Many Yamaha outboard owners have the skills and know-how to do routine maintenance tasks. However, many fear inadvertently voiding your Yamaha outboard warranty is a concern.
So the key question is, will doing maintenance yourself void your Yamaha outboard warranty? The answer is no, but it’s vital to understand the difference between maintenance and warranty service work.
Can You Do Your Own Yamaha Outboard Maintenance?
Yes, you can do your own maintenance on your Yamaha outboard engine.
Maintenance can be performed by anyone you authorize, including yourself, and it will not void your engine’s warranty. However, if problems manifest from the lack of proper service or maintenance, your warranty will not cover it. Therefore, it is critical to ensure that this work is done correctly.
Before performing DIY maintenance on your Yamaha outboard engine, we strongly advise you to refer to a Yamaha Outboard Service Interval Schedule and read your owner’s manual. For many boaters, a professional should perform more in-depth maintenance procedures like performing a Yamaha outboard leak-down test. Of course, whether to perform a task yourself or have a professional do it depends on your mechanical skill, expertise, and the time you have to perform the job.
If you decide to do your own maintenance, remember to dispose of oil and engine fluids properly to help protect the environment and to abide by your state and local laws.
A Certified Yamaha Mechanic Is Required for Yamaha Warranty Work
Although you’re more than welcome to do maintenance work on your Yamaha outboard engine yourself, Yamaha warranty work is quite different.
Any work covered under your Yamaha limited or extended warranty must be performed by a Yamaha dealer and certified Yamaha outboard mechanic. If you attempt to perform a repair for something covered under your warranty, you will void the rest of your warranty.
How Long Is a Yamaha Outboard Warranty?
All 4-stroke Yamaha outboard engines used for recreational purposes include a 3-year limited warranty.
In addition to the manufacturer warranty, Yamaha also offers YES (Yamaha Extended Services) warranty plans that extend your warranty. Like the original manufacturer warranty, all service work covered under the YES warranty must be performed by an authorized Yamaha dealer.
If you don’t know how much time is left on your warranty, you can always check your Factory Warranty Card, which should have been mailed to you after purchasing your Yamaha outboard. You can see your warranty information on the back, including how much coverage you have left.
If you can’t find your Factory Warranty Card, you can always use the Yamaha Outboard Customer Support line by calling (866) 894-1626. You’ll just need your engine’s Primary Identification Number (PID), so they can track your exact model. You can find your PID on your warranty card or on the side of the engine itself.
The best way to maintain your Yamaha outboard engine is to use Genuine OEM Yamaha parts and products. At YamahaOutboardMaintenance.com, we strive to offer handy service interval kits, Yamaha oil change kits, and Yamaha outboard gear lube kits designed for your specific outboard engine to make DIY routine maintenance simple.