Outboard question: Got a merc 125 Pro XS 2017 Usually change oil and lower unit lube yearly before winter storage. Did the 100 hour maintenance last fall Started year with 48 hours .

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Got a merc 125 Pro XS 2017
Usually change oil and lower unit lube yearly before winter storage. Did the 100 hour maintenance last fall
Started year with 48 hours . Right now I’m at 62 hours and most likely won’t add an hour or 2 before season end.

Question is , change oil and lower unit lube this year with only 15 hours max on motor for year???

Your thoughts ?

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Correction it’s a 115.
I’m thinking i need to run 2 hours just to burn gas so I can top with premium and Stabil 360 for winter storage.

Like some opinions

Ronniejw Loc: West Point MS

As long as you're sure it hasn't taken in any water I would leave it. In all my years with the bigger motors rarely changed lower leg oil

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

It will probably be fine, but if peace of mind is what you’re after, run the gas out of it and change the oil and lube.

E.pa.al Loc: Martin's Creek

All manufacturers give a specified hour range or yearly,which ever comes first.
I would change it

Slimshady Loc: Central Pennsylvania

I think I would change it. Peace of mind is way better than wondering what if

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Ben Bragg wrote:

Got a merc 125 Pro XS 2017
Usually change oil and lower unit lube yearly before winter storage. Did the 100 hour maintenance last fall
Started year with 48 hours . Right now I’m at 62 hours and most likely won’t add an hour or 2 before season end.

Question is , change oil and lower unit lube this year with only 15 hours max on motor for year???

Your thoughts ?

Ben what is the cost factor vs peace of mind for starting the new season? Doesn't sound like it needs changing, but if you are going to sleep better instead of having that thought of ( I should have ). Then change it. Good night of sleep is hard to come by sometimes.

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

Any moisture (including condensarion) that has accumulated over the year can cause rust and oxidation on internals while it sets alone on those cold dark winter nights.. always best to change out the gear case oils in the fall. One may think they don't have a leaky prop seal, but changing gear oil is the first way to tell..

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Ben I run non ethanol in mine. Still use treatment n carb cleaner. Water separator filters. All the prevention is costly but still cheaper than a repair. As we all know by now put one in the shop n you may miss the whole season,

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

It sounds like you have always done the routine in past seasons, so if you have the time and materials it probably makes sense to stick with your regimen. That being said...I feel like manufacturers always play it safe with their guidelines and factory recommendations with equipment so that they cover themselves with warranty issues.

I would follow my heart and as many have said...peace of mind is hard to put a price on!

Jeremy Loc: America

Ben Bragg wrote:

Got a merc 125 Pro XS 2017
Usually change oil and lower unit lube yearly before winter storage. Did the 100 hour maintenance last fall
Started year with 48 hours . Right now I’m at 62 hours and most likely won’t add an hour or 2 before season end.

Question is , change oil and lower unit lube this year with only 15 hours max on motor for year???

Your thoughts ?

If you can pull upper lower unit screw (plug) and verify it is not milky (only oil). I would not worry about it. If you update the oil and it gets condensation anywhere the oil is not (air inside metallic housing) it will not matter if the oil is brand new or has 1/4 or 1\2 season worth of hours. I had an outboard with leaky seals. I just usually pulled plugs and left them out through winter. It was to prevent freezing nothing to do with worrying about surface rust inside the gear housing. Do you have NON-ethanol available anywhere near you. That is the fuel to use over winter. Even Super (premium) fuel has ethanol unless pump says it is NON-ethanol. Also you can pull fuel line with engine running in water or rabbit ears to empty the fuel system. If you run majority of fuel out then use some NON-ethanol to start it and prime fuel system 6 months will usually not hurt anything. Ethanol is what causes a lot of fuel system problems if not run for several months. 2 cycle oil helps stabilize fuels even ethanol added fuels.

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

I change mine every year whether there’s water in it or not. Cheap insurance and just checking for water in the gear box don’t tell you much. A slight amount of water that won’t show initially can turn into a major issue after it sits all winter. Learned that one the hard way on my first boat 40 years ago and have been told by numerous marine mechanics over the years to never let old oil sit in your engine all winter if you’ve had the boat in the water. I change all the fluids every year and I haven’t had an issue one since doing that. I run a 150 Merc Optimax and a merc, 9.9, 4 stroke kicker. Both pur like kittens and they’re 21 years old. Haven’t touched em. Seems worth spending the $30.00/year to keep em that way. Always leave em FULL of new oil before you cover em up for the winter.

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Catfish hunter wrote:

I change mine every year whether there’s water in ... (show quote)

Almost every one of you responded exactly as I expected.

Hey a hundred bucks is a hundred bucks.

I’m sticking to routine

I dream my boat misses me

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Ben Bragg wrote:

Almost every one of you responded exactly as I expected.

Hey a hundred bucks is a hundred bucks.

I’m sticking to routine

I dream my boat misses me

I suppose it is a lot different if your boat sits all winter not bein used. I use mine year round and change mine every other year along with the water pump. I use my boat once or twice a week usually, year round.

vic1964 Loc: massachusetts

always change oil and do as much maintanance as possible. you will be glad come next season. add stabli to fuel