Three Year Maintenance at Home or the Checkbook

[imstriker]

Greetings all... I'm trying to decide on my nervousness level and could use your thoughts. Thanks to this forum I've been doing my own oil changes, gear lube changes, winterizing, etc on my little 3.0L. Now I'm at the point where I need to do the three year routine and start pulling things apart to align, grease, etc. This seems a bit intimidating, but I was quoted around $950 to take it in the shop and have it done. So intimidation versus what seems like a silly high bill. I've been through the stickys and the service manual. It seems doable with some money spent on tools, but I'd love some real-life feel on if it is worth the risk on a few year old engine or not.

Thanks

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Three Year Maintenance at Home or the Checkbook

if it is worth the risk on a few year old engine or not.

Meaning - the risk of doing it or not doing it at all?

OR

The risk of you doing it yourself -vs- paying someone to do it?

Either way - the maintenance does need to be done. It is not terribly difficult, but only you know your mechanical limitations.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Three Year Maintenance at Home or the Checkbook

Its a very simple process...but you do need the tool's. Will there be speed bumps yes..can you get thourgh of course. Now if you have a hard time changing oil in a car or changing a tire...Then have someone else do it.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Three Year Maintenance at Home or the Checkbook

The items you already do are the most time consuming. I do them as well. The only other "3-year" items I can think of are a u-joint lube and an impeller change. I have done them in the past, but now in my old age I DO have a shop do them for me, if only for the reason that I have a better trained eye come out and look at my rig to possibly see things that I overlooked.

Having said that, those 2 jobs are worth about $300 at most. Best to get a second opinion. Boating is tough right now - might just be that some dealers are padding the bill due to lack of business.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Three Year Maintenance at Home or the Checkbook

Just become fearless and you should be able to master the maintenance cycle . . . how hard could it be?

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Three Year Maintenance at Home or the Checkbook

Imstriker: I was in the same situation as you with my boats and after doing all the reading, reading, watching videos, more reading, I just decided to go for it and got through doing the 3 year maintenance type stuff; I'm no mechanic like some of the folks here and I did have my 15 year old son available if I needed a helping hand. BUT, I did realize that if I messed or missed something and had to take it to a shop and cost me a bunch more money, I could afford to do that without causing any family financial issues. Here in Southern California the $950 you mention would be about right at a Mercury authorized shop for the work. You might check though to see if there are any local independant mobile Mercury mechanics with verifiable references that could do the work while you watch and learn.
That might be a good compromise between the high cost shop and doing it yourself the first time. As you've found out, this site is excellent for posting questions/problems and getting help if you get stuck from some real pros.
Mark

 

[imstriker]

Re: Three Year Maintenance at Home or the Checkbook

Thank you all again, the replies were great. I think I may just be making too big of deal out of it . So, next question... I'm researching away in this forum and other places trying to find the "what I need" list. Does anyone have such an animal? Which gasket sets are needed, impeller set, tools, etc? The gasket sets especially seem to be nebulous, but I'm not sure I'm even looking for the right terms.