EFI Maintenance Tips

Maintaining your EFI engine and using its diagnostic capabilities.

Here are some tips on maintaining your EFI (electronic fuel injection) engine and using its diagnostic capabilities.

Off-Season Storage

Gasoline in the tank should be treated with a fuel stabilizer to reduce the effects of stale fuel, just like with a carbureted engine. However, because the EFI fuel system is sealed, unlike a carburetor, fuel-related problems like harmful deposits or corrosion are less likely.
Always refer to your Owner’s Manual for proper storage procedures to include:

  • Cleaning the exterior of the engine
  • Changing the oil and oil filter
  • Removing the spark plugs to lubricate the cylinders

Diagnostics and Reporting

Most EFI engines feature “Blink Codes” that can be used to diagnose a fault in the system. With the code, the user can consult the service manual for further instruction.
When a Kohler EFI engine user sees the malfunction indicator light (MIL) turn on while the engine is running, a fault code has been recorded in the engine control unit (ECU). The fault code does not generally mean a sensor is bad. It could indicate several things:

  • The electronic control unit (ECU) was unable to correct the problem.
  • The sensor signal did not change.
  • The sensor signal was outside of limits. 

The software available with Kohler EFI engines is an easy-to-use tool for the technician. A certified technician can easily use it to extract an engine performance report. 
The EFI diagnostics software:

  • Uses an internal flow chart to find and diagnose engine failure.
  • Uses pictures to show where and how to take engine readings.
  • Provides live running data from all sensors, including Spark Advance and Injector Time Open.
  • Logs the following historical data:

Maximum values
    - RPM
    - Battery voltage
    - Oil temperature
    - Intake air temperature
Hours at
    - Low speed
    - Medium speed
    - High speed
Hours at
    - Low load
    - Medium load
    - High load
Hour meters
    - Current run time
    - Time from last reset
    - Total hours

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