Servicing the best in Mercury - Mercruiser

We recommend replacing the impeller on this engine as preventative maintenance every two years. As soon as the impeller is installed it is compressed into an eccentric housing that deforms the veins of the impeller and makes them begin to lose their spring. This means that whether you run the engine everyday or once a year, the veins are still taking a set to the housing. Changing the impeller every two years is a good way to keep from overheating your engine and setting off the dreaded overheat alarm.

There is only one true Performance Marine in Glendale, AZ. Performance Marine is a very popular name in the marine industry, but if you are looking for Sue, Randy or Brent, you are in the right place. Even some shops located near us have a very similar name to ours, be aware that we only have one location at this time.

At Performance Marine we have found that when a V-6 Carb engine is hard to start when cold, it has insufficient fuel to start. The most common problems are as follows. 1. The carbs are not full of fuel because the primer bulb is not being pumped hard enough, or the arrow on the primer bulb is not pointing up while being pumped. 2. The other common starting problem is not "choking" the engine for long enough. The key first needs to be turned to the "run" or "ignition on" position, not the "crank" position. Then the key needs to be pushed in and held in, while not cranking the engine, for up to 10 seconds. These engines do not have "choke butterflies", rather they are equipped with an enrichener valve. When you hold the key in, you open a fuel valve that drains fuel into the intake of the engine, giving it the fuel it needs for cold start. More "choke" will be required if the engine is cold or if it has been sitting for a long period of time. If you disconnect the fuel line and run the engine out of fuel before storing the engine, it may need to be "choked" multiple times on first start up. Once the engine has been run once, it will be far easier to start because it does not need the over rich condition to fire up. Some engines may only need the key to be "bumped" on restart to start the engine.

Effective October 2010, Mercury OptiMax / DFI or Quicksilver DFI 2-Cycle engine oil is the recommended oil for all OptiMax models - including Pro XS. (The previous recommendation stated the use of Mercury Premium Plus 2-Cycle Outboard Oil in ProXS models and OptiMax oil in non-ProXS models.)OptiMax / DFI oil is a superior oil when compared to the Premium Plus oil. While both products are high quality 2-cycle engine oils suitable for use in OptiMax engines, the OptiMax / DFI oil contains a higher percentage of additives that reduce carbon deposit formation. Over time, under normal operating conditions, carbon deposits accumulate in the power cylinder (piston, cylinder head, liners). In most cases the carbon deposits do not create a problem, but carbon deposits that form on the piston - particularly behind the piston rings and piston skirts - can reduce engine life and performance.OptiMax / DFI oil is specially formulated to prevent the carbon deposits from forming. It also does a better job of reducing existing carbon deposits than the Premium Plus oil. Going forward, the Operation, Maintenance and Warranty manuals for OptiMax outboards will recommend Mercury OptiMax / DFI or Quicksilver DFI 2-Cycle engine oil to help maximize engine life and performance.Operation, Maintenance and Warranty and Service manuals are in the process of being updated and will contain the following:Oil RecommendationRecommended Oil Mercury OptiMax / DFI or Quicksilver DFI 2-Cycle Engine Oil Mercury OptiMax / DFI or Quicksilver DFI 2-Cycle Engine Oil is recommended for your engine. If Mercury OptiMax / DFI or Quicksilver DFI 2-Cycle Engine Oil is not available, we recommend using Mercury or Quicksilver TC-W3 Premium Plus 2-Cycle Oil. Severe engine damage may result from use of an inferior oil. Performance Marine is proud to offer Mercury Optimax/DFI in bulk for $22.95/ gallon and Mercury Premium + Oil in bulk for $19.95/ gallon. Normal bulk rules apply, we will only fill Mercury or Quicksilver gallon, 2 gallon and 2.5 gallon bottles. No fuel cans, milk jugs, off brand jugs, etc. Please don't ask us to bend Mercury's rule because we won't. Thanks, Performance Marine

Most times when a customer has a starting problem with a carbureted Mercruiser engine, it is due to not enough fuel being fed into the engine. This can be caused by two main problems, a carburetor that is not filled with fuel, or improper priming of the engine. If the engine has been sitting, the fuel can evaporate out of the carb. and make the engine not start. The carb. may refill by cranking the engine or it may have to be manually primed. On carb. engines with electric fuel pumps, the fuel line from the fuel tank must be removed at the connection to the engine and an outboard primer bulb be installed temporarily to refill the carb. Once the carb. is filled with fuel, the engine needs to be primed. On most engines, all you need to do to prime them is to push the throttle lever to wide open then back to neutral twice before cranking the engine. Typically two pumps on the control lever will give sufficient fuel for start up.