Clicky

How To Change Oil & Filter On Your Jet Skis

I wish all things in life had a nice fixed schedule. Like, do this one thing once a year and you’ll be fine. I would set it up in my calendar on my phone and be glad to have that worry out of my head. That is what maintenance is like on your watercraft.

Once a year, or every 50 hours, you should change the engine oil and the filter. It’s that simple. But you’ll be amazed at how many people don’t do it and wonder why their machine acts funny.

Changing your own oil is not hard, but there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind. I cover all this and more, so let’s get right to it!

What You Need

Tip: All watercraft are metric; 8mm, 10mm and 13mm are the most commonly used sizes.

Here is most everything I usually get:

  • Oil change kit. (Amazon Link Ad) This includes the engine oil, filter and o-rings. Some kits even come with spark plugs, which you should do too.
  • E10 Torx socket, or a high-end 8mm socket will do.
  • Extractor: The long cylinder oil extractors (Amazon Link Ad) work the best.
  • Rags.
  • Funnel.

You need to make sure you get the correct weight, especially if it’s supercharged. The kits will list the models it’s made for, but otherwise consult your owner’s manual.

Pointing out the engine compartment of RXP showing oil filter, dip stick and oil cap.
Older Sea-Doo showing the locations of the oil can and dip stick.

The Steps To Perform The Service

Before you start, make sure the machine is out of the water and be sure to level it.

Avoid doing it near the lake, boat slip, or hoisted above the water.

There are EPA laws about servicing things near the water, and the fine can be quite high.

The Watercraft Journal made an excellent video in their 2018 Sea-Doo RXT-X 300 if you need a video:

1: Warm Up The Engine

You need to get the engine warm, a 15-minute ride will be enough to warm up the engine oil.

Another way is to run the craft hooked up to the garden hose, as shown here. (Avoid running a Sea-Doo hooked up to the hose for over 2 minutes!)

2: Remove The Engine Oil

Once the engine is warm, you can remove the old oil through the dipstick using the extractor.

Make sure to remove the cap before removing oil, the cap is often “yellow”, “red”, or “black”.

When you put the hose of the extractor down the dipstick, you want to go all the way to the bottom and then back it out just a hair.

Tip: Skip electric pump extractors, go for manual pump ones with a long cylinder (Amazon Link Ad). They usually come with a tank that measures the extracted liquid, helping you know what to replace.

3 Quarts

A Sea-Doo holds a total of about 4.5 quarts of oil, but you’ll only pump out about 3 quarts, and that is fine.

When the siphon starts to sputter, remove the tube, insert the key, hold the throttle fully, and turn the engine for 3 seconds.

This puts the engine in “drown mode” and prevents it from starting.

Then, reinsert the tube and pump out more to extract the last little bit.

3: Replace Filter

Use an E10 Torx socket or 8mm socket to remove oil-filter cap bolt from the Sea-Doo engine.

When removing the old oil-filter, I like to set aside the new filter and use the box it came in to put the old filter in to cut down messes.

Make sure to seat the new oil-filter correctly (note the direction) put it in the same direction you took it out!

4: Replace O-Rings

Replace the filter cap o-rings with new o-rings from oil-kit.

Note: The o-rings are all different sizes and thickness. So make sure you’re putting the correct o-ring in the correct spot!

Apply a little bit of new oil to the o-rings once you install the new ones.

Once you replaced the o-rings and inserted the new oil-filter correctly, you can add the cap back and tighten it down. Do not over tighten, you only want it to be snug.

5: Add New Oil

Use a funnel to add the same amount of new oil you took out, like 2.5 quarts if that’s what you removed.

It’s better to be slightly under than over, as adding more is easier than removing excess.

The extractors often have measurement lines to show you the amount you removed.

When you’re done adding, put the cap back and the dipstick too.

5 Seconds

Run the engine for 5 seconds, then turn it off, and check the level. You want the level to be between the two lines (humps).

If you have too much, you need to remove the little bit with the extractor out of the dip stick. If you don’t have enough, add more with the funnel at the cap hole.

Important: Do NOT overfill! You want to be in the middle of the “two humps” for the dipstick.

6: Check For Leaks

When the level is fine, button everything back up and run it attached to the garden hose for 1 minute.

  • You want to check for any oil leaks.
  • You also want to check the engine oil level after running it for a bit.

Note: The level of oil will be at a different spot when the engine is cold compared to a warm engine.

7: Replace Spark Plugs

Some kits come with spark plugs.

It’s a good idea to replace the spark plugs when doing a oil service. It’s simple to do and can keep future headaches away.

Avoid Fancy Spark Plugs

Do not use fancy spark plugs, stick to the NGK spark plugs the manufacturer recommends.

FAQs

How regularly do PWCs Need Their Oil Changed?

You need to do it every 50 hours or once a year, which ever comes first.

For more maintenance items you need to do, check out my maintenance post here.

Where To Dispose Of Engine Oil?

Many recycling centers, Walmart and Auto Parts stores will dispose of the old oil.

Many of those stores will also take the used oil filters.

Do 2-Strokes Need An Oil Changes?

Only 4-strokes need oil changes, the 2-Strokes burn what is added to them.

You’ll know you have a 4-stroke because it will have a dip stick located near the top of the engine.

Also, the last 2-stroke Sea-Doo made was in 2007. The first 4-stroke Sea-Doo made was in 2002. The last two digits of the VIN tell you the year the jet ski was made in.

Learn more about the difference of 4-strokes and 2-strokes here.

What Oil Should You Use?

You want to use the manufacturer’s recommended oil.

The stuff in the jet ski differs somewhat from that is used in a car. While others may have differing opinions, I strongly recommend adhering to the manufacturer’s specified oil and filter.

Do You Need To replace The Spark Plugs When Changing Oil?

I recommend you do the spark plugs every year.

For many people, they only do the service once a year, so changing the spark plugs at the same time is smart.

I know some car guys may think changing the spark plugs on a personal watercraft every year is overkill, but trust me, it’s well worth it!

Is The First Oil Service Important?

The first oil change for your new watercraft is crucial.

When the PWC is new, the engine generates tiny metal particles that end up in the engine oil. Changing it soon prevents excessive engine wear due to these metal particles getting to the engine oil.

You can do your own first oil change, it’s not hard.

Most manufacturers don’t void your warranty if you do it yourself, but some dealers can be difficult about it (It’s easy money for them).

Depending on the manufacturer, the first oil change interval can range from 10 to 50 hours. Check your owner’s manual for the specific recommendation. For me, I like to do it between 10 and 25 hours, whichever is convenient at the moment.

Author

Steven

I started working at a power sports dealership in 2007, I worked in parts, service counter, and as a technician before moving to sales in 2013. I created StevenInSales.com in 2014 to answer common watercraft questions I would get from people. Now managing the site full-time, I continue to provide advice and web tools for my readers about watercraft. I've owned several watercraft, with a Sea-Doo Spark as my current main PWC.

Comments

  1. When getting oil level at right spot wouldn’t it go down when you check it later when engine is cool? If so, do we need to add more oil in it for the right level.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Steven Cancel reply