10/14/2026
Hope everyone in the ski community had a great and safe summer on the water.
I have a question for the group. I'm getting a lot of requests to perform oil changes at the same time as winterizations to help customers save money on labor and service visits.
I'm curious what other shops are doing and what experiences you've had with this approach.
My practice has always been to follow the manufacturers' recommendations:
• Fog the engine.
• Blow out all water from the system.
• Add RV antifreeze for freeze protection.
Remove the battery and place on a battery maintaner.
Make sure gas tank is completely full no room for moisture to form in the tank.
• Complete the winterization only.
Then, in the spring service:
• Replace spark plugs.
• Perform the engine oil and filter change.
• Service the jet pump as needed based on engine hours, wear, or excessive metallic noise transmitted through the pump.
I've always felt this was the best approach, especially since fresh oil is installed right before the season and isn't sitting all winter in storage.
What are other shops doing? Are you performing oil changes during winterization, or waiting until spring service? I'd appreciate hearing your reasoning and any manufacturer guidance you're following.
DMV PWC Riders Southern Maryland Jet Ski Riders Sea-Doo
