Had a 82, sunny, and 0% change day yesterday so I finally broke out the boat. weather and work travel has been holding me back.

Changed the oil in both motors before going out, and then once out started the genny (it fired right up) let it get warm and then changed its oil as well. AC was working as well. flushed the water system with a light clorox mix of water. boat ran good.

all drive and trim pumps worked, boat ran 66.8 gps... was so close to 67 haha needed something other then flat water.

Looking forward to Lots more use.

Sounds like a great start! Congrats!

was a good day, have a light sun burn, always a good way to get your skin ready for the season!

also burned most of the old gas out, and had lunch doc side. man i hate how rich the 496s run. black soot on the transom...

Depends on how much soot if that's normal. Haven't seen a crazy amount on my friends' 496. But some yes. My 6.2s were doing that last summer, found out my fuel pressure regulators had filters and were full of debris causing all the soot.

I was told the cold water, and older gas could also be a result.???

If your ECM's have never been reflashed you might have the older tunes that were too rich. My 2003 496 never leaves soot regardless of air or water temp.

1. Dont do anything till it warms up and you run all the gas out. (did you change the fuel filters/separaters?)
2. Put new plugs in and change the oil.
(20-50 synthetic something)
3. Run standard 89 octane marine gas


If you use 87 from the pump depending on whose it is, it will leave a little black soot. If it is super unleaded it will definitely get black no doubt, its been proven a dozen times especially on the 496.

I changed the oilthe day before i took it out, and did new plugs just a few hours before I winterized the boat.

UI allways run 87 in the tank, but I did have 1/3 a tank of last years 87 in it. and water was cold.

BUT it also was a rich last year too, just more so after the first trip.



to reflash to the newer less rich tune is RETARDED $$$ for just a stock tune.