Water bikes: check out maintenance and safety tips for the holiday season

NGK expert points out that the first indications of attention to exchange the spark plugs of an aquatic motorcycle are the difficulty in starting and operating failures of the vehicle engine

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São Paulo, November 2022 - With the proximity of the holidays, many plan to make that trip to enjoy the summer days alongside family and friends. If the goal is to take the moment to reactivate the water bike that has been in place for some time, the driver should check that the maintenance of the vehicle is in order to ensure safety when riding, as well as the pleasant moments of leisure.

Segundo Hiromori Mori, NGK Brasil Technical Assistance consultant, Japanese multinational ignition systems specialist, nautical-use motors require a better seal against water infiltration, mainly in the air intake system and engine ignition. "In vehicles used in saltwater environments it is necessary to carry out a cleaning process to remove salt residues that promote oxidation of the engine and its components", Explain. "This process is usually carried out by the marinas, as it needs special attention."

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Maintenance of spark plugs

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Mori points out that the first indications of attention to exchange the spark plugs of an aquatic motorcycle are the difficulty in starting and malfunctioning. "An important warning is that many people believe that the simple act of using the vehicle will automatically clean up the dirt and the engine will return to its function normally. If the vehicle or engine has faults and difficulty in starting, it is recommended to, first of all, ask a professional to make an assessment of the vehicle, of the engine or both."

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The main care to avoid accumulation of moisture and residue in spark plugs during periods when the waterbike is still longer, as in autumn and winter, is to perform a review before putting the engines into use, advises Mori. "To prepare the vehicle for the period of greatest use, the vacation or summer review should be carried out, which includes preventive exchange of the spark plug", Says. "A key point is to check if the fuel has oxidation, because when a fuel is stored for a long period it 'ages', it is necessary to replace and, depending on the case, cleaning the power supply system."

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In addition to causing increased fuel consumption and emission of polluting gases, worn spark plugs interfere decisively with the safety of both drivers and passengers. "Nautical vehicles and the use of outboard engines are constantly exposed to conditions of nature such as ocean currents, on rivers or on beaches and occurrences of waves in these media. Therefore, maintenance has to be carried out judiciously and by qualified and duly accredited professionals to avoid unnecessary expenses and future problems", highlights Mori.