Mercury Verado 135 / 150 / 175 / 200 (4 cylinder) service guide

Quick answers

How much oil does a Mercury Verado 135 / 150 / 175 / 200 take?

6.0 L (6.3 US qt) with filter.

What engine oil does a Mercury Verado 135 / 150 / 175 / 200 use?

The 2017 maintenance booklet lists Mercury 25W-40 NMMA FC-W Catalyst Compatible Synthetic Blend.

What gear oil does a Mercury Verado 135 / 150 / 175 / 200 use, and how much?

Mercury or Quicksilver High Performance Gear Lubricant.

What spark plug does a Mercury Verado 135 / 150 / 175 / 200 use?

NGK ILFR6G or ILFR6GE, qty 4 (16 mm hex). Gap: 0.8 mm (0.031 in).

How often should a Mercury Verado 135 / 150 / 175 / 200 be serviced?

The factory schedule lists: Every 100 hours or once a year; Every 300 hours or 3 years. In Hawaiʻi's salt water we do a full yearly service every 200 hours or 1 year, whichever comes first, and a new engine needs its first (break-in) service.

When should the water pump impeller be replaced on a Mercury Verado 135 / 150 / 175 / 200?

The factory schedule says to replace it at 300 hours. In Hawaiʻi's warm salt water we replace it every 200 hours or 1 year, whichever comes first, because a worn impeller is the most common cause of overheating.

What is the propeller nut torque on a Mercury Verado 135 / 150 / 175 / 200?

75 N·m (55 lb·ft); bend three retainer tabs.

Maintenance specs

Engine oil	The 2017 maintenance booklet lists Mercury 25W-40 NMMA FC-W Catalyst Compatible Synthetic Blend
Engine oil quantity	6.0 L (6.3 US qt) with filter
Oil filter	P/N 35-896546T. Oil the gasket, screw on until it touches the base, then 3/4 to 1 turn
Gear lube	Mercury or Quicksilver High Performance Gear Lubricant
Gearcase fill and vent screws	6.8 N·m (60 lb·in); replace the sealing washers if damaged
Gear housing pressure test	103.4 kPa (15 psi), no gear lube, 5 minutes without leakage
Spark plug	NGK ILFR6G or ILFR6GE, qty 4 (16 mm hex)
Spark plug gap	0.8 mm (0.031 in)
Spark plug torque	27 N·m (20 lb·ft), or finger tight then 1/4 turn. Pencil coil bolts 8 N·m (71 lb·in)
Thermostat	Oil module (IOM) thermostat opens at 62 °C (144 °F). at 100 hours check it for corrosion or a broken spring and that it closes fully at room temperature
Water pressure	650 r/min 15.2 kPa (2.2 psi). 6000 r/min: warm water slow boat 88 kPa (12.8 psi), cold water fast boat 220 kPa (32 psi)
Anodes	Gearcase anode screw M6 x 40 6.8 N·m (60 lb·in); trim tab screw 54 N·m (40 lb·ft); transom bracket anode screws M6 x 25 8 N·m (70 lb·in)
Propeller nut	75 N·m (55 lb·ft); bend three retainer tabs
Power trim fluid	Power Trim and Steering Fluid, or ATF Type F, FA, Dexron II or III. Check tilted full up on the tilt support; level with the bottom of the fill hole. Fill plug 2.5 N·m (22 lb·in)
Valve lash, cold	IN 0.150 to 0.230 mm (0.0059 to 0.009 in); EX 0.350 to 0.430 mm (0.0137 to 0.0169 in)
Accessory drive belt	Automatic tensioner. Replace if it has slipped on a pulley, whatever it looks like; inspect for cracks, worn grooves, oil swelling, worn edges

Service schedule

The factory maintenance intervals, with what is replaced and what is checked at each. Rows marked Hawaiʻi are our shop's yearly service for salt water use.

1. Every 100 hours or once a year

   Replace: engine oil, oil filter, oil drain plug gasket, gear case oil, gear case plug gaskets

   Check: fuel filter, thermostat, anodes

2. Every 200 hours or 1 year (our Hawai‘i yearly service) Hawai‘i

   Replace: engine oil, oil filter, oil drain plug gasket, gear case oil, gear case plug gaskets, water pump impeller

   Check: fuel filter, thermostat, anodes

3. Every 300 hours or 3 years

   Replace: engine oil, oil filter, oil drain plug gasket, spark plugs, fuel filter, gear case oil, gear case plug gaskets, water pump impeller

   Check: thermostat, anodes

We replace the water pump impeller at every service from 200 hours up, which can be sooner than the factory schedule, because of Hawaiʻi’s warm salt water.

Source: Mercury 135/150/175/200 Verado FourStroke service manual, 90-897928T01. Specs can change by model year and serial number, so always confirm your exact model from the serial tag on the clamp bracket.