Cost for oil change?

[A-1 Boss]

I have a brand new 60HP mercury outboard on my 26m. When I took it into dealer for 1st 20 hour oil change they charged me over $250!!!!!!! This seemed outrageous to me. I know I can do it myself but for warranty reasons I wanted them to do it since they installed the motor. Is this highway robbery or is this just what it costs?

[Tomfoolery]

Do you have an itemized work order? I can't believe that's just for oil and filter. Maybe it includes a one-time post break-in valve adjustment? Something like that?

And I also don't believe doing the maintenance yourself will void the warranty, but that's easy enough to find out, since you have warranty documents.

[Sea Wind]

When I bought my Suzuki I was told by the dealer that I could do my own oil changes as long as I record it properly on a log and kept the receipts to show using proper filter and oil. I never used the warranty so not sure. I did do the first oil change at the dealer but it was around $100 three years ago.
BTW, my manual says every 100 hours or 6 months. Do people really do it that often?

[RobertB]

Why do an oil change at 20 hours?

[sailboatmike]

I have often wondered the same thing, if that was our car engines it would 2 oil changes week for some.

Three things come to mind, one the oil is such over priced rubbish that it has a very limited life span, 2 the bearings are so bad they need nothing but brand new oil or they will be damaged or 3 that they just like you to massively over service their already over priced bit of equipment so they can keep their hands in your pocket.

I will go for option 3 personally

[jakeintexas]

My yamaha was like 180 I think. That was 20hr break end. I think it's after every 50hr now. But at least once a yr. I now do it myself saving labor charges. I used yamaha brand oil and filters fuel,lower end, still 110.

[A-1 Boss]

my dealer said to bring it in after break in period of 20 hours for oil change. i feel like they totally ripped me off especially after buying motor from them for over 9k!

[A-1 Boss]

To answer previous question. Dealer said oil change at 20 hrs and then every year after that. They charge $110 and hour which is alot but I'm OK with. I looked over bill and it looks like just oil change. I just can't see it taking over an hour for and oil change on an outboard.

[sailboatmike]

One would think that someone skilled enough to be charging $100 per hour for would be able to change the oil in 30 minutes tops.

Marine places see you coming, charge top dollar for labour, then top dollar for oils etc and then to add insult to injury over charge the time involved.

If possible I dont shop at marine places, I have found you can get pretty much exactly the same things for none marine places at around 1/3 of the price.

I did this with my rigging, mast rigger quoted me $650 for new standing rigging for my JOG boat, I took it to a mob specialising in lifting rigging and paid $250 and I would trust the lifting rigging mob more.

Stainless steel nuts, bolts etc, I go to a specialist fastener manufacturer and paid the same for 50 pieces the same as I had been quoted for 10 from the marine specialist.