Spring tune up -- what's necessary?
 

My Mercruiser 350 normally gets a spring tune up, i.e. new plugs,
timing, etc, etc. Are new plugs necessary every year? What *must* be
done every spring. All the fluids were changed in the fall, and the
batteries were kept on a charger most of the winter.

Thanks.

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

Spring tune up -- what's necessary?
 

Drive service for sure....

"John H" wrote in message
...
My Mercruiser 350 normally gets a spring tune up, i.e. new plugs,
timing, etc, etc. Are new plugs necessary every year? What *must* be
done every spring. All the fluids were changed in the fall, and the
batteries were kept on a charger most of the winter.

Thanks.

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

Spring tune up -- what's necessary?
 

"John H" wrote in message
...
My Mercruiser 350 normally gets a spring tune up, i.e. new plugs,
timing, etc, etc. Are new plugs necessary every year? What *must* be
done every spring. All the fluids were changed in the fall, and the
batteries were kept on a charger most of the winter.

Don't forget about the plug wires, hoses and clamps. If they look slightly
worn of cracked replace them.

Bert

Spring tune up -- what's necessary?
 

On Thu, 04 Mar 2004 20:33:41 -0500, John H
wrote:

My Mercruiser 350 normally gets a spring tune up, i.e. new plugs,
timing, etc, etc. Are new plugs necessary every year? What *must* be
done every spring. All the fluids were changed in the fall, and the
batteries were kept on a charger most of the winter.

I go through a ton of plugs every spring - all the lawn equipment,
snow blowers, and my two antique trucks which maybe get used maybe
450/500 miles per year each.

It really depends on usage - if you have lots' of hours on the engine
from the previous summer, then yes. I winterize my FICHTS in the
fall and in the spring, have the plugs changed so they are fresh for
the season. It's a personal thing and I have no absolute reason,
scientific or anecdotal evidence to back that up - it's just opinion.

It's certainly cheap enough to change the plugs, so why not?

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
-----------
"Do fishermen eat avocados? This is a question
that no one ever thinks to ask."

Russel Chatham, "Dark Waters" (1988)

Spring tune up -- what's necessary?
 

On Thu, 4 Mar 2004 19:35:51 -0800, "Insomniac"
wrote:

Drive service for sure....

"John H" wrote in message
.. .
My Mercruiser 350 normally gets a spring tune up, i.e. new plugs,
timing, etc, etc. Are new plugs necessary every year? What *must* be
done every spring. All the fluids were changed in the fall, and the
batteries were kept on a charger most of the winter.

Thanks.

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

Yup. Did that in the fall. Blew a seal and had the major service done.

Thanks for the reply.

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

Spring tune up -- what's necessary?
 

On Thu, 4 Mar 2004 22:40:01 -0500, "Bert Robbins"
wrote:


"John H" wrote in message
.. .
My Mercruiser 350 normally gets a spring tune up, i.e. new plugs,
timing, etc, etc. Are new plugs necessary every year? What *must* be
done every spring. All the fluids were changed in the fall, and the
batteries were kept on a charger most of the winter.

Don't forget about the plug wires, hoses and clamps. If they look slightly
worn of cracked replace them.

Bert

Good points. In fact, you prompted me to go do that right now.

Thanks!

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

Spring tune up -- what's necessary?
 

On Fri, 05 Mar 2004 11:54:45 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Thu, 04 Mar 2004 20:33:41 -0500, John H
wrote:

My Mercruiser 350 normally gets a spring tune up, i.e. new plugs,
timing, etc, etc. Are new plugs necessary every year? What *must* be
done every spring. All the fluids were changed in the fall, and the
batteries were kept on a charger most of the winter.

I go through a ton of plugs every spring - all the lawn equipment,
snow blowers, and my two antique trucks which maybe get used maybe
450/500 miles per year each.

It really depends on usage - if you have lots' of hours on the engine
from the previous summer, then yes. I winterize my FICHTS in the
fall and in the spring, have the plugs changed so they are fresh for
the season. It's a personal thing and I have no absolute reason,
scientific or anecdotal evidence to back that up - it's just opinion.

It's certainly cheap enough to change the plugs, so why not?

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
-----------
"Do fishermen eat avocados? This is a question
that no one ever thinks to ask."

Russel Chatham, "Dark Waters" (1988)

On the 350, several of the plugs are a real *pita* to reach. They are
cheap though, so guess I'll just bite the bullet and do it.

Thanks for the reply.

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

Spring tune up -- what's necessary?
 

To each their own I guess. I've had the same plugs in my merc 5.7 for 5
years now. They still look good, they're staying in. Just last week I
finally replaced the plugs in my mother's 4 banger toyota truck at 90K
miles. My 10 year old mower still has it's original plug. Plugs don't last
forever but they sure last longer than one season.

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 04 Mar 2004 20:33:41 -0500, John H
wrote:

My Mercruiser 350 normally gets a spring tune up, i.e. new plugs,
timing, etc, etc. Are new plugs necessary every year? What *must* be
done every spring. All the fluids were changed in the fall, and the
batteries were kept on a charger most of the winter.

I go through a ton of plugs every spring - all the lawn equipment,
snow blowers, and my two antique trucks which maybe get used maybe
450/500 miles per year each.

It really depends on usage - if you have lots' of hours on the engine
from the previous summer, then yes. I winterize my FICHTS in the
fall and in the spring, have the plugs changed so they are fresh for
the season. It's a personal thing and I have no absolute reason,
scientific or anecdotal evidence to back that up - it's just opinion.

It's certainly cheap enough to change the plugs, so why not?

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
-----------
"Do fishermen eat avocados? This is a question
that no one ever thinks to ask."

Russel Chatham, "Dark Waters" (1988)

Spring tune up -- what's necessary?
 

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 04 Mar 2004 20:33:41 -0500, John H
wrote:

My Mercruiser 350 normally gets a spring tune up, i.e. new plugs,
timing, etc, etc. Are new plugs necessary every year? What *must* be
done every spring. All the fluids were changed in the fall, and the
batteries were kept on a charger most of the winter.

I go through a ton of plugs every spring - all the lawn equipment,
snow blowers, and my two antique trucks which maybe get used maybe
450/500 miles per year each.

It really depends on usage - if you have lots' of hours on the engine
from the previous summer, then yes. I winterize my FICHTS in the
fall and in the spring, have the plugs changed so they are fresh for
the season. It's a personal thing and I have no absolute reason,
scientific or anecdotal evidence to back that up - it's just opinion.

It's certainly cheap enough to change the plugs, so why not?

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
-----------
"Do fishermen eat avocados? This is a question
that no one ever thinks to ask."

Russel Chatham, "Dark Waters" (1988)

I would always wait to burn off the tank of stabilized gas (from winter
layover) before I changed plugs.

Spring tune up -- what's necessary?
 

On Sun, 7 Mar 2004 16:07:37 -0500, "Jim--" wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
.. .
On Thu, 04 Mar 2004 20:33:41 -0500, John H
wrote:

My Mercruiser 350 normally gets a spring tune up, i.e. new plugs,
timing, etc, etc. Are new plugs necessary every year? What *must* be
done every spring. All the fluids were changed in the fall, and the
batteries were kept on a charger most of the winter.

I go through a ton of plugs every spring - all the lawn equipment,
snow blowers, and my two antique trucks which maybe get used maybe
450/500 miles per year each.

It really depends on usage - if you have lots' of hours on the engine
from the previous summer, then yes. I winterize my FICHTS in the
fall and in the spring, have the plugs changed so they are fresh for
the season. It's a personal thing and I have no absolute reason,
scientific or anecdotal evidence to back that up - it's just opinion.

It's certainly cheap enough to change the plugs, so why not?

I would always wait to burn off the tank of stabilized gas (from winter
layover) before I changed plugs.

I don't keep a lot of gas in the tanks over winter and I always use a
fresh tank full on first run up in the spring.

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
-----------
"Do fishermen eat avocados? This is a question
that no one ever thinks to ask."

Russel Chatham, "Dark Waters" (1988)

Spring tune up -- what's necessary?
 

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote in message . ..
On Sun, 7 Mar 2004 16:07:37 -0500, "Jim--" wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
.. .
On Thu, 04 Mar 2004 20:33:41 -0500, John H
wrote:

My Mercruiser 350 normally gets a spring tune up, i.e. new plugs,
timing, etc, etc. Are new plugs necessary every year? What *must* be
done every spring. All the fluids were changed in the fall, and the
batteries were kept on a charger most of the winter.

I go through a ton of plugs every spring - all the lawn equipment,
snow blowers, and my two antique trucks which maybe get used maybe
450/500 miles per year each.

It really depends on usage - if you have lots' of hours on the engine
from the previous summer, then yes. I winterize my FICHTS in the
fall and in the spring, have the plugs changed so they are fresh for
the season. It's a personal thing and I have no absolute reason,
scientific or anecdotal evidence to back that up - it's just opinion.

It's certainly cheap enough to change the plugs, so why not?

I would always wait to burn off the tank of stabilized gas (from winter
layover) before I changed plugs.

I don't keep a lot of gas in the tanks over winter and I always use a
fresh tank full on first run up in the spring.

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
-----------
"Do fishermen eat avocados? This is a question
that no one ever thinks to ask."

Russel Chatham, "Dark Waters" (1988)

My boat dealer recommended that I top off the tank for winter storage
and add a fuel stabilizer. He said that airspace in the tank over the
winter can cause problems with condensation. I've followed his advice
for three winters now and I haven't had any problems.

Spring tune up -- what's necessary?
 

On 7 Mar 2004 19:37:30 -0800, (nfisherman)
wrote:

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote in message . ..
On Sun, 7 Mar 2004 16:07:37 -0500, "Jim--" wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
.. .
On Thu, 04 Mar 2004 20:33:41 -0500, John H
wrote:

My Mercruiser 350 normally gets a spring tune up, i.e. new plugs,
timing, etc, etc. Are new plugs necessary every year? What *must* be
done every spring. All the fluids were changed in the fall, and the
batteries were kept on a charger most of the winter.

I go through a ton of plugs every spring - all the lawn equipment,
snow blowers, and my two antique trucks which maybe get used maybe
450/500 miles per year each.

It really depends on usage - if you have lots' of hours on the engine
from the previous summer, then yes. I winterize my FICHTS in the
fall and in the spring, have the plugs changed so they are fresh for
the season. It's a personal thing and I have no absolute reason,
scientific or anecdotal evidence to back that up - it's just opinion.

It's certainly cheap enough to change the plugs, so why not?

I would always wait to burn off the tank of stabilized gas (from winter
layover) before I changed plugs.

I don't keep a lot of gas in the tanks over winter and I always use a
fresh tank full on first run up in the spring.

My boat dealer recommended that I top off the tank for winter storage
and add a fuel stabilizer. He said that airspace in the tank over the
winter can cause problems with condensation. I've followed his advice
for three winters now and I haven't had any problems.

Good advice, but I've never had any problems either. Then again, I
put enough stabilizer in the tank/tanks for a full load too.

I just have a "thing" about having a lot of gas over winter. I'm even
more leery of it now that we're into ethanol blends up here.

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
-----------
"Do fishermen eat avocados? This is a question
that no one ever thinks to ask."

Russel Chatham, "Dark Waters" (1988)

Spring tune up -- what's necessary?
 

On Thu, 04 Mar 2004 20:33:41 +0000, John H wrote:

My Mercruiser 350 normally gets a spring tune up, i.e. new plugs, timing, etc,
etc. Are new plugs necessary every year? What *must* be done every spring. All
the fluids were changed in the fall, and the batteries were kept on a charger
most of the winter.


Look at the plugs. Sometimes a good cleaning (prefer with a special spark-plug
sandblaster, but sandpaper will do), re-gap and put 'em back in.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36 - we doan need no steenkin' spark plugs!

Spring tune up -- what's necessary?
 

On Mon, 08 Mar 2004 07:21:32 -0800, "Lloyd Sumpter"
wrote:

On Thu, 04 Mar 2004 20:33:41 +0000, John H wrote:

My Mercruiser 350 normally gets a spring tune up, i.e. new plugs, timing, etc,
etc. Are new plugs necessary every year? What *must* be done every spring. All
the fluids were changed in the fall, and the batteries were kept on a charger
most of the winter.


Look at the plugs. Sometimes a good cleaning (prefer with a special spark-plug
sandblaster, but sandpaper will do), re-gap and put 'em back in.

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36 - we doan need no steenkin' spark plugs!

Lloyd, getting *to* the plugs is the problem. If I could pull the
engine my life would be much simpler. The plugs are under the exhaust
manifold. Once I had them out, I'd for sure replace them.

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

Spring tune up -- what's necessary?
 

John H wrote in message . ..
My Mercruiser 350 normally gets a spring tune up, i.e. new plugs,
timing, etc, etc. Are new plugs necessary every year? What *must* be
done every spring. All the fluids were changed in the fall, and the
batteries were kept on a charger most of the winter.

Thanks.

John H


Plugs aren't necessary every year. UNLESS they show signs of wear. If
the electrodes aren't eroded, all is well. If the center electrode is
worn so that it is rounded over, or the top electrode is eroded, then
replace.