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You may hear them called zincs, but the sacrificial anodes on your Mercury aren't necessarily made from zinc. Mercury and Quicksilver offer anodes made from different alloys, including aluminum and magnesium, and the right material depends partly on where the boat operates. Choosing the correct anode matters because these small pieces of metal are designed to corrode so more expensive parts of your outboard or sterndrive don't.  What Does a Sacrificial Anode Do? When dissimilar metals are …

If your outboard is going to sit for several months, parking the boat and waiting for spring isn't the best plan. Fuel can deteriorate, batteries discharge, corrosion continues, and water hiding inside a gearcase becomes especially concerning where freezing temperatures are possible. Mercury's exact winterization procedure varies by engine, so your owner's manual should always be the final reference for your model. But whether you're storing a Mercury FourStroke, Verado, Pro XS, or an older Merc …

Why You Should Change Your Lower Unit Oil Every Year Changing your engine oil is a maintenance item most boat owners remember. Lower unit oil, however, is often overlooked. The lower unit, also called the gearcase, contains a set of precision gears and bearings that transfer power from the engine to the propeller. Unlike the powerhead, these components are completely dependent on clean gear lube for lubrication and protection. Replacing lower unit oil every year is one of the easiest and most af …

A lower unit problem doesn't always start with a dramatic failure. Sometimes the first clue is a new noise, difficulty shifting, unusual vibration, or something you notice while changing the gear lube. The important part is figuring out whether the problem is actually inside the Mercury lower unit, something that can be repaired individually, or damage significant enough to consider replacing the complete gearcase. If you're looking for the basics of how a lower unit works, gear ratios, fitment, …

When most boat owners think about fuel system maintenance, they think of replacing a fuel filter. While filters are important, one of the hardest-working components in many modern Mercury outboards is the fuel module. The fuel module plays a critical role in delivering clean, consistent fuel to your engine. If it begins to fail or becomes contaminated, you may notice anything from hard starting to poor performance or even engine damage over time. Understanding how it works can help you recognize …