West Marine and Bass Pro Shop: Mercury Morons

[BobG]

So, it was my first time winterizing my boat this weekend. Time to get supplies.

I drive to West Marine - about 50 miles.
They don't have any oil filters for a Merc 115 4-stroke.
OK, but they at least have the oil, lower unit goop, and spark plug hole foaming spray.

Kinda pricey, but that's the game we're playing now, right?

So off to Bass Pro Shop - probably another 20 miles.
Look! Mercury Oil Filters, clearly labeled for 115 4-stroke. Can't go wrong, right?
Oh, do they have a fuel filter? No idea. Need to ask the "Parts" department, which is only open Tues-Saturday, 8 to 5 (it's 6 p.m. Friday).

Oh, well - let that slide for now.

The adventure begins:

So, I drain the oil, using a piece of foam pipe insulation stuff (2" in Diameter)to help the oil flow out of the motor, and into my collection bottle. Worked OK.
Next, remove the oil filter.
Grab the plastic filter wrench. No budge.
Grab the metal wrench - won't fit.
Try a stove-pipe clamp. No go.
Finally punch a big screw-driver through it a few times to twist that bad boy off. It must have been put on at the factory by a freaking GORILLA. Take one look and see that there is NO WAY the filter Bass Pro Shop sold me is going to be CLOSE to big enough. CRAP!

Off to Bass Pro Shop, Saturday to get the RIGHT filter. The guy in the parts department says "Yeah, those filters they have out there couldn't possibly fit."
Great.

How can these places justify not carrying the parts that are needed this time of year for everybody winterizing their boats?

[cwag911]

My Honda uses a Civic oil filter and where I used to work in NJ we sold Honda. My buddy that visits every year brings me filters at 4 bucks a pop. I use synthetis oil so to Walmart for Penzoil. You should get the Merc part number and go to the Wix filter crossover chart and find a regular filter for cheap. Also, I wouldn't bother fogging a 4-stroke.

[badmoonrising]

I just order everything online. eBay can be your friend too.

[Woody]

.... You should get the Merc part number and go to the Wix filter crossover chart and find a regular filter for cheap..

This is what I do too.


Also, did you run the engine to warm it up before the oil change ? A lot of times the filters will come off easier when warm.

[BobG]

Also, did you run the engine to warm it up before the oil change ? A lot of times the filters will come off easier when warm.

You betcha. And just like most car engines, they put the filter on the side of the block, so lots of oil runs down the side when you remove it. Obviously, they didn't apply any oil to the rubber "o" ring before they installed the filter.

I have to admit, that Mercury DID do a good job with the little "garden hose input port" on the back, so you don't have to use the "water clamp" thing to keep the engine cool.

[Thin Ice]

If your West Marine is anything like the one close to me then Good Luck getting any parts, knowledge or even assistance on 4 Stroke Merc Motor parts. How dare you expect the associates to spend time on your little shittin pontoon boat and your measily little motor!! If you dont have at the minimum a 34' Cruiser worth $100k + then you better go elsewhere!

Sorry, just found a post that I could vent a little towards WM

[BobG]

If your West Marine is anything like the one close to me then Good Luck getting any parts, knowledge or even assistance on 4 Stroke Merc Motor parts. How dare you expect the associates to spend time on your little shittin pontoon boat and your measily little motor!! If you dont have at the minimum a 34' Cruiser worth $100k + then you better go elsewhere!

Sorry, just found a post that I could vent a little towards WM

Yeah, well in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, who KNOWS what aspect of the boating sports they cater to!

Or maybe they're just all-purpose idiots!!!

[GregF]

From my experience West Marine sucks when it comes to any kind of actual "parts". They just want to sell you accessories.

The Mercury dealer beat them by 40% less on throttle/shift cables for the exact part I needed, not a universal cable and 2 bags of adapters. That was the last time I was there for anything.

Like Ed said, for any kind predictive maintenance parts, get them on the internet and buy several at a time to save on shipping. I can buy name brand OEM oil filters with the right part number on them for about $8 apiece shipped if I get them 6 at a time. I go through 3-4 a year so it is not an unreasonable number.

[BobG]

Like Ed said, for any kind predictive maintenance parts, get them on the internet and buy several at a time to save on shipping. I can buy name brand OEM oil filters with the right part number on them for about $8 apiece shipped if I get them 6 at a time. I go through 3-4 a year so it is not an unreasonable number.

Just one more new thing to learn in this hobby! These retailers make their store look SO attractive on their web-site, like they know it all, have it all, and at the best prices! I fart in their general direction...

[Bamaman]

Auto, motorcycle and marine companies are notorious for using parts and filters used by other manufacturers--as a cost saving measure. They often contract for high volume parts to be painted their color and their parts number added--and they then double the price.

Every time I purchase a new car, truck, ATV, PWC or boat, I cross reference my filters on Fram.com to see what oil filter fits my vehicle/atv/boat/boat. That way, I can buy the filters in national auto parts chain stores at relatively low prices.

I'm not sure of your Mercury parts #, however if it's oil filter #35-877761K01, it's the same as Fram's PH2 filter. It's used on Fords, Cadillacs, Chryslers, Jeeps, Land Rovers, etc. It's the same as AC-Delco PF1250, Amsoil ASF11, Autolite AL2, Bosch 3410, Donaldson P550965, Ford FL820 and many, many others.

While I prefer other filter brands than Fram, their website is great for figuring out my options--at far lower prices than at the boat dealership. Advance/Autozone/O'Reilly's are also 15 miles closer than the nearest marine dealership selling my motor.

[GregF]

I don't know for sure but I bet an engine related warranty claim like Gramps had would go a lot smoother if they saw an OEM oil filter on the motor but I suppose if you can prove the filter you used meets or exceeds the OEM you would be OK. It really sounds like you will have 3 lawyers in the room and that is never good for anyone.

[gramps]

I don't know for sure but I bet an engine related warranty claim like Gramps had would go a lot smoother if they saw an OEM oil filter on the motor but I suppose if you can prove the filter you used meets or exceeds the OEM you would be OK. It really sounds like you will have 3 lawyers in the room and that is never good for anyone.

Greg, You are soooo right. That's why I will use all Merc oils & parts, to protect my warranty, not that I don't trust them. LOL!

[quad cities]

I am sure the people in the parts dept at your store are like the one at the chevy dealer i recently quit. As an ASE master certified tech I would get so pissed working on a customers car go to the counter to get what i need and here we go again another kid from autozone or where ever, cant look up parts cant crossreference or warranty. As I wait for him I lose money and the customer still gets charged time. Sorry had to vent!

[GregF]

Part of the problem is the parts guy may be the lowest paid guy in the place. You may not always get what you pay for but you seldom get more than you pay for.

[Bamaman]

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty–Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act (15 U.S.C.A. § 2301 et seq.) strongly addresses warranties (implied and other) for items used personal, family, or household purposes. It also addresses warranty rights of the manufacturers and the owners, including using different brands of parts/fluids.

I'm with Gramps about using some of the manufacturers' fluids if just to avoid any hassles if there's a warranty claim. Mercury, for example, dies their outboard motor oil, and you want an Optimax to have the proper lube (and oil color) as in their owners' manual. When the warranty is over, using Pennzoil or Amsoil fluids that are comparable and priced less would be perfectly fine.

But, I'm not driving 30 miles to pickup high priced Yamaha 4 stroke oil and filter. My dealer said quietly says regular 10W30 motor oil works just fine.

If you want to read about all motor oils, fluids and filters, I find BobIsTheOilGuy.Com to be a very interesting place. Some of the narratives by oil engineers are eye opening.