fishinwrench Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 Nearly every outboard that comes in to my shop has brand new spark plugs, mostly because that's what many folks do when their motor starts acting up. Truth be told: The spark plugs are the last thing subject to be causing running problems.....but folks know how to change spark plugs (or at least they THINK they do) so that's where outboard diagnostics always tends to start at home. 🙄 Issues arise when people go to the Auto parts store, walk up to the counter and say "I need spark plugs for a John/Rude 150" and the person behind the counter pulls up their page of info containing everything they think they need to know about spark plugs.....and then cross-references it to WHATEVER THEY HAVE IN STOCK. This is the result of running NGK crossovers in an Evinrude 150 Intruder. The correct plug is a Champion QL77V for a reason. The NGK crossover does not have the proper heat range.....So the kid behind the counter at O'Reilly's, or whoever trained him, should have to buy this powerhead ! BilletHead, awhuber, nomolites and 6 others 4 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aarchdale@coresleep.com Posted July 20, 2023 Share Posted July 20, 2023 Glen, quit giving people logic let, them F up and fix it for them. I always bite the bullet every year and buy the expensive plugs for mine. I mix my oil so i figure $65 a year is worth it grizwilson, nomolites and snagged in outlet 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishinwrench Posted July 21, 2023 Author Share Posted July 21, 2023 Yet again......It appears to be an ongoing epidemic. Catastrophic detonation/pre-ignition. Uncommon on a lower cylinder (the coolest running cylinder of them all).....but nevertheless. bfishn 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjm Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 Can you rebuild that, or is gone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrGiggles Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 On 7/19/2023 at 6:47 PM, fishinwrench said: Nearly every outboard that comes in to my shop has brand new spark plugs, mostly because that's what many folks do when their motor starts acting up. Truth be told: The spark plugs are the last thing subject to be causing running problems.....but folks know how to change spark plugs (or at least they THINK they do) so that's where outboard diagnostics always tends to start at home. 🙄 Issues arise when people go to the Auto parts store, walk up to the counter and say "I need spark plugs for a John/Rude 150" and the person behind the counter pulls up their page of info containing everything they think they need to know about spark plugs.....and then cross-references it to WHATEVER THEY HAVE IN STOCK. This is the result of running NGK crossovers in an Evinrude 150 Intruder. The correct plug is a Champion QL77V for a reason. The NGK crossover does not have the proper heat range.....So the kid behind the counter at O'Reilly's, or whoever trained him, should have to buy this powerhead ! Sounds more like NGK should be footing the bill if they are listing their plugs as compatible. What plugs did you take out of them? -Austin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishinwrench Posted July 23, 2023 Author Share Posted July 23, 2023 13 hours ago, tjm said: Can you rebuild that, or is gone? It can be rebuilt as long as it doesn't throw a connecting rod through the block. Either the damaged cylinder(s) will cleanup at .030 or they will be sleeved. tjm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishinwrench Posted July 23, 2023 Author Share Posted July 23, 2023 4 minutes ago, MrGiggles said: Sounds more like NGK should be footing the bill if they are listing their plugs as compatible. I know the heat ranges are backwards (bigger number is cooler on NGK, opposite for Champion) but I always thought the numbers in the middle (7/8) were comparable. They will just lay the blame on the EPA. Back in the day when it was ok for outboards to smoke a little bit, a hotter plug reduced fouling...... but now that engines are designed to run as lean as possible, in order to reduce emissions, a plug that runs hotter than it needs to is a bad thing. They'll recognize and rectify the issue eventually, but more powerheads will be sacrificed along the way. My heads-up here was intended to keep YOURS from being one of them. 👍 (cuz I'm a cool guy like that) 😁 awhuber, yowoodchuck and Daryk Campbell Sr 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjm Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 That's what I thought, on the rebuild, but I have zero experience or knowledge of boat engines. Don't people ever look at and test the old plugs before just tossing them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrGiggles Posted July 23, 2023 Share Posted July 23, 2023 6 hours ago, fishinwrench said: They will just lay the blame on the EPA. Back in the day when it was ok for outboards to smoke a little bit, a hotter plug reduced fouling...... but now that engines are designed to run as lean as possible, in order to reduce emissions, a plug that runs hotter than it needs to is a bad thing. They'll recognize and rectify the issue eventually, but more powerheads will be sacrificed along the way. My heads-up here was intended to keep YOURS from being one of them. 👍 (cuz I'm a cool guy like that) 😁 My powerhead will blow again before I every need to worry about spark plugs. -Austin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishinwrench Posted July 24, 2023 Author Share Posted July 24, 2023 5 hours ago, MrGiggles said: My powerhead will blow again before I every need to worry about spark plugs. Ahh, running a Mercury are ya? Then yep, you're probably right. 😅 Most Mercs don't outlast their original set of spark plugs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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