Mercury Maintenance Schedule

If you use your Mercury outboard in a more demanding way than typical use–for example, long periods at wide-open throttle, heavy loads, extended trolling, or frequent saltwater runs–your outboard motor maintenance schedule should be more aggressive. Plan to inspect fluids, anodes, and wear items midway between the listed intervals and shorten oil and gear lube change intervals where needed. All Mercury outboard parts required for each service interval are available at PartsVu.

Outboard motor maintenance is the regular checking, servicing, and replacement of key parts such as engine oil, filters, spark plugs, anodes, and gear lube to keep your boat engine running reliably. For Mercury outboards, this usually means following a 100-hour, 300-hour, and 500-hour maintenance schedule based on hours and time in service.

Most Mercury outboard motor maintenance schedules call for service every 100 hours or once a year at minimum, with deeper checks and replacements at 300 hours and beyond.

Proper outboard motor maintenance combines regular inspections, fluid changes, and scheduled replacement of wear items. For Mercury engines, this includes checking the steering and controls, inspecting the fuel system, changing engine oil and gear lube, monitoring anodes, and servicing items like spark plugs, water pumps, and belts at the right intervals. Following a simple, hour-based plan helps prevent breakdowns, extend engine life, and keep your boat ready for every trip.

Even if you have not hit the next hour mark, your engine may be asking for service. Common signs include:

If you notice any of these, do not wait for the next scheduled interval. Inspect the engine or schedule service and use the maintenance checklist on this page as a guide.