optimax or EFI

[coachallen]

the EFI is 2.5 and the optimax in 3.0 hence the weight difference..

[n2ratfishin]

What's all this "service" you guys have paid to have done on your Opti's???... I've own 4 and have never paid anyone to service my engines. I change lower unit oil once a year (the shop I go to charges 1/2 hr plus oil, couldn't be more that $75), I change the impeller every 3 years and spark plugs every 2 years. Other than a couple of coils, a head and gaskets, all which were covered under warranty I've never paid to have any service done... Now the thermostats clogging, that's an issue I like to talk to a Mercury engineer about... Dan

The first 150 Opti I had was terrible, blew three times in ten hours. Mercury more than made it right with a 175 ProXS replacement. That motor was good until a coil went out. By time it was really fixed Mercury had replaced the entire wiring harness and all the coils. I made lots of trips to the shop in between. I traded that one with 120 hours or so. The 225 was a good motor. As I mentioned above routine service and getting the steel reeds replaced as it aged negated any savings. My current had a trim issue, that’s the only issue in the three years I’ve owned it. The three year service (yes I could have done it myself but with several more years warranty let a dealer do it cost me 750.00. From what I’ve read that’s the going rate no matter what brand 115 you’re running.

The 225 was approaching the age to need fuel rails and injectors cleaned when I traded it.

I’d have a good ole 2S carb motor if they were still available new. Of course back then they only came with a year or two warranty.

[Rharrell]

I have never had an OPTI but my efi has been good to me my buddy has an OPTI and the fuel and oil efficiency in my opinion is a pretty significant difference

[DrewFlu33]

What about the 1992 Mercury XRI is it a strong motor if cared for

It's still kicking 28 years later, that tells you a lot!

[Boatseller]

If the warranty covers everything, I would go with the Opti. Also the 3.0L will have better low end torque along with fuel and oil economy. Good Luck

[Savage]

I would go Optimax over EFI.

[Jfish]

If the warranty covers everything, I would go with the Opti. Also the 3.0L will have better low end torque along with fuel and oil economy. Good Luck

Agree

[Rharrell]

I would also agree on this with larger gear case as my efi will not turn one of the fury 4’s because of the smaller gear case just FYI

[DaveBrabec]

1999 and 2000 optis had a class action suit about injector failure.Make sure they have been replaced. if i had a motor blow right now i would try and upgrade to a fourstroke

[Ron H 520]

First off, no mechanic here, but I do have an opinion. To be honest, with that age of engines, make your best educated choice and hope for the best. I would not factor fuel or oil usage in my decision, rather, go for dependability as the main criteria in the decision. Also, 2.5 vs 3.0 on some hulls make a difference in your hole shot.

On the Optis this age, the quirks should have been addressed long ago, but you do still have compressors to muddy up the water.

Tough decision to make for sure. FYI, I've ran a 225 Opti for working on 20 years, and it had its known issues on the front end, which were addressed, and it's been an outstanding engine since. Still, I don't know which I would go with. EFIs have a strong reputation for dependability in part due to being less complicated, with the Opti being a more complicated engine, which gives you a more efficient engine, but with more areas for possible failure. Tough decision. Good luck.

[fly by night]

Four Stroke!

[MikeT@1954]

The XRI is a 2.5 liter 150

[Bassmeister]

The EFI will use more fuel.....but those things run and run.....The Optis have more grunt but are prone to the compressor problems and electrical.....Bud of mine is happy to pour the fuel to his 175 Black Max EFI 95 year model...Personally I think the EFI was Merc's flagship as was the Faststrike/Intruder was for OMC...