2017 YAMAHA VX CRUISER check engine

Operation and handling requirements
52
curely closed before using the water-
craft.
(11) Securely install the seats in their original
positions.EJU40291
Engine oil requirementsEJU43950Engine oil
NOTICE
ECJ00282
Use only 4-stroke engine oil. Usage of 2-
stroke engine oil could result in severe en-
gine damage.
Checking the engine oil level
WARNING
EWJ00341
Engine oil is extremely hot immediately af-
ter the engine is turned off. Coming in con-
tact with or getting any engine oil on your
clothes could result in burns.
NOTICE
ECJ00392
Do not run the engine with too much or
not enough oil in the oil tank, otherwise
the engine could be damaged.
Make sure that debris and water do not
enter the oil tank filler hole. Debris and
water in the engine oil can cause serious
engine damage.
TIP:
When checking the engine oil level on land,
the engine must be running while water is
being supplied to the cooling water pas-
sages. (See “Flushing the cooling water
passages” on page 79 for information on
supplying water.)
When checking the engine oil level on wa-
ter, moor the watercraft so that it will not
drift away.
Recommended engine oil type:
SAE 10W-30, 10W-40, 20W-40,
20W-50
Recommended engine oil grade:
API SG, SH, SJ, SL
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Operation and handling requirements
53
To check the engine oil level:
(1) With the engine stopped, place the wa-
tercraft in a precisely level position on
land or launch the watercraft.
(2) Look in all directions, and then start the
engine. (See page 68 for information on
starting the engine.)
(3) Run the engine at idling speed for 6 mi-
nutes or more. Run the engine an addi-
tional 5 minutes if the ambient
temperature is 20 °C (68 °F) or less.
(4) Stop the engine.
(5) Remove the seats. (See page 43 for seat
removal and installation procedures.)
(6) Loosen the oil tank filler cap and remove
it, and then wipe the attached dipstick
clean.
(7) Screw the oil tank filler cap into the filler
hole until it stops. Remove the oil tank
filler cap again and make sure that theengine oil level is between the minimum
and maximum level marks.
(8) If the engine oil level is significantly
above the maximum level mark, consult
a Yamaha dealer. If the engine oil level is
below the minimum level mark, slowly
add engine oil.
(9) Repeat steps 6–8 until the engine oil is at
the proper level.
(10) Securely install the oil tank filler cap and
turn it until it stops.
(11) Securely install the seats in their original
positions.
1Oil tank filler cap/Dipstick
1
1Dipstick
2Maximum level mark
3Minimum level mark
FL
213
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Operation and handling requirements
54
EJU40022
Draining the bilge water
NOTICE
ECJ01302
Do not run the engine at full throttle when
bilge water remains in the engine com-
partment. The bilge water can splash into
the engine, which can result in severe
damage.
EJU44260Draining the bilge water on land
To drain the bilge water on land:
(1) Loosen the stern drain plugs and remove
them.
(2) Raise the bow of the watercraft, such as
by placing the watercraft on a slope, to
drain the bilge water from the engine
compartment.
(3) After the bilge water has drained from the
stern drain plug holes, wipe up any re-
maining moisture in the engine compart-
ment with a dry cloth.
(4) Check that the stern drain plugs and O-
rings on the plugs are not damaged and
that there is no foreign material on the
threads or O-rings on the plugs.
NOTICE: Before installing the stern
drain plugs, clean the drain plug
threads and the O-rings on the plugs
to remove any foreign materials, such
as dirt or sand. Otherwise, the sterndrain plugs could be damaged, allow-
ing water to enter the engine compart-
ment. Check the O-rings on the stern
drain plugs and make sure that the
plugs are tightened securely before
launching the watercraft. Otherwise,
water may flood the engine compart-
ment and cause the watercraft to sub-
merge.
[ECJ00363]
(5) Securely install the stern drain plugs by
tightening them until they stop.
EJU40535Draining the bilge water on water
A small quantity of bilge water will remain in
the engine compartment even after the bilge
water is drained on water. To completely
drain the bilge water, remove the watercraft
from the water and drain the bilge water on
land.
Jet vacuum bilge draining system
While the watercraft is operating, bilge water
in the engine compartment is drawn in by the
vacuum that is generated in the jet pump and
discharged from the watercraft through the
jet thrust nozzle.
To drain the bilge water on water:
Operate the watercraft as straight as possible
and above planing speed for at least 2 minu-
tes. NOTICE: Do not run the engine at full
throttle for at least 1 minute after the en-
gine has been restarted. Bilge water in the
1Stern drain plug
11O-ring
1
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First-time operation
56
EJU32786
Engine break-in
NOTICE
ECJ00432
Failure to perform the engine break-in
could result in reduced engine life or even
severe engine damage.
The engine break-in is essential to allow the
various components of the engine to wear
and polish themselves to the correct operat-
ing clearances. This ensures proper perfor-
mance and promotes longer component life.
To perform the engine break-in:
(1) Check the engine oil level. (See page 52
for information on checking the engine
oil level.)
(2) Launch the watercraft and start the en-
gine. (See page 68 for information on
starting the engine.)
(3) For the first 5 minutes, operate with the
engine at idling speed.
(4) For the next 30 minutes, operate with the
engine speed below 5000 r/min.
(5) For the next 1 hour, operate with the en-
gine speed below 6500 r/min.
After the engine break-in is complete, the wa-
tercraft can be operated normally.
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Pre-operation checks
57
EJU31982
WARNING
EWJ00412
Failure to inspect or maintain the watercraft properly increases the possibility of an ac-
cident or damage to the watercraft. Do not operate the watercraft if you find any prob-
lem. If a problem cannot be corrected by the procedures provided in this manual, have
the watercraft inspected by a Yamaha dealer.
EJU41234Pre-operation checklist
Before using this watercraft, be sure to perform the checks in the following checklist.
ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
PRE-LAUNCH CHECKS
Engine compartmentVentilate the engine compartment.
Check inside the engine compartment for damage.59
Fuel systemCheck the fuel system for leakage.
Check the fuel level in the fuel tank.59
Water separatorCheck the water separator for water. 59
Engine unitCheck the exterior of the engine unit for damage. 60
Engine oil levelCheck the engine oil level. 60
Bilge waterCheck the engine compartment for bilge water. 60
BatteryCheck the battery connections and electrolyte level. 60
Steering systemCheck the steering system for proper operation. 61
RiDE lever Check the RiDE lever for proper operation. 62
Throttle leverCheck the throttle lever for proper operation. 62
Remote control transmitter
(VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser /
VX Limited)Check the remote control transmitter for proper op-
eration.62
Engine shut-off cord (lan-
yard)Check the engine shut-off cord (lanyard) for dam-
age.62
SwitchesCheck the start switch, engine stop switch, and en-
gine shut-off switch for proper operation.63
Storage compartmentsCheck the storage compartments for damage and
water.63
Fire extinguisher holder,
cover, and bandCheck the fire extinguisher holder, cover, and band
for damage.63
Fire extinguisherCheck the condition of the fire extinguisher. 64
Safety equipmentCheck that safety equipment meeting the applica-
ble regulations is on board.64
Hull and deckCheck the hull and deck for damage. 64
Jet intakeCheck the jet intake for damage and clogging. 64
Jet thrust nozzle and re-
verse gate Check the jet thrust nozzle and reverse gate for
damage.64
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Pre-operation checks
58
TIP:
To ensure safety and reliability, pre-operation checks should be made each time the water-
craft is used.
Stern drain plugsCheck the stern drain plugs for damage and foreign
material and check that they are securely installed.64
HoodCheck that the hood is securely closed. 65
Front and rear seatsCheck that the seats are securely installed. 43
POST-LAUNCH CHECKS
Cooling water pilot outletCheck that water is discharged from the cooling
water pilot outlet while the engine is running.65
Multifunction information
centerCheck the multifunction information center for prop-
er operation.65
Shift system Check the shift system for proper operation. 65
Engine idling speedCheck the engine idling speed. 66 ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
UF4G71E0.book Page 58 Wednesday, July 27, 2016 9:32 AM

Pre-operation checks
59
EJU32282
Pre-operation check pointsEJU42383Pre-launch checks
Perform the pre-launch checks in the pre-op-
eration checklist while the watercraft is on
land.
To perform the pre-launch checks:
(1) Remove the seats and removable water-
tight storage compartment. (See page 43
for seat removal and installation proce-
dures and page 48 for information on the
removable watertight storage compart-
ment.)
(2) Perform the checks and make sure that
there are no malfunctioning items or oth-
er problems.
(3) After completing these checks, securely
install the removable watertight storage
compartment and seats in their original
positions.
EJU32334Engine compartment check
WARNING
EWJ00462
Failure to ventilate the engine compart-
ment could result in a fire or explosion. Do
not start the engine if there is a fuel leak.
Ventilate the engine compartment. Leave the
engine compartment open for a few minutes
to allow any fuel vapors to escape.Make sure that there is no damage inside the
engine compartment.
EJU34215Fuel system checks
WARNING
EWJ00382
Leaking fuel can result in fire or explosion.
Check for fuel leakage regularly.
If any fuel leakage is found, the fuel sys-
tem must be repaired by a qualified me-
chanic. Improper repairs can make the
watercraft unsafe to operate.
Make sure that there is no damage, leakage,
or other problem in the fuel system.
Check:
Fuel filler cap and seal for damage
Fuel tank for damage and leakage
Fuel hoses and joints for damage and leak-
age
Fuel tank breather hose for damage and
leakage
EJU36875Fuel level check
Check the fuel level in the fuel tank.
Add fuel if necessary. (See page 50 for infor-
mation on filling the fuel tank.)
EJU32424Water separator check
Make sure that no water has collected in the
water separator. If water has collected in the
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Pre-operation checks
60
water separator, drain it. (See page 29 for in-
formation on draining the water separator.)
EJU40182Engine unit check
Check the exterior of the engine unit for dam-
age or other problem.
EJU41561Engine oil level check
Make sure that the engine oil level is between
the minimum and maximum level marks on
the dipstick attached to the oil tank filler cap.(See page 52 for information on checking the
engine oil level.)
EJU32456Bilge water check
Make sure that no bilge water has collected in
the engine compartment. If bilge water has
collected in the engine compartment, drain it.
(See page 54 for information on draining the
bilge water.)
EJU32485Battery checks
Make sure that the battery terminals and
breather hose are not damaged and that the
battery leads and breather hose are connect-
ed properly. WARNING! Fire or explosion
could result if the breather hose is dam-
1Water separator
1
1Oil tank filler cap/Dipstick
1Dipstick
2Maximum level mark
3Minimum level mark
1
FL
213
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