How Honda Outboard Motors Differ From Honda Car Engines

A Boat Is Driving In A Circle And Produces A Big Whirlpool

You might be surprised at how widespread, and common Honda outboard motors are if you’re just getting into boating. Honda is one of the largest names in the boating business. We at ARG Marine also know that they’re one of the biggest names in the car business. 

Have you ever wondered what exactly the differences are between the Honda outboard motors for sale and Honda car engines?

Let’s take a closer look. 

Many Choices in Honda Outboard Motors For Sale

Honda doesn’t just make one or two outboard motors. They make a wide range of different motors for different applications. Some are for comfortable cruising, and others are made for speed. Some of Honda’s outboards are based on the 1.5-liter Honda Fit engine, and others are based on the 2.4-liter Honda Fit engine. For those that don’t know, the Honda Fit is a small hatchback that gets great gas mileage on the road. 

Honda’s biggest and most powerful boat engine is based on the 3.5-liter V6 that can be found in the Honda Odyssey minivan. In order to change car engines into marine engines, some changes have to be made.

Sump Pump Design

The crankshaft is designed to sit parallel to the ground in a car engine. It also generally mates directly to a transmission. However, when Honda’s car engines are redesigned for marine life, the crankshaft is perpendicular to the water where it can turn the prop shaft. As the engine is now in a different position, Honda also had to move the oil pan and sump pump to where the transmission would usually be mated to the engine block. 

The other big difference is that a Honda marine engine is naturally cooled by the water it operates in. However, water temperatures can differ widely between lakes and oceans. To deal with this, Honda places two thermostats at the water exits for the head and block. This allows the engine to control and balance the temperature of the water it’s operating in. 

ARG Marine continues to find Honda engine technology very impressive. We are also impressed by Honda’s turnaround times in delivering new Honda outboards to our customers.

EPA Compliant

Honda outboard motors for sale must be EPA compliant, which means they can’t have stinky and smoky exhaust fumes. When the engine is raised, oil could end up seeping into the cylinders and causing a smoky startup situation. Honda uses a special type of piston ring for marine applications to prevent this. 

Stopping Corrosion Before It Starts

Another major difference between Honda’s marine engines and their car engines is that the marine engines need to be able to resist corrosion on an even larger scale. After all, they spend most of their time in the water, and sometimes even saltwater. The cooling passages are coated with an anodic film to resist and prevent corrosion. Honda also fits the block and heads with sacrificial anodes to capture corrosive elements. 

Come into ARG Marine today to find out more about our Honda outboard motors for sale in Palm Beach Gardens. Honda outboards are one of the best deals and easiest to find boat motors right now. Find yours today!