A Beginner's Guide to Jet Ski Maintenance

SKI ON IN—THE WATER’S WARM

Fun: tearing through the water on your jet ski, feeling on top of the world.

Less fun: doing the work to maintain said jet ski.

Owning watercraft opens up the door to all sorts of fun times with family and friends, but it also means you're responsible for maintaining said craft. Whether it's winterizing your boat, dewinterizing it, maintaining it through the season, or keeping your jet ski in good shape, having a good time on the water also means putting in the time to keep your equipment in good shape.

Jet skis, although they may seem simpler than boats, still come with their own set of rules for proper care. To get you started, here is a guide to jet ski maintenance. We can’t promise that following it will be as exciting as being out on the water, but it’ll help you keep using your jet ski for a long time to come

Make a habit of checking your PWC’s owner’s manual for tips whenever you have questions or an issue arises. The information there should be specific to your machine. That said, if you’d still like some high-level guidance for taking care of your jet ski all in one convenient spot, read on.

PRE-RIDE MAINTENANCE

1. Look at your fluid levels.

The fluids you’ll want to keep track of vary slightly by your PWC type. For example, if you have a two-stroke engine, it uses premixed fuel and oil. However, 4-stroke engines have separate spots for the fuel and oil, so you’ll need to check both places to make sure you’re at appropriate levels. Additionally, if you have a closed cooling system, it’s a good idea to give a quick glance to your antifreeze level.¹

2. Smell for gas.

If you get a whiff of gas coming from your PWC, that’s a bad sign. You may have a fuel leak, and leaving that issue unattended can be dangerous.

3. Do a spot check of your jet ski.

Before you head into the water, make sure your PWC is still in good shape with no damages that need to be addressed. If you see any parts that are no longer in good condition, replace them. This is also the time to make sure that your bungs, or drain plugs, are installed.

POST-RIDE MAINTENANCE

1. Clean it.

Even if the water you’ve been riding your PWC in seems clean, you should still be giving your jet ski a gentle rinse after every ride to get rid of any debris it’s collected before it has the potential to become a problem. Plus, keep in mind that if you’re riding it in salt water, you’re exposing the metal parts in your PWC to a corrosive mineral every time you ride.

2. Flush it.

After you’ve cleaned the exterior components of your PWC, it’s time to flush out the inner parts. Before starting, check your owner’s manual to see how to proceed, since steps may vary for different jet ski types. If you'd like broad-stroke guidance on how to flush your jet ski, you can follow these steps from Discover Boating:

• Get your craft somewhere level with the ground.
• Locate the flush port. It’s probably on the transom, underneath the seat, or somewhere inside your engine compartment.
• Attach a garden hose to the flush port (but do not run water through the hose yet).
• Start the engine; once it’s idling, you can start the hose.
• Idle the engine with the water running according to the specific steps laid out in your owner’s manual. This usually takes somewhere from 1 ½ to 3 minutes.
• Once you’re done, turn off the water and then your engine (do NOT turn off your engine while water is still running through the system).
• Disconnect your hose and replace the parts you removed from the flush port.
• You can also blip your throttle a few times before turning your engine off to remove extra water.

3. Keep it out of the water.

You should already have your jet ski out of the water to flush it, but in general, after you’re done riding it, use a lift so that it’s not sitting in the water in between uses.

ANNUAL JET SKI MAINTENANCE

PWCs are supposed to be serviced every 50 hours or once a year, whichever comes sooner.⁴ Here’s some of the maintenance you should be doing (or having someone else do) at that time:

• Change your engine oil (and, if your engine is a four-stroke, change the filter as well).
• Lubricate the parts on your PWC that need it, such as any moving parts, bearings, and seals.
• Replace your spark plug.⁵ (There’s some disagreement about exactly how often spark plugs should be changed, but once a year is a start.)
• Look at the condition of your battery and consider if you need to replace it.

Final thoughts on jet ski maintenance

Taking time to care for your PWC is responsible stewardship and will help your jet ski stay in good condition, which means you can continue enjoying your on-the-water adventures.

Feel free to contact our customer service if you have questions, or check out our selection of jet ski parts!

[REVISED 3/2023]