See full version: Frequently Asked Questions
Mercury Marine Quickstor can help maintain fuel systems in storage. It contains oxidation inhibitors to reduce oxidation and gum formation, metal-chelating agents to protect metal components from corrosion, water-absorbing agents to reduce the presence of free water, and dispersants to help suspend and disperse debris. When placing the boat back in service, be sure to reopen the fuel valve to the engine.
We do not recommend leaving a lower unit empty during storage periods. An empty oil cavity may allow moisture to collect on the gears, bearings and shafts. Rust will form when the moisture reacts with the air, damaging the internal components. here
The oil I used to purchase is not available or has a different label. What should I do?
You can locate the MerCruiser serial number label on either the side of the engine or on top of the flame arrester cover. here
Where do I find maintenance and lubrication information for my engine? here
This will help avoid difficulties of dealing with and selling fuel that is a mixture of two different fuel blends to a boater who may have a third blend in the tank. And the marina is dealing with larger stationary tanks that will not allow the two different blends to mix very easily. Ethanol and MTBE should be compatible with each other chemically, but different amounts are used for oxygenation and octane adjustment purposes, and having a tank with two different chemical compounds floating around trying to redistribute could produce unpredictable results. With a tank containing less than 20 percent fuel to begin with, there will be less potential for stratification or other unexpected behavior to enter into the picture. This is consistent with typical practice in the oil and fuel industry and is intended to minimize interaction between blends with different chemical content. It is critical that marinas know their tanks are free from water.
Drain the gear case into an oil change pan by unscrewing the plug from the fill hole on the gear case, and the plugs from the front and rear plug vents just above the motor's skeg, on the right side of the motor. Retain the washers on the plugs. Lubricate the gear case by squeezing tubes of lubricant into the fill hole on the gear case until it comes out the front vent hole. Put the washer onto the front plug and screw the plug in place. Keep adding lubricant until it comes out the rear hole, then screw the plug into the rear hole.
Attach a garden hose to the Mercury flushing attachment. Slip the flushing attachment's "ear muffs" over the two water inlets on the motor's lower unit---the extension that comes down from the engine to the propeller. Turn the hose on full force. here
Winterizing your Mercury outboard is the last step before sending the motor into hibernation at the end of the season. As a precursor to the winterizing process, mixing fuel stabilizer into the last tank of fuel for the final excursion of the season allows the fuel stabilizer to circulate throughout the motor, coating the various fuel system surfaces with the stabilizer. After that, it's all about the motor and the care needed to see it through the long winter before the next boating season begins.
Remove the propeller. Take the propeller to a certified propeller technician for repair of any damage. Apply a coating of heavy marine grease to the propeller shaft. here
Ensure the transmission is shifted into neutral. Start the motor and allow it idle in neutral for three to five minutes while water circulates and flows from the engine. Turn off the fuel shut off valve on your fuel line and spray fogging oil into the carburetor until the motor shuts down. Turn off the water and remove the flushing attachment. Remove each spark plug, spray fogging oil into the cylinder and put in new spark plugs. here
Fuel filter replacement element
Industry Leading Strength - Mercury provides the longest lasting, strongest protection.
Flagship Corrosion Resistance - New advanced corrosion inhibitors outperform competition and all industry standards. Provides protection against rust and corrosion in wet environments and during off-season storage
Mercury oil change kits contain industry-leading Mercury 25W-40 Marine Engine Oil. Over five years of engineering and development went into the exclusive Flagship Protection formula which features a high-tech, advanced set of anti-wear additives that provide up to 35% better camshaft wear protection and the highest levels of corrosion and oxidation protection. Designed to maintain engine reliability and performance, Mercury 25W-40 Marine Engine Oil has been proven to hold its viscosity ratings longer in industry wear testing than other oils on the market. Mercury Oil, combined with a genuine Mercury Oil Filter team up to provide the #1 protection on the water.
Check engine oil and replace oil filter every 100 hours of use, or annually (whichever comes first).
With some gearcases, you will have to remove the propeller in order to change the lube; but even if your engine doesn’t require that, it’s a good idea to pull off the prop. If you propeller is nicked or bent, the off-season is a good time to send it out for repair at a propeller shop so it will be ready to go in the spring. A Mercury dealer can often make arrangements for prop tuning or repair. here
Whether the boat is stored on a trailer or a rack, the motor should be trimmed down to its vertical position so that any water remaining in the engine can self-drain. If water trapped in the engine freezes, it could cause serious damage. In some situations, mice can be a problem – they may be able to get under the motor cowl and chew on wiring. Some dealers swear by this tactic: Fabric softener sheets, or drier sheets, are believed to repel mice. Just don’t forget to remove the sheet before you hit the water next season.
If you have an older boat with a vented fuel tank, it’s a good idea to fill the tank with fresh fuel to keep condensation from forming in the tank. Stop when the tank is about 95 percent full because extreme temperature changes over the winter can cause the fuel to expand, potentially forcing gas out of the vent. Because newer tanks can’t freely vent to the atmosphere and won’t collect moisture from the air, they don’t need to be filled. If possible, refill the tank with ethanol-free fuel such as REC-90, a premium blend formulated specifically for recreational engines. Then add the correct amount of fuel stabilizer to the fresh fuel. more
“The best time to treat fuel is when you pump it into your tank, either during your last fill-up of the season or when you replace stale fuel during winterization,” Hurney said. He recommends treating fuel for storage with Mercury Quickstor, one of the products in the Mercury Fuel Care System, whether your engine was built by Mercury or another manufacturer. These products are engineered to work together to optimize fuel, remove any leftover deposits from the engine and protect the fuel system over the winter months. more
If it’s a lead-acid battery, inspect the fluid level and add distilled water, if needed. Be sure the battery is fully charged, remove it from the boat, and store it in a cool, dry place. Storing the battery on a maintenance charger will keep it charged and fresh until spring.