Mercruiser Oil Filters

TonyG13

If anyone is looking for Quicksilver Oil Filters (866340Q03) -- the cheapest place I just found them today was - GASP - West Marine for $13.99/each. Three bucks cheaper than Amazon and other "reliable" places. Some places had them cheaper, but I don't trust the sources, and my sister-in-law gave me a WM gift card so I'm using that. Bad part is they're twice the price from when I last bought some two years ago. Should have stocked up more back then.

captkevin

I buy from local dealer. Basically same $$ as amazon. Much rather give it to local small business.

aero3113

I just bought this 4 pack and 2 gallons of oil from this place. Hopefully I receive it!

https://www.partsvu.com/mercury-mercruiser-quicksilver-inboard-sterndrive-oil-filter-35-866340q03-4-pack.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=PVMP0427&gclid=Cj0KCQjw94WZBhDtARIsAKxWG-8p4SmDvD0Plfe4pqQooqepRqbBY8sBS7yQyBrUKnZ3w34QllPsbZwaAtuQEALw_wcB

Dream_Inn

@aero3113 I've ordered from Partvu several times with no issues.  Thanks for listing a decent price!

aero3113

Dream_Inn said:

@aero3113 I've ordered from Partvu several times with no issues.  Thanks for listing a decent price!

Awesome!
I looked up reviews (after I ordered) and they were all good. 👍🏻👍🏻

TonyG13

@aero3113 - Did you get your order yet?

West Marine just canceled mine saying "out of stock." And your place now also says out of stock.

Anybody know of an equivalent (other brand ) of filter for the Quicksilver #866340Q03?

TonyG13

Just found an oil filter cross reference site -

https://www.oilfilter-crossreference.com/convert/MERCRUISER/35-866340Q03

- which lists a whole lot of compatible filters.

Did a quick search on Amazon and they range from $7 for the Fram, to $11 for a Wix.

Any recommendations on which would be the best quality brand to get?

Aqua_Aura

Get a WIX filter. They manufacturer the filters for some other brands most notably NAPA. 

TonyG13

Thanks @Aqua_Aura - Ordered a couple of Wix filters from Amazon before those go out of stock!

aero3113

@TonyG13 , the shipment is supposed to arrive on Wednesday, I do have a UPS tracking number.

Cableguy Greg

There are the filters that I use. 

Quicksilver Oil Filter Hi-Efficiency https://a.co/d/h04F7ra

tricountytrail

aero3113 said:

I just bought this 4 pack and 2 gallons of oil from this place. Hopefully I receive it!

https://www.partsvu.com/mercury-mercruiser-quicksilver-inboard-sterndrive-oil-filter-35-866340q03-4-pack.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=PVMP0427&gclid=Cj0KCQjw94WZBhDtARIsAKxWG-8p4SmDvD0Plfe4pqQooqepRqbBY8sBS7yQyBrUKnZ3w34QllPsbZwaAtuQEALw_wcB

I had 4 in my cart great price! was shopping for oil and they sold out along with most other sources for the filters. lol

Dutch320

Amazon has the Wix alternative for a good price, this one is for synthetic oils but they also have the non XP version. 

Dream_Inn

Which wix would you use for semi-synthetic?

Dutch320

Not sure, they don’t seem to specify. The 57099 is for conventional oil and the XP is for synthetic. Semi synthetic might be a bi oil and could be used with either. Maybe the XP is a better filter because of the longer oil change intervals common with synthetic oil?, contaminates are contaminates 

aero3113

Received them today 

Aqua_Aura

Dream_Inn said:

Which wix would you use for semi-synthetic?

Someone can correct please if I'm wrong. I really don't think it matters. The XP filters usually just have better filter media and possibly better back flow prevention but really you're paying for the better filter media. I always just buy the best filter available for whatever I am working on. 

Pat310

Found this on XP filters:

XP, the third oil filter line manufactured by WIX, is available through independent auto parts dealers and warehouse distributors. According to Chilton, XP filters are ideal for vehicles subject to: • Towing trailers, boats and heavy equipment.

Pat310

Also found this on synthetic oil filters:

Can you use a synthetic oil filter with regular oil?

Yes, it's perfectly safe to use either type of filter with either type of oil. If you practice extended drain intervals using synthetic oil, however, a conventional oil filter may not offer the required service life, meaning you'll have to change it in the middle of the oil drain interval, which is inconvenient.

TonyG13

Dream_Inn said:

Which wix would you use for semi-synthetic?

Thought the same thing and tried to dig into it a little more. The Wix XP package says "designed for synthetic oils" -- but does specifically exclude dino or blended oil. And if you read their warranty, again nothing saying you can only use synthetic.

There are lots of automotive sites asking the same question and most of the mechanic sites say it shouldn't affect anything using blended oils.

I guess I'll be a Guinea pig because the XP was the same price as the regular version on Amazon so I ordered two XPs. So I'll see if I notice any difference. 

Cableguy Greg

I am going to stick with the Mercury/Quicksilver Hi-Efficiency filters. They have been good to me over the years. @Michael T is the one that got me using those filters. 

Dream_Inn

Thanks everyone!  I ordered 2 of the WIX XP filters to use with my semi-synthetic.  I'm sure it will be fine.

Michael T

Yes, @Cableguy Greg! There is a massive difference between various filter brands. I'd rather use a baby diaper than a Fram filter. Many filters have crap filter media that enters the oil stream, others clog quickly and by-pass dirty oil. Mercruiser synthetic specific filters are among the best in the world (if not the best) and, imo, worth every penny. Wix will do, if Mercruiser is not available, as they are decent. A while back we had a very lengthy discussion on this topic right on this forum. We got deep into molecular filtration, change frequency etc. I believe at one point I mentioned i had an uncle who was a Vice-President and chemist at Shell Oil responsible for new product development. His biggest annoyance was people who had expensive engines, used high quality oils (synthetics) and then spun-on crap oil filters. Again, I believe Mercruiser filters are the best possible product for our Mercruiser engines - by FAR - if you can get them....and yes @TonyG13 I'd definitely stock-up on some frequently used boating consumables as supply chains have become erratic. Where I live a local parts supplier ran out of Stabil winterizing additive - really a shortage of Stabil???? I had already stocked-up so I was OK but it IS getting crazy out there! Best to all my boating brothers! MT

Aqua_Aura

Who makes the Mercury/quicksilver filters?

There is a good video I found on YouTube where they cut apart about 5 different filters and went over them in depth. I can't remember if I posted it on here before. 

LaRea

Michael T said:

... I'd rather use a baby diaper than a Fram filter. ...

@Michael T you crack me up.  Been a long day and I needed that!

And I've often wondered whether filters care about synth vs. dino, but never looked it up.  So I learned a thing today.  

Michael T

@LaRea....my answer would be absolutely yes. IMO a filter that would be fine for dino oil (which we all know is, at least, now a semi-synthetic for EPA) has a different molecular structure and performance than higher end (better base stock and additive stocks - like class lll, IV and V) and waaay different from top synthetics like Mercruiser and Mobil 1. Synthetic oils with their long chain polymers that couple at higher heat ranges really need proper filtration from a filter dedicated to their chemical and physical profile. At some point in a previous discussion someone (maybe me) posted information on the micron range of Mercruiser high efficiency filters. They were very specifically tailored to work with high end synthetic and semi-synthetic oils - especially those Mercruiser had formulated for them. Back "in the day" I also has discussions with Rocky and some of the guys who used to work at former Merc engine assembly plant in Stillwater Oklahoma and Rocky said Mercruiser oils and filters were like Kenmore Appliances from Sears. Sears took good brands then specified proprietary, to Sears, upgrades that were not available to any other manufacturer and that is what Mercruiser did with its oils and filters. Mercruiser engineers were obsessed with oil and oil filter performance. I imagine when Mercruiser started completely building their engines, blocks and all, they became even more specific with oils and filters. I am on a auto forum and can't understand why guys with high performance engines shop filters at Walmart. That part is so absolutely critical to engine life why try to save ten bucks on it?

mattie

Like me the Mercury Marine filters. Paint matches the motors....that's worth the extra $10 bucks.

earl1z19

mattie said:

Like me the Mercury Marine filters. Paint matches the motors....that's worth the extra $10 bucks.

What label maker did you use on the label?

mattie

@earl1z19
Brother PT-M95 
Works great. 4xAAA batts. 
Very clear & legible. 

Cableguy Greg

mattie said:

@earl1z19
Brother PT-M95 
Works great. 4xAAA batts. 
Very clear & legible. 

You need some black tape with white letters. 

YYZRC