why is my Suzuki outboard fuel system important?

The Suzuki fuel system is composed of the fuel pump, fuel filter, check valves, fuel hoses, fuel pump diaphragm, and injectors. Listen for the operation sound. If you can’t hear the system attempting to work, check for continuity between the fuse holder, fuse, fuel pump relay, and wiring harness. Repair or replace the defective part(s) if there is no continuity. If there is continuity, replace the electric fuel pump. If you hear the operation sound, check each part of the fuel system individually. 

First, inspect the Suzuki fuel filters and look for clogs, cracks, kinks, or leaks in the hoses. Replace any parts with damage. Next, check the diaphragm for cracks or other signs of damage. Then, check the vapor separator needle valve for bends or signs of wear. The next step is to check the injectors for clogs and resistance. Then, check for poor connections.

Finally, note if there is any water in the fuel. Ethanol gasoline attracts water, which negatively impacts the combustibility of the fuel. This is especially likely if you haven’t used fuel additives or stabilizers. Water in the fuel may also cause a bad or failing fuel pump. If you find water in your fuel, you may want to check that the pump is in good condition. 

You can perform a Suzuki outboard fuel pump test by removing the spark plug wire boot from the Suzuki spark plug and then removing the spark plug with a plug socket and wrench. Attach a compression gauge into the spark plug socket. If you have an electric motor, you may need a second person to crank your engine over while you twist your throttle position open. Otherwise, you can push the throttle open with one hand and pull the rope start.