Spring Starting a Merc 5.0 EFI

[beef2596]

Questions be for the experts! What’s the best way to spring start an efi? Should you just let it crank, or pump the throttle a few times? And also, what do you all do to “summerize” your boats? Thank you!

 

[Scott Danforth]

pumping the throttle does nothing on an EFI

turn the key, listen for fuel pump to run for a few seconds. when the fuel pump shuts off, key off for a few seconds, then key back on and turn the key.

as far as summerizing the boat. if it was properly winterized, simply re-install install the plugs, add fuel, check the oil hook up muffs and fire it up.

 

[beef2596]

Thank you!

 

[QBhoy]

Personally withbmy mpi on first spring start up.....

i pull the lanyard kill switch out and with a fully charges battery, crank her over for 5-10 secs at a time. I do this a few times to allow oil to get to the components and build a little oil pressure.
Then re attach. No throttle, listen for fuel pump cutting out and start.

 

[Grub54891]

Personally withbmy mpi on first spring start up.....

i pull the lanyard kill switch out and with a fully charges battery, crank her over for 5-10 secs at a time. I do this a few times to allow oil to get to the components and build a little oil pressure.
Then re attach. No throttle, listen for fuel pump cutting out and start.

You do know that when you are cranking it, the fuel is being injected into the cylinders, washing away any oil that was on the cylinder walls and rings. You have a dry start at this point.

 

[bobofthenorth]

Personally withbmy mpi on first spring start up.....

i pull the lanyard kill switch out and with a fully charges battery, crank her over for 5-10 secs at a time. I do this a few times to allow oil to get to the components and build a little oil pressure.
Then re attach. No throttle, listen for fuel pump cutting out and start.

You are welcome to do that but never to an engine that I own.

 

[thumpar]

On my 5.7l EFI I just make sure that it is summarized and ready to go and then start it like I normally would. It just takes an extra couple seconds of cranking for it to fire up.

 

[tpenfield]

On my MPI, (EFI) I hook the water up to it and turn the key.

You can also pay a shop to do that for about $200.

The real value is in how the boat/engine was winterized.

 

[Scott Danforth]

The real value is in how the boat/engine was winterized.

couldnt have said it better myself

 

[Maclin]

Yup, the Spring battle is won during Put-Away.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Can't argue with what's been said, But,....

My ole Bud, DonS did have a routine for Spring fire up,....

Click on the link in my signature titled Don'S Adults Only Section,....
In there you'll find,.... 10. HOW TO: Summerize your Winterized boat

 

[muc]

You do know that when you are cranking it, the fuel is being injected into the cylinders, washing away any oil that was on the cylinder walls and rings. You have a dry start at this point.

I thought that when you pull the safety lanyard, that removes power from the ECM and ignition. No wake up power to ECM means no ground for the fuel pumps, no power to ignition means no reference signal to ECM so no ground for the injectors.
How would you get fuel in the cylinders?

 

[muc]

Personally withbmy mpi on first spring start up.....

i pull the lanyard kill switch out and with a fully charges battery, crank her over for 5-10 secs at a time. I do this a few times to allow oil to get to the components and build a little oil pressure.
Then re attach. No throttle, listen for fuel pump cutting out and start.

This is pretty much how MerCruiser wants you to start a re manufactured engine for the first time, if you don't have an oil pump drive tool.

I think it might be a little "overkill" for a summerize, but sure wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

[Grub54891]

I thought that when you pull the safety lanyard, that removes power from the ECM and ignition. No wake up power to ECM means no ground for the fuel pumps, no power to ignition means no reference signal to ECM so no ground for the injectors.
How would you get fuel in the cylinders?

Did not know that. I thought it still injected fuel. Hhmmm...

 

[QBhoy]

You are welcome to do that but never to an engine that I own.

Why ?

 

[QBhoy]

You do know that when you are cranking it, the fuel is being injected into the cylinders, washing away any oil that was on the cylinder walls and rings. You have a dry start at this point.

It doesn’t pump fuel in when lanyard is out. No ignition or fuel is pumped in at all.

 

[bobofthenorth]

I response to my post comment that I would never allow him to abuse an engine of mine by dry cranking it,

Why ?

Because most of the lifetime wear on an engine happens in the few seconds between the time the starter engages and the time the engine starts and brings up full oil pressure. What you are doing is needlessly prolonging that period. You are not accomplishing anything. You may not be doing a lot of additional damage but you are needlessly wearing out your starter in pursuit of some imaginary wear benefit which doesn't exist.

And mostly because its my engine, my rules.

 

[QBhoy]

I response to my post comment that I would never allow him to abuse an engine of mine by dry cranking it,



Because most of the lifetime wear on an engine happens in the few seconds between the time the starter engages and the time the engine starts and brings up full oil pressure. What you are doing is needlessly prolonging that period. You are not accomplishing anything. You may not be doing a lot of additional damage but you are needlessly wearing out your starter in pursuit of some imaginary wear benefit which doesn't exist.

And mostly because its my engine, my rules.

Not sure I get you there. The idea is to bring up oil pressure at slow revolutions by cranking. If you start instantly with little or no oil pressure after long storage you wear the engine first few seconds. This isn’t new. I and many others have been doing it for years on old simple engines. Think first I can remember doing it is on an old lister hand crank with compression levers.

 

[QBhoy]

I’d rather wear an £80 starter than a 10k engine.

 

[tpenfield]

My MPI engines still have the fogging cocktail in the fuel system (10 % 2-cycle oil), so when I start up in the Spring, the fuel adds lubrication to the cylinders.