I put this up over on the 'other' bass (boat) forum. Thought would share the interesting news here as well. 

 

So the title above is exactly what the Mercury tech at BPS told me this week!

I was in the store looking around, so being as I'm going to be replacing my oil pump soon due to the ever familiar oil pump leak I asked them what they'd charge me to do an oil pump prime. Then the guy proceeded to tell me "shift it forward and neutral to reverse 5 times". I told him that it was my understanding that while YES that'll put the pump into prime mode, it will also put it into "break-in mode" thus causing me to have to change my BRAND NEW PLUGS after the first 2-hour runtime has expired.

He assured me that it wouldn't go into "break-in mode". YEAH RIGHT!

Told him AFAIK it takes the CDS tool to get this done, that's what I'm asking about. Even told him that Don Weed, the foremost guru on servicing the fuel system on Mercury motors says that it has to be done with the computer. His reply stayed the same!

 

Mind boggling that they sell ONLY Mercury motors and this is their response. (This wasn't the store(s) on the north side of Atlanta, more like the one that's south of me.)

Needless to say, I'll NOT be taking it there to get the pump primed.

So, not everyone knows everything and some know more than others. If he didn't do his due diligence to prove or disprove the information you supplied, then find another mechanic. Odds are there is another one out there.