How to Change Your MerCruiser Engine Oil

Changing the engine oil in a MerCruiser® four-stroke sterndrive or inboard engine can be an easy do-it-yourself project with the help of a Quicksilver® oil change kit and a few basic tools. In this video, Scott Glorvigen of Wired2Fish walks you through the steps required for a complete engine oil change.

Keeping up with scheduled oil changes is important for maintaining the peak performance of a hard-working MerCruiser engine. Follow the oil change maintenance schedule in your engine owner’s manual. Most engines should get an oil change every 100 hours or annually. It’s best to change engine oil when preparing the boat for long-term or off-season storage. During use, engine oil accumulates acidic combustion byproducts that can be harmful to internal components if left in the engine during storage. Your owner’s manual will also include oil change instructions for your specific engine.

Oil Change Tools and Supplies

Changing engine oil requires some basic hand tools, a container for the used oil and, in many cases, an oil extraction pump to draw the used oil from the engine through the dipstick tube. Some MerCruiser engines are outfitted with an EZ Drain system that doesn’t require an extraction pump. Check your owner’s manual to find out the proper procedure on your engine. For most models that require an extraction pump, the Quicksilver Oil Drain Pump threads directly to the dipstick tube.

Each Quicksilver oil change kit contains the appropriate number of bottles of quality Quicksilver SAE 25W-40 4-Stroke Marine Engine Oil, along with a premium Quicksilver oil filter and instructions. It’s everything you need to get the job done right in one convenient package.

As Glorvigen shows in the video, the oil change process doesn’t take too long to complete, but leave a little extra time for cleanup and to make sure you get every step done right. Because if you take care of your engine, you can enjoy years of reliable service and fun on the water.

Always dispose of waste oil properly.