To service, or not to service (new to me 90hp Mercury)

[DaubsNU1]

Picked up the 2021 Lund with 90hp Mercury 4 stroke in mid August. Dealer fully serviced engine prior to my purchase (oil-filter change, lower unit change).

 

Debating if I should do another round of service before storing the boat for winter(?)

 

Or just pull plugs, fog the cylinders, and call it good.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, DaubsNU1 said:

Picked up the 2021 Lund with 90hp Mercury 4 stroke in mid August. Dealer fully serviced engine prior to my purchase (oil-filter change, lower unit change).

 

Debating if I should do another round of service before storing the boat for winter(?)

 

Or just pull plugs, fog the cylinders, and call it good.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

If it's 'under a Mercury Warranty',

I'd have an authorized Mercury Service Center service it IAW the 'manual'. 

And I'd continue that until the warranty runs out.

If not under any warranty, all bets are off.

Anything that is done or happens as a result of 

whatever you decided to do (or not do) on your own,

it's coming out of your pocket either way.

Good Luck.

A-Jay

[airshot]

How much time on it since last service ?   Usually every 50 hrs or one season....what does the factory recomend..

[gim]

57 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Anything that is done or happens as a result of 

whatever you decided to do (or not do) on your own,

it's coming out of your pocket either way.

I am a proponent of preventative maintenance on this subject. My outboard is way past it’s warranty now, but I still do the same as I do every October - have it professionally winterized. It’s actually being done right now.

 

I’d rather fork over the 200 bucks for annual service than risk bigger problems. I feel a lot better about it starting and running properly next spring when it’s properly winterized in the fall.

[A-Jay]

7 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I am a proponent of preventative maintenance on this subject. My outboard is way past it’s warranty now, but I still do the same as I do every October - have it professionally winterized. It’s actually being done right now.

 

I’d rather fork over the 200 bucks for annual service than risk bigger problems. I feel a lot better about it starting and running properly next spring when it’s properly winterized in the fall.

I'm not an outboard mechanic so I let the guys who are utilize their expertise. 

While they have it each fall I also have them tighten / re-torque all my motor mount and Jack Plate hardware IAW specs.  Some of of them I can't get to. Impellers get changed, every other year, bilge & live well pumps. As well as an assortment of whatever I can think of for that year.

Peace of mind is good.

A-Jay

 

[gim]

Is your garage heated where the boat sits during the winter @A-Jay?

[A-Jay]

33 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Is your garage heated where the boat sits during the winter @A-Jay?

It's not 'heated' but it's an 'attached garage.

So it never really gets below 35 degrees.

I have thermometer out there as well as several bottles of water.

Which have never frozen.

But hey, don't jinx it ! 

😎

A-Jay

 

[Bird]

I've always serviced my own boats, head and lower unit in the heart of winter each year regardless of hours of use.

Add Mercury fuel stabilizer, grease fittings, done.

Is winterization a proper term for a 4-stroke when there isn't anything to freeze?  Battery maintained ?

 

[DaubsNU1]

Great information here, thank you all!

 

I like doing maintenance on vehicles, ATV's, John Deere x750, etc. 

 

I certainly do NOT want to void the warranty. 

[A-Jay]

7 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

Great information here, thank you all!

 

I like doing maintenance on vehicles, ATV's, John Deere x750, etc. 

 

I certainly do NOT want to void the warranty. 

I can not say one way or the other if performing your own work is something that would void a warranty.

But having it serviced my an authorized Mercury tech takes that out of play.

A-Jay

[Woody B]

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act insures a manufacturer can't void a warranty due to someone doing their own repairs and maintenance.   The only way this could void the warranty is if the repairs/maintenance aren't done properly, and the manufacturer can prove it.   You need to keep records showing the required maintenance is performed.   

 

There's nothing wrong with letting professionals handle it, but "they" can't refuse covered warranty repairs because you done your own maintenance, or had it done at "another" repair facility.  

[wvhunt]

4 hours ago, DaubsNU1 said:

Picked up the 2021 Lund with 90hp Mercury 4 stroke in mid August. Dealer fully serviced engine prior to my purchase (oil-filter change, lower unit change).

 

Debating if I should do another round of service before storing the boat for winter(?)

 

Or just pull plugs, fog the cylinders, and call it good.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

I'm pretty much in the same boat I purchased an Xpress with a 90hp Mercury this year.  Even though I didn't get enough hours on the engine to get it out of the break-in period, I changed the engine oil, filter, water/fuel filter, greased the fittings, and changed the lower unit oil.  I also ran some Marine Sta-Bil thorough the engine for storage.  It probably need the fluids and filters changed, but I figured I'd start out the spring with everything ready to run for the season.

[DaubsNU1]

I e-mailed Mercury customer service last night, asking if I can do maintenance myself? 

 

Received the following response this morning:

 

Thank you for your email regarding your Mercury engine, serial # XXXXXXXX. We appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns.  

Anyone can do maintenance.  Just keep receipts showing you purchased the required maintenance items.   

We hope this information is helpful to you. Should you have any further questions or concerns, please contact our Customer Service department at 920-929-5040 between the hours of 7:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, CST.

Sincerely,

Mercury Outboard Customer Assistance

[gim]

Props for calling and getting an honest answer.

[Bankc]

12 hours ago, wvhunt said:

I'm pretty much in the same boat I purchased an Xpress with a 90hp Mercury this year.  Even though I didn't get enough hours on the engine to get it out of the break-in period, I changed the engine oil, filter, water/fuel filter, greased the fittings, and changed the lower unit oil.  I also ran some Marine Sta-Bil thorough the engine for storage.  It probably need the fluids and filters changed, but I figured I'd start out the spring with everything ready to run for the season.

Did you replace it with break-in oil?  

[wvhunt]

 

2 hours ago, Bankc said:

Did you replace it with break-in oil?  

I replaced it with the oil specified by the engine manufacturer.

[Way2slow]

Wow, someone is actually considering preventive maintenance.  I thought most considered servicing one after it broke, and they are trying to figure out how to fix it. 

[Alex from GA]

🤣🤣🤣

[GRiver]

On 10/24/2023 at 4:21 PM, DaubsNU1 said:

Debating if I should do another round of service before storing the boat for winter(?)

It’s not going to hurt it. Then your on  your normal maintenance schedule. It will be ready to for the whole  next season.