Outboard Engine Maintenance and Diagnostics Course
This course teaches you to maintain, inspect and diagnose two- and four-stroke outboard engines, from the fuel system to the gearcase and electronic fuel injection. You will work with hour-based maintenance plans and an orderly fault-finding method.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Outboard Engine Maintenance and Diagnostics Course?
This short course teaches you to maintain, inspect and diagnose two- and four-stroke outboard engines, from the fuel system to the gearcase and electronic fuel injection (EFI). You will plan hourly and seasonal maintenance with inspection sheets, check filters, water separators and lift pumps, test plugs, coils and CDI units with a multimeter, service the gearcase and work through faults using codes and compression tests.
What sets this course apart: a practical approach, with step-by-step workshop procedures; coverage of both two- and four-stroke engines, including carburettors, direct injection and EFI; orderly diagnosis, moving from symptom to cause with measurements; the gearcase and propeller, with oil, seals, anodes and trim; and an applied case in which you document a complete annual service.
Program highlights
- Practical approach: step-by-step workshop procedures for every system of the engine.
- Two- and four-stroke: carburettors, direct injection and EFI explained side by side.
- Orderly diagnosis: a method that leads from symptom to cause through measurement.
- Gearcase and propeller: oil changes, seals, sacrificial anodes and trim.
- Planned maintenance: hourly and seasonal intervals recorded on inspection sheets.
- Applied case: a fully documented annual service of an outboard engine.
Syllabus of the Outboard Engine Maintenance and Diagnostics Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Fundamentals and architecture of the outboard engine
- 1.1. Two- and four-stroke cycles applied to the outboard: intake, compression, power and exhaust
- 1.2. Main components: block, cylinder head, crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons and rings of the powerhead
- 1.3. Lubrication systems: premix, oil injection and wet sump in four-stroke engines
- 1.4. Reading the identification plate, serial numbers and the manufacturer's service manuals
- 1.5. Basic workshop tools, tightening torques, safety and management of oily waste
Fuel and supply systems
- 2.1. Fuel circuit: tank, primer bulb, water-separating filter and diaphragm pump
- 2.2. Carburettors: jets, float bowl, float, idle adjustment and ultrasonic cleaning
- 2.3. EFI electronic fuel injection: high-pressure pump, vapor separator tank (VST), injectors, regulator and sensors
- 2.4. Problems with ethanol (E10) in petrol, fuel degradation and stabilizers
- 2.5. Measuring fuel pressure with a gauge and diagnosing supply faults
Ignition, starting and electrical system
- 3.1. CDI ignition: stator, trigger, CDI unit and coils; checking resistances and peak voltages
- 3.2. Spark plugs: heat range, electrode gap and reading the appearance of combustion
- 3.3. Starter motor, relay, neutral safety switch and kill-cord switch
- 3.4. Charging circuit: rectifier-regulator, output amperage and battery condition
- 3.5. Wiring harnesses, waterproof connectors and diagnosis with a multimeter and test lamp
Cooling, gearcase and transmission
- 4.1. Raw-water cooling circuit: impeller, pump, thermostat and pressure relief valve
- 4.2. Replacing the water pump impeller and checking the tell-tale stream
- 4.3. Gearcase: gears, dog clutch, oil change and detection of water in the lubricant
- 4.4. Seals, O-rings, pressure and vacuum testing of the gearcase, and sacrificial anodes
- 4.5. Hydraulic power trim and tilt, fluid level; propeller pitch, diameter and splines
Fault diagnosis and practical case
- 5.1. Diagnostic methodology: symptom, possible cause, test and verification with data logging
- 5.2. Compression test, leak-down test and analysis of differences between cylinders
- 5.3. Manufacturer software and fault codes, overheating and oil pressure alarms
- 5.4. Winterisation, recommissioning, freshwater flushing and anti-corrosion protection of the engine
- 5.5. Practical case: complete annual service of an outboard with a technical report and quotation
Duration and format of the Outboard Engine Maintenance and Diagnostics Course
It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Outboard Engine Maintenance and Diagnostics Course
Career opportunities after the Outboard Engine Maintenance and Diagnostics Course
Questions about the Outboard Engine Maintenance and Diagnostics Course
Yes. The syllabus covers both cycles, including carburettors, direct injection and EFI, and explains the differences in lubrication and maintenance between them.
It is not essential. The first module reviews engine fundamentals and basic tools, and the course then progresses towards diagnostic procedures.
Yes. Module 4 details replacing the impeller, checking the thermostat and verifying the cooling tell-tale stream.
You plan and document the complete annual service of an outboard engine, including a checklist, measurements, diagnosis and a quotation for the work.
Yes. Module 2 covers the problems caused by E10 petrol, how fuel degrades in storage and how stabilizers are used to protect the fuel system.
Yes. Module 5 covers laying up the engine for winter, recommissioning it at the start of the season, freshwater flushing and anti-corrosion protection.
The course is taught online and comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each and ends with an applied practical case.
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Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at boat owners, mechanics from the automotive or motorcycle trade, nautical workshop technicians, rental base staff and enthusiasts who want to maintain and diagnose outboard engines with technical judgment. No prior mechanical training is required.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
- Admission: enrollment is open all year round; online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.