The first edition of Outboard Engines set the standard for a clear, easy-to-follow primer on engine basics, troubleshooting, care, and repair. This new edition, significantly expanded, brings the subject up to date, with full coverage of the new four-stroke engines, conventional electronic and direct fuel-injection systems, oil-mix systems in the new clean two-strokes, and more. You'll save time and money doing your own engine repairs and maintenance.
In the last chapter of the first edition of Outboard Engines: Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair, I took a look at the future. When that edition was published in 1997 we were on the threshold of dramatically changing technology that would change the world of outboard engines forever. In the 10-plus years since that first edition we have seen this evolution occur, and just as I predicted, four-stroke outboards and exotic, computer-controlled fuel injection systems have taken over. These new-technology engines are cleaner burning and far more fuel efficient than their earlier brethren, not to mention more reliable. But, as with many things (your car, for example), outboard engines have evolved to a point where many of the more advanced diagnostic procedures are not going to be performed by the backyard mechanic. The equipment and specialized training required to perform certain tasks is simply not available to the average boatowner. But even with all that said, proper maintenance and having a more intimate knowledge of the inner workings of these new engines is important to all boatowners if they are to enjoy a trouble-free boating experience and achieve the maximum longevity from their not-so-inexpensive engine.