How To Change The Oil In Your Jet Skis [Save Money – Avoid Dealership]

A service and oil change is the most important thing you can do for your jet skis. The process of changing the oil and doing the service on a jet ski is not hard, but there are a few things you’ll need to do.

The reason you change the oil in jet skis is that it goes bad, wears thin, and gets contaminated overtime. Bad/old oil leads to premature engine wear and destroys your jet skis over time. So doing the proper maintenance at the correct time of year and hours on the ski is vital for it having a long lifespan. Keeping proper records of the services also helps if you intend to sell the jet skis later.

Supplies You’ll Need

Here are the most common supplies you’ll need to change the oil and filter.

• You’ll need an 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 oil weight, especially if it’s supercharged. The kits will list the models of jet skis it’s made for, but otherwise consult your owner’s manual.

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

How To Change The Oil In Jet Skis:

To change the oil in your jet ski, you’ll need 3 quarts of the manufacturer’s oil, a new oil-filter, a siphon oil-pump, rags, o-rings (should come with filter), and a metric tool set.

Before you start changing the oil, make sure the jet skis are out of water and be sure to level them.

Avoid changing oil near the lake, boat slip, or hoisted above water.

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

The video below is from The Watercraft Journal, it’s an excellent video for the 2018 Sea-Doo RXT-X 300 jet ski if you need a video:

1: Warm Up The Engine

For changing engine oil in any jet ski, you’ll need to warm up the engine oil by running the engine.

A 15-minute ride will be enough to warm up the engine oil, or flush it by idling on the garden hose for 2 minutes. Many fine flushing the engine easier, but either way, the engine needs to be warmed up.

2: Remove The old Engine Oil

Once the engine is warm, you can remove the old jet skis 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 ski 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 ski oil 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 jet ski oil-filter correctly (note the direction) put it the same direction you took it out!

4: Replace O-Rings

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

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

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: Next, Add The New Oil

Use a funnel to add the same amount of new motor 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 jet skis 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 middle of the “two humps” for the dipstick.

Note: Can you use any oil, like for your car? No, you need to stick to the manufacturer recommend oil, especially if you have a supercharged model. If you buy the oil change kits online, it should come with the correct oil so you don’t have to use automotive oil.

6: Check For Leaks

When the level is fine, button everything back up and run jet skis 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 an oil change. It’s simple to do and can keep future ski problems away.

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

FAQs

How often do you change your oil?

You need to change your jet skis oil 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.

How To Dispose Of Engine Oil?

Many recycling centers, Walmart and Auto Parts stores will dispose of the old jet ski oil. Many of those stores will also take the used jet skis oil filters.

Does jet skis oil go bad?

The oil in your engine can go bad, so it’s best to not let the jet ski oil hang around for years without changing it. Engine oil that sits goes bad over time, so if you have a jet ski that’s been sitting for years, it’s best to change the oil as soon as possible. Though, never let the engine sit with no oil in it, old oil is better than no oil.

Do 2-Strokes Need An Oil Changes?

Only 4-stroke jet skis need oil changes, the 2-Strokes burn what is added to them. How do you know you have a 4-stroke? 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 it was made in. Learn more about the difference of 4-strokes and 2-strokes here.

What Kind of Oil Should You Use?

You want to use the manufacturer’s recommended oil. It’s important to know that the oils used differs somewhat from that cars. While others may have differing opinions, I strongly recommend adhering to manufacturers 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 jet skis every year is overkill, but trust me, it’s well worth it!

Is The First Oil Service Important?

The most important service will be the first one. The engine generates tiny metal particles that end up in engine oil for new jet skis. Changing it soon prevents excessive engine wear due to these metal particles getting to the engine oil. You can do your own first service, 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 manufacturers, the first service 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.

Why Oil Changes Are Important

Changing the oil and filter in an engine is crucial for maintaining its health and longevity. Engine oil serves as a lubricant, reducing friction between moving parts, which helps prevent wear and tear. Over time, oil degrades and becomes contaminated with dirt, debris, and metal particles from the engine. These contaminants can cause increased friction and lead to engine damage.

Regular oil changes ensure that the engine is lubricated with clean oil, which optimizes performance and fuel efficiency. It also helps to dissipate heat, keeping the engine cool and preventing overheating. The oil filter plays a vital role by trapping harmful particles before they circulate through the engine, ensuring that only clean oil reaches the moving parts.

Neglecting oil changes can result in sludge buildup, which can block oil passages and lead to reduced oil flow, causing parts to wear out faster. This can eventually lead to engine failure, which is costly to repair. By changing the oil and filter at recommended intervals, you protect the engine, improve its efficiency, and extend its lifespan, ultimately saving money on repairs and maintaining the ski reliability.