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Johnson / Evinrude 60° V6, 135 / 150 / 175 hp and 105 Jet (2589 cc, 1992-2001, carbureted) service guide

Oil, gear oil, spark plugs and the service schedule for the Johnson / Evinrude 60° V6, 135 / 150 / 175 hp and 105 Jet (2589 cc, 1992-2001, carbureted) (105 to 175 hp, two-stroke), from the factory service manual, plus how we service it in Hawaiʻi.

Models covered: Johnson / Evinrude 6 cylinder 60° loop charged V ("60 LV"), 158 cu in (2589 cc), carbureted with two 3-barrel carburetors: 105 Jet 1992-2001, 135 hp 2001, 150 hp 1992-2001, 175 hp 1992-2001. VRO2 oil injection on all carbureted models; magneto CD ignition. they are not on this sheet (see notes). The 2001 135 hp also exists as a 90° V4 (2000 cc), on its own sheet.

Quick answers

What two-stroke oil does a Johnson / Evinrude 60° V6, 135 / 150 / 175 hp and 105 Jet use?
NMMA certified TC-W3 or equivalent two-stroke lubricant; the manufacturer recommends Evinrude/Johnson brand oil. Never use automotive motor oil.
What is the fuel to oil ratio for a Johnson / Evinrude 60° V6, 135 / 150 / 175 hp and 105 Jet?
50:1 for normal operating conditions, from the VRO2 system. Break-in (first 20 hours of operation): 25:1; an engine with VRO2 runs a tank of 50:1 pre-mix in addition to the VRO2 output to get 25:1, and the tank oil level must be seen to drop before going back to untreated gasoline. Severe or high performance use: 25:1 on most carbureted outboards (50:1 in the tank plus the oiling system).
What gear oil does a Johnson / Evinrude 60° V6, 135 / 150 / 175 hp and 105 Jet use, and how much?
Evinrude/Johnson Ultra-HPF or an equivalent high quality marine gearcase lubricant that meets GL5; Evinrude/Johnson Hi-Vis gearcase lube may be used as a substitute if Ultra-HPF is not available. Quantity: 33 fl oz (980 ml) on the 135, 150 and 175 hp. Not applicable to the 105 Jet (jet drive).
What spark plug does a Johnson / Evinrude 60° V6, 135 / 150 / 175 hp and 105 Jet use?
Champion, qty 6. 1992-95: QL77JC4 (QL16V fixed gap for sustained high speed). 1996: QL82YC (QL87YC for extended idle). 1997-2001: QL78YC. Suppression plugs only: non-suppression plugs will cause ignition problems. Gap: 0.030 in (0.8 mm); the fixed gap plugs (QL16V / L16V, QL78V / L78V) are not gapped.
How often should a Johnson / Evinrude 60° V6, 135 / 150 / 175 hp and 105 Jet be serviced?
The factory schedule lists: First 20 hours; Every 100 hours or 12 months; Every 500 hours. In Hawaiʻi's salt water we do a full yearly service every 200 hours or 1 year, whichever comes first, and a new engine needs its first (break-in) service.
When should the water pump impeller be replaced on a Johnson / Evinrude 60° V6, 135 / 150 / 175 hp and 105 Jet?
The factory schedule gives no replacement interval. In Hawaiʻi's warm salt water we replace it every 200 hours or 1 year, whichever comes first, because a worn impeller is the most common cause of overheating.
What is the idle speed of a Johnson / Evinrude 60° V6, 135 / 150 / 175 hp and 105 Jet?
600 to 700 rpm in gear.
What is the propeller nut torque on a Johnson / Evinrude 60° V6, 135 / 150 / 175 hp and 105 Jet?
Castellated nut (cotter pin through the nut): 120 lb-in (14 N·m). Standard flat nut with a separate keeper: 70 to 80 ft-lb (95 to 108 N·m). New cotter pin every time; tighten further to line up the hole, never loosen.

Maintenance specs

Two-stroke oilNMMA certified TC-W3 or equivalent two-stroke lubricant; the manufacturer recommends Evinrude/Johnson brand oil. Never use automotive motor oil
Fuel to oil ratio50:1 for normal operating conditions, from the VRO2 system. Break-in (first 20 hours of operation): 25:1; an engine with VRO2 runs a tank of 50:1 pre-mix in addition to the VRO2 output to get 25:1, and the tank oil level must be seen to drop before going back to untreated gasoline. Severe or high performance use: 25:1 on most carbureted outboards (50:1 in the tank plus the oiling system)
Gear lubricantEvinrude/Johnson Ultra-HPF or an equivalent high quality marine gearcase lubricant that meets GL5; Evinrude/Johnson Hi-Vis gearcase lube may be used as a substitute if Ultra-HPF is not available
Gear lubricant quantity33 fl oz (980 ml) on the 135, 150 and 175 hp. Not applicable to the 105 Jet (jet drive)
Gear oil drain/fill and vent/level plugsDrain/fill plug at the bottom of the gearcase and vent/level plug on top, 2 plugs. Loosen the vent/level plug first, never remove either plug when the lower unit is hot. Use new gaskets (washers); install the level/vent plug first, then the drain/fill plug.
Gearcase pressure and vacuum testAt the oil level plug hole on top: 3 to 6 psi (21 to 42 kPa) must hold steady; then 3 to 5 in. Hg (76 to 127 mm Hg) of vacuum must hold, then 15 in. Hg (381 mm Hg) must hold
Spark plugChampion, qty 6. 1992-95: QL77JC4 (QL16V fixed gap for sustained high speed). 1996: QL82YC (QL87YC for extended idle). 1997-2001: QL78YC. Suppression plugs only: non-suppression plugs will cause ignition problems
Spark plug gap0.030 in (0.8 mm); the fixed gap plugs (QL16V / L16V, QL78V / L78V) are not gapped
Spark plug torqueCarbureted motors: 18 to 21 ft-lb (24 to 28 N·m), anti-seize on the threads. Without a torque wrench and with a new crush washer: until the washer seats, then 1/4 turn
Idle speed600 to 700 rpm in gear
ThermostatShould open by 125 °F (53 °C) and must be fully open by about 136 to 144 °F (58 to 62 °C). At 5000 rpm it must not go above 160 °F (71 °C). A thermostat sits under a threaded cover at the top of each cylinder head, sealed with an O-ring
Fuel filterServiceable inline filter: the element sits under a knurled cap that threads onto the fuel component bracket on the engine (remove the air intake silencer for access); clean and inspect the element, replace it if damaged, check the gasket and O-ring. Replace an inline filter at least annually
AnodesTypically at least 3: one just above the anti-ventilation plate on the lower unit (bolted from underneath), one or two on the transom bracket, and one on the propeller shaft bearing housing inside the gearcase (not a periodic item); some motors also have a powerhead anode. Worn when shrunk to 2/3 or less of the original size. Never paint or wax them.
Propeller nutCastellated nut (cotter pin through the nut): 120 lb-in (14 N·m). Standard flat nut with a separate keeper: 70 to 80 ft-lb (95 to 108 N·m). New cotter pin every time; tighten further to line up the hole, never loosen.

Service schedule

The factory maintenance intervals, with what is replaced and what is checked at each. Rows marked Hawaiʻi are our shop's yearly service for salt water use.

  1. First 20 hours

    Replace: gear case oil, gear case plug gaskets, propeller cotter pin

    Check: spark plugs, fuel filter

  2. Every 100 hours or 12 months

    Replace: gear case oil, gear case plug gaskets, propeller cotter pin

    Check: spark plugs, fuel filter, anodes

  3. Every 200 hours or 1 year (our Hawai‘i yearly service) Hawai‘i

    Replace: gear case oil, gear case plug gaskets, propeller cotter pin, water pump impeller

    Check: spark plugs, fuel filter, anodes

  4. Every 500 hours

    Replace: gear case oil, gear case plug gaskets, propeller cotter pin, water pump impeller

    Check: spark plugs, fuel filter, anodes

We replace the water pump impeller at every service from 200 hours up, which can be sooner than the factory schedule, because of Hawaiʻi’s warm salt water.

Source: Johnson / Evinrude 65-300 hp V4, V6 and V8 two-strokes, 1992-2001, aftermarket service and repair manual. Specs can change by model year and serial number, so always confirm your exact model from the serial tag on the clamp bracket.

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