Pre-Season Check; Spark Plugs - BRP Evinrude E-TEC Operator's Manual

MAINTENANCE


PRE-SEASON CHECK

Prepare your outboard for a season of reliable service by
performing a general check and a few preventive mainte-
nance procedures.
Examine all loosened or removed hardware. Replace dam-
aged or missing parts with Evinrude/Johnson Genuine
Parts or equivalent. Check the gearcase for leakage. If
leakage is evident, the gearcase seals should be replaced.
See your Dealer.
IMPORTANT: Gearcase lubricant is thick and clear. Do
not confuse this with engine oil, which may normally ap-
pear on the skeg after performing the long-term (winteriza-
tion) storage procedure.
Anticorrosion anodes — Check condition. Refer to
Anti-Corrosion Anodes on page 29.
Battery — Charge fully. Refer to BATTERY on page 46.
WARNING
Do not use a booster battery and jumper cables to
start the outboard. Gasoline fumes can cause explo-
sion and fire, resulting in property damage, per-
sonal injury or death.
Review your outboard's warning system self-test routine.
During your preseason start-up, make sure the warning
system self-tests properly. If it does not, see your Dealer.
IMPORTANT: Do not run your outboard—even for a brief
start-up—without supplying water to it. Refer to FLUSH-
ING on page 38.
Following ENGINE STARTING on page 19, start the out-
board. If the outboard was auto-winterized, it will smoke for
a short time after the first start of the season.
Let engine idle and observe running quality. If poor, refer to
TROUBLESHOOTING on page 44 or see your Dealer.
Let engine idle and confirm water pump operation. Water
must flow from the water pump indicator in a steady
stream. If it does not, shut off the outboard and investigate.
Refer to ENGINE OVERHEATING on page 34.
Stop the outboard and check the fuel system for leaks.
WARNING
Failure to check for fuel leakage could allow a leak
to go undetected, resulting in fire or explosion.

SPARK PLUGS

WARNING
The ignition system presents a serious shock haz-
ard. Use caution to avoid injury from shock or injury
resulting from your reaction to shock. Do not handle
primary or secondary ignition components while the
engine is cranking or running.
42
Spark plugs should be serviced by an Evinrude E-TEC
Dealer. Incorrect spark plug maintenance can lead to en-
gine damage.
IMPORTANT: Replacement spark plugs MUST be in-
dexed correctly.
Marine Engine Duty Cycles
The International Council of Marine Industry Associations
(ICOMIA) Standard No. 36-88 specifies a marine engine
duty cycle based on documented studies. A duty cycle is a
profile of engine running and usage. This duty cycle is used
to determine average spark plug longevity and mainte-
nance requirements for Evinrude E-TEC outboards.
ICOMIA Marine Engine Duty Cycle
Engine Speed as
Percentage of Rated
Speed (RPM)
IDLE
40%
60%
80%
100%
IMPORTANT: Some running profiles and conditions can
lead to spark plug wear sooner than expected. Depending
on your specific usage, the spark plug maintenance sched-
ule may require adjustment.
Time at Specified RPM
(Percentage of total
engine running time)
40%
25%
15%
14%
6%