Mercruiser Serial Number FAQs

Members of the PartsVu community frequently ask us where to find their Mercruiser serial number. Like other Mercury engines, the serial number is essential when ordering Mercruiser parts.

Where Is My Serial Number?

Typically, on a Mercruiser sterndrive or inboard engine, the tag is on the block near the starter. But, sometimes, it’s down by the starter on the engine block, near the flywheel, or on the flame arrestor.

All too often, the ESN tag on a Mercruiser is not the easiest to find, so definitely take a picture and save it on your cell phone.

Why Do You Need to Know Your Serial Number?

Simply put, your serial number will allow you to identify and order the correct parts for your engine model and year. Mercury manufactures many, many different models and often variations of each model. While one thermostat might be the proper selection for some variations of a given engine model, there’s no guarantee that it will be compatible will all variations of that engine—knowing your serial number is the key.

As if matters weren’t confusing enough, sometimes Mercury will change a Mercruiser engine model design midway thru a given engine model year. Therefore, Mercruiser parts are often segmented by serial number ranges. Knowing your serial number will allow you to make sure that you are ordering the right parts, whether you are utilizing a Mercruiser engine schematic, Mercruiser Parts charts, the complete catalog of Mercruiser parts, or other resources.

Are Mercruiser Serial Numbers Specifically Formatted?

Mercruiser sterndrive engine serial numbers are formatted as follows—0W555555. The first character is the number 0, not the capital letter O. Serial numbers that do not follow this format, rather have seven numerical digits, were manufactured before 1980.

PartsVu is proud to carry a full selection of Mercruiser parts, and our mission is to make finding the right parts for your specific engine as easy as possible.

MerCruiser Resources

389 comments

Hi, looking for information on:
Engine SN: 0C856116
Transom SN: 0C896310
Drive SN: 0C843321

Thanks
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PartsVu replied:
Hi Tim,

Thank you for your inquiry! Based on the serial numbers you provided:

Engine SN: 0C856116 * Transom SN: 0C896310 * Drive SN: 0C843321 It appears your motor is from 1989. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out, and we’ll be happy to assist you further!

Best regards, Markine D

Is this enough to help Id?

I’ve been given confusing feedback.
Some say it is a discontinued Mercruiser 7.3
And others say it’s both Mercruiser and Ford.

International
1833558C1-0528300
5WY7 038/00-

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PartsVu replied:
Thank you for reaching out and sharing your concerns. It sounds like you’re facing some frustrating confusion regarding the identification of your engine. The Mercruiser 7.3 can indeed have overlapping specifications with Ford components, which might explain the mixed feedback you’ve received. Regarding the serial number you provided, it’s unfortunate that it’s not yielding helpful information. I recommend contacting Mercury Direct directly at 920-929-5040, as they may have more detailed resources to assist you. They can provide clarity and potentially help identify the engine more accurately. I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you, and I hope you find the information you need soon!

What year is my 3.0 .Mercruiser I/0 serial #L345805
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PartsVu replied:
Hi Dean,

Thank you for reading our blog and for reaching out! Based on the serial number L345805 for your 3.0 MerCruiser I/O, your engine was manufactured in 1998.

If you have any other questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask. We appreciate your support!

Best regards, Jessica Zapatero PartsVu Customer service Manager 888-625-5460 PartsVu.com Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Mercruiser serial number 5244053
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PartsVu replied:
Hello,

Thank you for reading our blog! I am afraid that the serial number provided does not populate any information. For this you would need to reach out to Mercury directly. I apologize for any inconvenience or confusion.

Happy Boating!

Jessica Zapatero

Hello Haru,

Thank you for contacting us.

Based on the serial number you provided, this is the information I was able to gather:

ENG: 0D843519 474B110FS MERCRUISER 7.4L BRAVO
Comments: TB4, W/PS, TWOPCEX, WORO, GENV
Manufacture Date: 06/23/1992

Best,
Mario