Keeping up with scheduled oil changes is important for maintaining the peak performance of a hard-working Mercury® MerCruiser® engine. A Mercury Authorized Dealer is always an option for oil-change service, but if you take pride in working on your own engine, a MerCruiser Sterndrive and Inboard Oil Change Kit is a convenient way to gather all the products you’ll need to do the job right.

In one pick-up-and-go package, each kit contains the appropriate number of bottles of quality Mercury SAE 25W-40 4-Stroke Marine Engine Oil, along with a premium Mercury oil filter and instructions. There’s a kit available to change the oil in just about any MerCruiser® four-stroke sterndrive or inboard gasoline engine.

Anytime you’re servicing your engine, you should follow the maintenance schedule in your MerCruiser 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 because, during use, engine oil accumulates acidic combustion byproducts that can be harmful to internal engine components if left in the engine during storage.

Your MerCruiser owner’s manual will also include oil-change instructions for your specific engine. Don’t have an owner’s manual? At the Owner’s Resources page at mercurymarine.com, you can access a free digital owner’s manual for your engine, or order a printed copy. You’ll also find links to engine maintenance videos for MerCruiser 4.5L and 6.2L engine families that include instructions on how to change the engine oil the right way.

Changing engine oil requires some basic hand tools, a container for the used oil and an oil extraction pump to draw the used oil from the engine through the dipstick tube. There are several types of oil extraction pumps. The Mercury 12-volt Fluid Transfer Pump (P/N 8MO180953, available from Mercury Authorized Dealers) is powered by your boat’s battery. You can also opt for a hand-powered pump that threads directly to the dipstick tube of most late-model MerCruiser engines.

One last thing: Be sure to have a plan to dispose of waste oil properly. Check with local auto parts stores or recycling centers, which often accept waste oil for recycling.

With basic supplies and a MerCruiser Sterndrive and Inboard Oil Change Kit, changing the oil is a whole lot easier and more convenient. Find the right kit for your engine at a Mercury Authorized Dealer.