hd12121
Member
I have a 02 310DA w/ twim 350 mag mpi & vdrive. Two weeks ago the boat ran fine, a little stumble here and there but it cleared up & ran well for the last 1.5 hours. Last weekend the starboard engine would not go over 2300 rpm & consequently wouldn't plane off. Nothing was added, changed or done in between uses. No beep codes from the engine. MM suggested having a tech diagnose & probably an annual service would clear it up. Quoted $1000.00. Per engine plus whatever was faulty. Independant "honest & economical" tech recommended changing dist cap and fuel filter, sight unseen.
As a formerASE master auto tech & auto dealership service director I decided to pull a spark plug to see its condition. I pulled 1 plug - looked good. Nice sharp edges, no fouling, nice chocolate brown color but it was an NGK that MM put in. I never had any luck with NGK and decided to replace all the plugs with AC's. Upon pulling them I found one had a cracked external insulator but it, like all the rest, still looked even & fine although MM gapped them at close to .050" instead of .045". Sea trial. I have to say I was incredibly impressed with the improvement and performance. I have never seen such a drastic improvement since I had a fresh bottom paint job. The moral of the story is Always alway always use the engine manufacturer's parts in the engine. Never NGK, Champion, Fram, Sierra, Mallory or anything else. No one knows an engine better than the people who engineered it. At best an aftermarket part will equal the OEM part. At worst it will cause your boat to max out at 2300 rpm, not plane off and cause you grief. My sermon is over. Thanks
As a formerASE master auto tech & auto dealership service director I decided to pull a spark plug to see its condition. I pulled 1 plug - looked good. Nice sharp edges, no fouling, nice chocolate brown color but it was an NGK that MM put in. I never had any luck with NGK and decided to replace all the plugs with AC's. Upon pulling them I found one had a cracked external insulator but it, like all the rest, still looked even & fine although MM gapped them at close to .050" instead of .045". Sea trial. I have to say I was incredibly impressed with the improvement and performance. I have never seen such a drastic improvement since I had a fresh bottom paint job. The moral of the story is Always alway always use the engine manufacturer's parts in the engine. Never NGK, Champion, Fram, Sierra, Mallory or anything else. No one knows an engine better than the people who engineered it. At best an aftermarket part will equal the OEM part. At worst it will cause your boat to max out at 2300 rpm, not plane off and cause you grief. My sermon is over. Thanks
