2020 YAMAHA VX-C engine

Operation and handling requirements
51
of sparks, open flames, or other sources
of ignition.
(2) Place the watercraft in a well-ventilated
area and in a horizontal position.
(3) Remove the seats, and then check the
fuel level. (See page 43 for seat removal
and installation procedures.)
(4) Pull the hood latch up, and then lift up
the rear of the hood.
(5) Loosen the fuel filler cap and remove it.
(6) Slowly add fuel to the fuel tank.(7) Stop filling when the fuel level reaches
approximately 50 mm (2 in) from the top
of the fuel tank. Do not overfill the fuel
tank. Because fuel expands when it
heats up, heat from the engine or the sun
can cause fuel to spill out of the fuel tank.
1Hood latch
1Fuel filler cap
1
1
Fuel tank capacity:
70 L (18.5 US gal, 15.4 Imp.gal)
UF4G74E0.book Page 51 Tuesday, July 16, 2019 10:27 AM

Operation and handling requirements
53
EJU40291
Engine oil requirementsEJU43951Engine oil
NOTICE
ECJ00282
Use only 4-stroke engine oil. Usage of 2-
stroke engine oil could result in severe en-
gine damage.
Why Yamalube
YAMALUBE oil is a Genuine YAMAHA Part
born of the engineers’ passion and belief that
engine oil is an important liquid engine com-
ponent. We form teams of specialists in the
fields of mechanical engineering, chemistry,
electronics and track testing, and have them
develop the engine together with the oil it will
use. Yamalube oils take full advantage of the
base oil’s qualities and blend in the ideal ba-
lance of additives to make sure the final oil
clears our performance standards. Thus,
Yamalube mineral, semisynthetic and syn-
thetic oils have their own distinct characters
and value. Yamaha’s experience gained over
many years of research and development
into oil since the 1960’s helps make
Yamalube the best choice for your Yamaha
engine.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 81 for information on
supplying water.)
When checking the engine oil level on wa-
ter, moor the watercraft so that it will not
drift away.
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 69 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.) Recommended engine oil:
YAMALUBE 4W or 4-stroke motor oil
Recommended engine oil type:
SAE 10W-30, 10W-40, 20W-40,
20W-50
Recommended engine oil grade:
API SG, SH, SJ, SL
UF4G74E0.book Page 53 Tuesday, July 16, 2019 10:27 AM

Operation and handling requirements
54
(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 the
engine 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
1Dipstick
2Maximum level mark
3Minimum level mark
1
213
UF4G74E0.book Page 54 Tuesday, July 16, 2019 10:27 AM

Operation and handling requirements
55
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
UF4G74E0.book Page 55 Tuesday, July 16, 2019 10:27 AM

Operation and handling requirements
56
engine compartment can splash into the
engine, which can result in severe dam-
age.
[ECJ00554]EJU42432
Transporting on a trailer
When transporting the watercraft on a trailer,
secure the tie downs to the trailer through the
bow eye and stern eyes. NOTICE: Do not at-
tach ropes or tie downs to any part of the
watercraft other than the bow eye and
stern eyes to secure the watercraft to the
trailer. Otherwise, the watercraft may be
damaged. Wrap the ropes or tie downs
with towels or rags where they touch the
body of the watercraft to avoid scratches
or damage.
[ECJ02150]
UF4G74E0.book Page 56 Tuesday, July 16, 2019 10:27 AM

First-time operation
57
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 53
for information on checking the engine
oil level.)
(2) Launch the watercraft and start the en-
gine. (See page 69 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.
UF4G74E0.book Page 57 Tuesday, July 16, 2019 10:27 AM

Pre-operation checks
58
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.
EJU41235Pre-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.60
Fuel systemCheck the fuel system for leakage.
Check the fuel level in the fuel tank.60
Water separatorCheck the water separator for water. 61
Engine unitCheck the exterior of the engine unit for damage. 61
Engine oil levelCheck the engine oil level. 61
Bilge waterCheck the engine compartment for bilge water. 61
BatteryCheck the battery connections and electrolyte level. 61
Steering systemCheck the steering system for proper operation. 62
RiDE lever (VX / VX Deluxe /
VX Cruiser / VX Limited)Check the RiDE lever for proper operation. 63
Throttle leverCheck the throttle lever for proper operation. 63
Remote control transmitter
(VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser /
VX Limited)Check the remote control transmitter for proper op-
eration.63
Engine shut-off cord (lan-
yard)Check the engine shut-off cord (lanyard) for dam-
age.63
SwitchesCheck the start switch, engine stop switch, and en-
gine shut-off switch for proper operation.64
Storage compartmentsCheck the storage compartments for damage and
water.64
Fire extinguisher holder,
cover, and bandCheck the fire extinguisher holder, cover, and band
for damage.64
Fire extinguisherCheck the condition of the fire extinguisher. 65
Safety equipmentCheck that safety equipment meeting the applica-
ble regulations is on board.65
Hull and deckCheck the hull and deck for damage. 65
Jet intakeCheck the jet intake for damage and clogging. 65
UF4G74E0.book Page 58 Tuesday, July 16, 2019 10:27 AM

Pre-operation checks
59
TIP:
To ensure safety and reliability, pre-operation checks should be made each time the water-
craft is used.
Jet thrust nozzle and re-
verse gate (VX /
VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser / VX
Limited)Check the jet thrust nozzle and reverse gate for
damage.65
Stern drain plugsCheck the stern drain plugs for damage and foreign
material and check that they are securely installed.65
HoodCheck that the hood is securely closed. 66
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.66
Multifunction information
centerCheck the multifunction information center for prop-
er operation.66
Shift system (VX /
VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser / VX
Limited)Check the shift system for proper operation. 66
Engine idling speedCheck the engine idling speed. 67 ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
UF4G74E0.book Page 59 Tuesday, July 16, 2019 10:27 AM