Checklist For Jet Ski Maintenance
Sea-Doo PWCs offer summers of fun out on the lake or ocean, spending time with family and friends. With all of this fun comes the not so fun tasks of vehicle maintenance. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be exceptionally time-consuming. Jet ski maintenance is all about preventative measures at the open and the close of the season. While there are checklists in your owner’s manual, there are still an assortment of tasks you can do outside of the more complex mechanical to-dos. Extend the life of your jet ski for years of use by following this checklist.
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Engine Fluids and Fuel System: If your Sea-Doo has been in storage for the winter, you need to assess your fuel. If you stored your jet ski with fuel in the engine but no fuel stabilizer, don’t start it! Add a fuel cleaner and stabilizer to make it safe again for the engine once you start it up. Do you think the fuel is old? If so, you’ll need to dispose of it. Drain it from your jet ski and responsibly discard it. If you aren’t sure where to do this, call your area’s city or town office to be put in touch with the right person. They’ll be able to tell you what to do with it. Improper disposal could contaminate water sources, cause fires, and even get you fined. At the close of the season, empty the engine of water, fill it with fuel, and add fuel stabilizer. This way, it’ll be ready to start next season.
You’ll also need to check on parts like the fuel tank’s cap, fuel lines, and fuel line connections. These are all crucial to your jet ski’s engine running properly. If you aren’t sure how to check if these are good to go or not, drop by a mechanic who specializes in PWC.
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Tend to Loose Parts and Replace the Damaged Ones: Go over your jet ski with a fine-tooth comb, tightening all screws and anything else that appears loose. Take a look at your wiring as well, making sure no critters chewed anything up during the winter. Should you find anything cracked or broken, replace as much as you can to keep your Sea-Doo looking and operating great.
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Check Zincs: Your jet ski likely has blocks of zinc installed on the metal parts to ward off corrosion. Your owner’s manual will tell you where yours are located. If they look worn, they can easily be replaced without the help of a professional.
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Washing and Waxing: As you ride your jet ski, it’ll become exposed to sediments like dirt and sand. If you ride in the ocean, salt water can be very corrosive to metal. Prevent rust damage by washing your Sea-Doo after every few rides. If you can, use a PWC lift to get a solid clean all over the exterior. Wax the plastic to help prevent sun damage and discoloration to your craft.
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Yearly Tasks: During each season, you’ll need to change the oil and filter on your jet ski. Just like a four-wheeled vehicle, the oil must be changed, just not as frequently. Other yearly tasks include replacing the pump oil, re-greasing all seals and bearings, and lubricating all parts. Doing these things will keep your PWC running smoothly. Write down the dates of when you complete all of these tasks for the next season.
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Mechanic Inspections: You should have a PWC mechanic that knows all about your Sea-Doo and offers useful information about problem areas when they arise. These mechanics will address your mechanical and electrical problems, so you don’t have to. If you ran your PWC hard this summer, it might be a good idea to have it inspected before the next season begins. If you’ve checked off on all the above, it’ll help you keep the cost down.
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Storage: When you’re ready to store your jet ski, don’t just park it outside unprotected. If you need to keep your jet ski outdoors, consider a fitted jet ski cover and some other kind of protective awning. Storing it off the ground will help keep ground moisture and small critters around from the PWC. A crucial point to remember is that it must be out of the sun. You don’t want your jet ski’s plastic exposed to the sun every day until the next season.
If you’re able to house your Sea-Doo in a garage or storage area, try to keep it off the ground here as well. Although it’ll be indoors, place a fitted cover on it for extra protected for its dormant months.
