New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours - UPDATE

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UPDATE - 10/13/14 - Tohatsu sent a factory technician over from Texas to work on the motor. The issue has been resolved. Tohatsu went above and beyond in their efforts to take care of the problem.

Original post from Aug. 2012:

I have a few week old 2012 Tohatsu 50hp TLDI. It has 5 hours on it (I had a hour meter installed when it was new). It ran great at first, but after about 2 hours it started having a pretty solid intermittent miss when cruising along at about 1200-1600 RPMs. Runs smooth at higher RPMs. I pulled the plugs last night just to have a look and man were they dirty. All three were covered with soot. I sprayed them down with some carb cleaner and let them dry and re-installed them. Haven't run it again yet. It came with a new set of plugs, but I was told to installed them after the 10 hour break-in.

I know the motor injects a higher ratio of oil during the first 10 hour break-in, but that being said, is it normal for it to run rough and foul the plugs during the break-in period, or should I go ahead and take this thing in and have it looked at?

 

[pvanv]

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

That's not normal. Have your dealer take a look at it. Are you running 50:1 premix, or straight gas? The oil mix that the ECU delivers is a variable ratio, depending on load (manifold absolute pressure and RPM data is used to compute the ratio), and should be correct right out of the box.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Could be anything. Like Paul said, take it back to the dealer and let them check it. Also, make sure you are running the correct oil or you will be charged for the service.

 

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Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

I will take it in and have it looked at. I am actually not sure what the ratio is. The people who I bought it from said it runs more oil during the break-in period (around double),then drops off after 10 hours of use. It still has the Tohatsu oil in it from when it was purchased new. Over 3/4 full as of last time I ran it. I haven't added any to the tank yet.

Thanks for the advise.

 

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Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

One more question if you guru's don't mind....

I know I am over pitched. My motor was rigged with a 13 pitch prop, and I went through a lot of trail and error trying to get my motor height right. Motor was digging in really bad at first, and over working the engine. Raised it up and it is better, but still only getting 5400 RPMs at WOT.

Is there any chance that I caused some of this by loading up the motor when it was mounted to low, and by running it with a prop that is over pitched? I will be dropping down to a 11 pitch prop BTW.

Thanks guys!

 

[pvanv]

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Your motor will run cleaner if it's not lugging. But that much accumulation on the plugs is definitely a sign of something else being wrong.

 

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Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

UPDATE:
I took my boat/motor to the repair facility that Tohatsu recommended. Supposed to be the best in SE Louisiana. The result was being without my boat for 3 weeks and driving 180 miles to have them tell me they cleaned the plugs, water tested it, and found that if you bump the idle speed up to the highest setting the miss seems to go away, or not be as bad. That was not my experience at all as it misses regularly while idling between 800 and 1600 RPMs. It has also missed on two occasions while at max RPM. And regardless, if it can't run the boat at the lowest idle setting without it missing, how is that ok?

In the end, gator season is here, I have tags that I HAVE to get filled, I have a brand new motor that runs worse than the 1996 Johnson 25 I sold not too long ago, and a repair center that is supposed to be the best around telling me it runs fine.

I know Tohatsu makes a good product. There are too many positive reviews to think otherwise. That being said, my experience with the brand has not been a pleasant one, and it seems my attempts at getting this motor to run smooth will be an ongoing expense and headache. Very disappointing.

 

[pvanv]

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

What is your ZIP code?

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

And what's your serial number? With that I can bring up your service history.

 

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Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

My zip is 70458, and I can get the serial number tomorrow or Friday.

I will be using the motor quite a bit in the next few weeks during the alligator harvest season. I will have a video camera in the boat while hunting so I will try and record the problem I am having with the motor. The miss is easy to hear and feel in person, but I am not sure how well it will show up on video. I will upload the video and provide a link when I have it though.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

WAG would be an injector or ECM issue, but the on board engine diagnostics should be able to tell that. In the end, it needs to go to a competent dealer.

 

[stancel]

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

And what's your serial number? With that I can bring up your service history.

Hey Guru. The serial number is 024903AB. The paperwork says they cleaned the plugs and water tested the boat. Don't see anything else written on there.

 

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Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

I also wanted to mention, the tech at the repair facility left a tach sitting in my boat. Oddly enough it was a Telflex gauge, not a factory Tohatsu gauge. At any rate, I figured as long as they were loaning it to me I would run a diagnostics myself (I bought the service manual). I didn't come up with any codes.

They also left a pack of new plugs sitting in my boat. Sure seems to me like they were working on it when Hurricane Isaac rolled in and just never got back around to finishing what they started. That is just speculation, but it only makes sense that they were about to change the plugs and never got around to it.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

When I get into the office on Monday I'll look it up and see what they claim they did/didn't find.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Invalid serial number.

 

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Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Am I looking at the right number??

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

You clearly have the right number...And there is no record of that engine. So, I'm puzzled. Please give me a call tomorrow at 813-241-6654. Something is clearly not correct.

 

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Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

I really appreciate your help. After talking to you I decided to give the people I bought the motor from a call. According to their records they sent in the warranty card, but they called Tohatsu for me and took care of everything over the phone. As soon as gator season is over I will be taking it back to be looked at again.

Again, thanks for all your help.

 

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Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Just got back from running gator lines. Put about 2 hours on the motor. Still missing at low idle, and when coming down from full throttle to about 3500 RPM's it almost died twice. I have put a total of about 4.5 hours on it since putting new plugs in. Checked plugs and they are BLACK. Brass prop nut is also solid black, and when flushing the engine in my driveway the exhaust smelled very rich.

Ran a diagnostic on it myself and got no fault codes. Checked all of the electrical connections, and all were good. I will try and find the time to run the battery to Autzone to be tested this weekend just to make sure I didn't get a bad battery.

One thing which seems strange. I have burned about 8 gallons of gas since the last time I filled up the oil tank. Checked and the oil tank was half empty, which compared to a E-Tec 25 I had, seemed excessive. Of course, this is a 50hp motor, so I can't say for sure. I am also pretty disappointed in the amount of gas this motor is burning. Almost burned through my entire 6.5 gallon tank in a few of hours.

Anyway, I have to finish up gator season before I can get it back to a shop. Just posting an update.

 

[pvanv]

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Re: New Tohatsu TLDI - Runs rough & Dirty plugs after 5 hours

Yep, your motor definitely needs attention. You are using much too much oil, and probably way too much fuel. Way too rich. Could be an ECU or injector issue, but impossible to say without running diagnostics. Get ye to a dealer as soon as reasonable.