I took the pwc out for the first try this weekend, and of course it went badly. I got about 100 yards from the boat ramp and the engine cut off, I cranked and cranked, but it just wouldn’t start back up. Then I noticed I hadn’t turned the fuel knob (oh, what a rookie move, I know…). At that point the battery was dead and wouldn’t turn over, so I waved someone down and got a tow back. (thanks to you courteous boaters out there)
My questions are:
1. Is there a possibility I did any damage to the engine by running it out of fuel like that? (e.g. too much oil injected as it was starved of fuel). I checked the plugs, they’re still in what looks to be pretty good shape.
2. Prior to that happening, the exhaust was VERY blue and smoky. I know it’s a two cycle, but that was pretty serious. I am still using what the last owner gave me and said he had been using, Pennzoil multi-purpose conventional tcw3 oil. Is the blue smoke the result of something mechanical, or is it just the wrong oil? I read the manual last night, they specifically say not to use tc-w3. I’ve also read that you shouldn’t change oils, it could gunk up the injector. What do you folks recommend?
I took the pwc out for the first try this weekend, and of course it went badly. I got about 100 yards from the boat ramp and the engine cut off, I cranked and cranked, but it just wouldn’t start back up. Then I noticed I hadn’t turned the fuel knob (oh, what a rookie move, I know…). At that point the battery was dead and wouldn’t turn over, so I waved someone down and got a tow back. (thanks to you courteous boaters out there)
My questions are:
1. Is there a possibility I did any damage to the engine by running it out of fuel like that? (e.g. too much oil injected as it was starved of fuel). I checked the plugs, they’re still in what looks to be pretty good shape.
2. Prior to that happening, the exhaust was VERY blue and smoky. I know it’s a two cycle, but that was pretty serious. I am still using what the last owner gave me and said he had been using, Pennzoil multi-purpose conventional tcw3 oil. Is the blue smoke the result of something mechanical, or is it just the wrong oil? I read the manual last night, they specifically say not to use tc-w3. I’ve also read that you shouldn’t change oils, it could gunk up the injector. What do you folks recommend?
You should only use Sea Doo or any brand that is SPECIFICALLY for use in Sea Doos.... I know some use off brand stuff.
Where you could have caused some damage is if you had your ski towed and the water was pulled into the engine... get it started ASAP by someone who knows the ins and outs of jet skis. There is soooo much to know about jet skis, the do's and don'ts.
You should have pinched off the hose going into the engine of your ski while you had it towed, although if it was not towed far you're probably ok.
I hadn't even considered that - thank you. What would you recommend I keep on-board to pinch off the hose with for next time? Maybe some vice grips and some rubber or fabric to protect the hose? The good news is I started it up on land for a couple seconds to get all the water out, I guess it had enough juice to crank after it sat for 15 min and didnt have the water resistance. Do you have any experience with the side effects of mixing or changing oils?
I hadn't even considered that - thank you. What would you recommend I keep on-board to pinch off the hose with for next time? Maybe some vice grips and some rubber or fabric to protect the hose? The good news is I started it up on land for a couple seconds to get all the water out, I guess it had enough juice to crank after it sat for 15 min and didnt have the water resistance. Do you have any experience with the side effects of mixing or changing oils?
I am new to jet skis as of last year, but I've asked tons of questions to Aaron at Performance Water Craft in Cheswick and I joined pwctoday.com --- great forum.
I never knew for instance you have to be careful when flushing your ski that the engine has to go on first, then water, then water off, jet ski off--- if not you'll flood the engine, IOW you cannot have the water on unless the motor is on.
Jet skis are really different than a boat, that's for sure.
You can always have your compression checked to make sure the wrong oil did not mess your piston walls up.... your ski is probably good to go though.
BTW--- I keep a small C clam in my storage box along with extra plugs (you will foul them out).
Chuck
Last edited by obxpelican; 04-08-2010 at 02:35 PM.
I wouldn't worry about the blue smoke unless it continues after you take it out the next time for more than a couple hundred yards. If you took it to a shop last year to have it winterized they usually fog the cylinders with spray (a type of oil) and you burn it off when you first take it out in the spring... As for the oil, I've always heard to use the same oil all of the time and I always stuck to that (for what its worth) although I've seen some people use all different brands of oil, some use only cheap oil, and some only use expensive oil - I don't recall any of them having issues (as long as the engine was getting oil) I'm surprised that it says not to use TCW-3 oil (I thought they all required it) but if that's what it says, I would probably change to what type the manual recommends...
1996 GTI - first try in the water
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Originally Posted by omegaman360
