FAQs For Teleflex Engine and Drive Parts

My engine is still under the original factory warranty, will using Sierra oil or lubes void my factory warranty?

No, your factory warranty will still remain in effect. This is a common misconception that using non-engine manufacturer oils, lubes or other engine and drive parts will void the factory warranty. Sierra oils and lubricants meet or exceed the NMMA (National Marine Manufacturers Association) standards that all of the engine factory brand oils currently meet. Sierra oils meet the stringent TC-W3 and FC-W rating for 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines and Sierra offers an extensive selection of oils and lubes to exactly match the engine manufacturers lubrication requirements.

I want to top off my lower unit gear housing with Sierra Synthetic Blend Hi-Performance lubricant. Will it be compatible with the engine manufacturer lube currently in the housing?

It depends. Sierra blends all of their gear lubes to meet or exceed the engine manufacturer specification. However, you should never mix organic, semi-synthetic or full synthetic gear lubes. If you are 100% certain that the gear lube in the lower unit is also a semi-synthetic, then yes you can just top off. However, it is always best to drain and then replace the old gear lubricant with fresh lube. In most cases changing lower unit lube is easily done by the boat owner and Sierra also offers an assortment of gear lube pumps and adaptors to make the job easy and hassle free. Remember to replace the gaskets or o-rings on your drain and vent screws and inspect the old lubricant for metal chips and water (usually a milky or streaked appearance to the lube) that may indicate a problem in the lower unit. While you are down there, pull your prop and inspect the prop shaft for fishing line that can cut a seal and apply Sierra spline grease (18-9200) to the propshaft to prevent corrosion.

Are Sierra parts as good as engine manufacturer parts?

Simply put, YES. Many Sierra parts are made in the same plants and from the same suppliers as the original engine manufacturers. Sierra engineers their parts to meet or exceed the factory original part and all Sierra parts are backed by the Sierra Limited Lifetime Product Warranty

I have an older boat. The marina where I fill up now sells fuel with 10% ethanol. Will this cause any problems with my fuel lines?

Ethanol can cause many problems with fuel tanks and filters. The good news is if your boat was built after 1984 it is most likely okay. In 1984, the marine industry started using hoses built to SAE J1527 specifications. The hoses will be labeled with the SAE J1527 brand. Ethanol enhanced fuel will not cause premature failure. If the fuel line is not SAE J1527 you should replace the fuel lines as soon as possible with Shields hose

I have to replace the sanitation hose from my head to my holding tank, which hose should I use?

That all depends on how your boats plumbing is set up and what type of head you are using. If your discharge hose is short, less than 8-10 ft and self-draining the Shieldsvac XHD Series 148 hose will work well. For added protection you can upgrade to the Shields Super PVC sanitation hose Series 144. The Series 144 contains a chemical that inhibits the growth of odor causing bacteria and algae.

If the discharge hose is longer or has some areas where it is not self-draining we suggest you use a rubber sanitation hose like our Series 101. Care should be taken to make sure the hose is periodically flushed to prevent waste from accumulating and building up odors.

The ultimate marine sanitation hose is Shields Poly X Series 105 sanitation hose. The Poly X features a polyurethane cover to create an impenetrable barrier to waste odors.

I am repowering my boat and will need new wet exhaust hoses. What hose should I use

It is important in marine wet exhaust application that you look for SAE J2006 rated hose. That means the hose is specifically designed for marine wet exhaust. In most boats, black high temperature exhaust works well. Some boats, particularly high performance or large diesel boats will require blue silicone exhaust very high temperature wet exhaust hose.
If the sections you need are short (less than 3x the hose ID) and straight, the best hose to use is a softwall hose Shields Marine Exhaust Series 200 (high temp), or Shields Nautiflex Series 202 (very high temp).

For longer lengths or lengths that require a bend use Shieldsflex II wire reinforced wet exhaust Series 250 (high temp). If the bend is more severe use Shieldsaust C corrugated wet exhaust Series 252 (high temp). Nautiflex corrugated wet exhaust Series 262 (very high temp) is also available for high temperature applications.

The information provided here has been reproduced courtesy of Teleflex. Wholesale Marine reproduced this information 08/11/2009