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 Marine dealers.

Service manuals for carbureted 2-strokes motors are available from Helm Inc.* (www.helminc.com) and Clymer Manuals* (www.clymer.com) and can be ordered over the Internet. Nissan service manuals for 4-strokes, 2-strokes, and TLDI outboards can be ordered through your local dealer. We also have a few dealers that sell them via their website: Avalon Professional Group, Defender Industries, or ITG/Cumberland Marine

*(Nissan Marine is not responsible for the information contained in 3rd party manuals).

You can search for the dealer closest to you with our on-line dealer database. If you are still having problems locating a dealer near you, please call our office at 214-420-6440 (hours 8am-5pm, Central time).

As the distributor of Nissan outboards, all outboards are sold through our dealer network. Each dealer is free to set their own retail price, therefore, you should contact your local dealer to find the actual retail price in your area.

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). To find the best "bang for your buck" please consult your local dealer and discuss your needs with him/her. They will be more than happy to help you find the best outboard for your particular needs.

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 (listed under the Tech Talk section of our website) 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.

You will need to contact your local dealer to order any replacement parts; Nissan Marine only sells through our dealer network. We strive to maintain a 24 hour turn-around on all parts orders received from our dealers, so if the dealer does not have your particular part in-stock, they 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). 

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. We've put together a handy chart to help you calculate the amount of oil/gas to mix.

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.

TLDI outboards should only be run using TCW3 oil specifically formulated for use in Direct Injection motors. Standard TCW3 oil is not recommended for use in TLDI outboards. The following oils have been tested by our factory and certified for use in TLDI motors:

• Nissan Marine Premium Oil

• Tohatsu Premium Oil

• Pennzoil Complete Marine Synthetic

• Pennzoil Semi-Synthetic Outboard Oil

• Mercury Optimax/DFI Oil

• Yamaha Yamalube 2-M Semi-Synthetic Injector Oil

• Bombardier RAM Ficht Oil

The above oil brands are currently the only brands that have been tested and approved by our factory for use in TLDI systems. Brand names listed are trademarked by their respective owners.

For your 4-stroke outboard, you should use Genuine Nissan Marine FC-W 4-Cycle Oil. Nissan Marine FC-W 4-Cycle Oil is NMMA Certified and has been specially formulated to handle the higher RPM's that outboards are subjected to, as well as special rust inhibitors to combat the harsh operating conditions of the marine environment. Genuine Nissan Marine Oil reduces friction & wear and ensures the internal components are properly lubricated for optimum performance. If Nissan Marine 4-Cycle Oil is not available we recommend using an NMMA Certified FC-W 4-cycle oil formulated for use in outboard engines.

Because outboard motors have raw water cooling systems and run in varying water temperatures, unlike other water cooled 4-stroke engines, it can be difficult to maintain sufficient engine temperature in some geographic areas. Therefore, we do not always recommend using synthetic oil in our 4-stroke outboard motors, especially during break-in, due to the lowered engine temperature which could contribute to fuel/oil dilution.

Your Nissan 4-stroke outboard is equipped with an Engine Oil Warning Lamp (except 2hp, 2.5hp & 3.5hp).  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.

The minimum octane rating that you should use is 87, however, we recommend using gas with an octane rating of 89 or higher.

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.

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.

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.

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.

NO!!! Before you start your 4-stroke outboard you must add oil to the crankcase. Nissan 4-stroke outboards are not filled with oil from the factory.  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).  Please consult your owner's manual for the proper oil type and amount to add and for the proper break-in and operating procedures.

Measure from the top of your transom to the bottom of your keel. If it is from 15" to 17" long you'll need to get a Nissan outboard with a "short" shaft. If it is from 20" 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.

Please note that depending on the particular model, some Nissan shaft lengths may be 2" longer than "standard" (ie: a short shaft may be 17" instead of 15" and a long shaft may be 22" instead of 20").  Therefore, depending on the configuration of your keel, the shaft length required by your boat may be different than the above recommendation. We recommend that you consult with your local dealer to determine which is the correct shaft length for your particular boat.

For the 2-stroke models, any 5/32" x 1" (4mm x 24mm) shear pin will work just fine. There are two types of shear pins available; brass and stainless steel. Brass shear pins will "give" if you strike an underwater object, however, brass shears pins may also break more easily if shifting or accelerating too quickly. Stainless steel shear pins are much harder than brass shear pins and won't give if striking an object and may cause damage to the prop. Stainless steel shear pins are available and should be used with aluminum props.

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.

Click here to view the dimensions of our fuel tanks

The EPA emissions label on the side of the outboard shows the year the outboard was manufactured, however, this should not be confused with the "Model Year" of the outboard.  The model year starts at different times than the calendar year, therefore, it is possible the emissions label will show the motor produced in one year, but the MSO shows a later model year.  For example, an emissions label may show a motor was produced in 2006, but the MSO may show that it is a 2007 model year outboard.