6. MAINTENANCE
THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTENANCE
Good maintenance is essential for safe, economical, and trouble-free operation. It will
also help reduce air pollution.
To help you properly care for your engine, the following pages include a maintenance
schedule, routine inspection procedures, and simple maintenance procedures using basic
hand tools. Other service tasks that are more difficult, or require special tools, are best
handled by professionals and are normally performed by a technician or other qualified
mechanic.
The maintenance schedule applies to normal operating conditions. If you operate your
engine under unusual conditions, such as sustained high-load or high-temperature
operation, or use in unusually wet or dusty conditions, consult your servicing dealer for
recommendations applicable to your individual needs and use.
MAINTENANCE SAFETY
Some of the most important safety precautions are as follows: However, we cannot warn
you of every conceivable hazard that can arise in performing maintenance. Only you can
decide whether or not you should perform a given task.
Safety Precautions
Make sure the engine is off before you begin any maintenance or repairs. This will
10
WARNING
Improperly maintaining this engine, or failure to correct
a problem before operation, can cause a malfunction in
which you can be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection and maintenance
recommendations and schedules in this owner's manual.
WARNING
Failure to properly follow maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures and precautions in the
owner's manual.
MAINTENANCE
