Brand New Mercury 4 Stroke 150

[CBuckBassin]

Gents I am excited to say that I just purchased a brand new Ranger RT198P with a Mercury 150 4 stroke on the back. I have never owned a new boat or performed a break in on a motor. I will follow the recommendations in my owner's manual to a T, but wondered if there were any other points that folks would like to share.

Also how does everyone like their motors? I'm coming from an older Yamaha 2 stroke on a 1997 Skeeter.

Thanks,
Cameron

[Bassman25]

I live south of you a couple hours and love my RT. I also have the 150 4-stroke and its a neat little motor. Its so smooth and runs great. I too am still in the breakin process and I follow the rules to a T, I only have like 4 hours on mine so I am ready for spring to get it all done so I can open it up. That boat loves a jackplate, hope you have one on there it will make a world of difference.

[db220]

I have a 2016 Mercury 4 Stroke 150 on my boat and I love it. It's quiet and powerful and pretty good on gas. I just followed the break in procedures in the manual.

[born 2 fish]

Break it in exactly to the manual. One tip is load the boat fill the live wells bring a buddy full tank of gas. You really want to put a load on the motor. Those first couple hours. Enjoy the new boat.

[triplebbb1]

I had a 2013 150 just sold A+++ you will love it!!!

[Bamaman]

And after the initial break in, run the hell out of it. 4 strokes run so cool that sometimes the rings don't get properly seated. Don't be bashful as they were built to be run hard.

[basscla]

Ran one on a Lund for 4 seasons with zero problems. Great motor. Congrats on your purchase

[CBuckBassin]

Thanks for the tips guys! Ill get it loaded down and broke in once this weather warms up a bit next weekend. For those telling me to run it hard after the break in.....a throttle is an on/off switch right? I didnt think you could do anything different? ;)

[Highcentered]

Break it in exactly to the manual. One tip is load the boat fill the live wells bring a buddy full tank of gas. You really want to put a load on the motor. Those first couple hours. Enjoy the new boat.

That's kinda how I broke in my 75hp. Boat was swamped from a cover malfunction in a rain storm before the maiden voyage. It was heavy and huge swells on the lake from howling winds. It loves to run that's for sure! Not sure how much truth there is to this but I hear the rings do their "seating" during the cool down process.

[Bass AHolic]

pack plenty of food & drinks. smokes etc and hang in there, cruise, ride, troll fish what ever.. make like the indy 500 and don't stop the motor, keep it running constant for the break in duration .. yea its a PIA, but get er done..! yea we all know times it cant be done. but then again later on some times don't show up for a long time. always Murphy Law, incidents , other future issues, LIFE Events. any thing and every thing usually lolo.. Even if have whole 24 hour stent planned, for break in.. Didi that with uncle yrs ago on a Boat after 4 hrs he wanted to go home.. and I should of had him drive him self to lake. Used to be average 15 hr day on lake before that one special day And of course it sat for 2 months before got to go back to lake due to over the road trucking back then.. So since then I don't take others with me on important events, always get let down

[EuropeanAM]

pack plenty of food & drinks. smokes etc and hang in there, cruise, ride, troll fish what ever.. make like the indy 500 and don't stop the motor, keep it running constant for the break in duration .. yea its a PIA, but get er done..! yea we all know times it cant be done. but then again later on some times don't show up for a long time. always Murphy Law, incidents , other future issues, LIFE Events. any thing and every thing usually lolo.. Even if have whole 24 hour stent planned, for break in.. Didi that with uncle yrs ago on a Boat after 4 hrs he wanted to go home.. and I should of had him drive him self to lake. Used to be average 15 hr day on lake before that one special day And of course it sat for 2 months before got to go back to lake due to over the road trucking back then.. So since then I don't take others with me on important events, always get let down

I strongly recommend you split the break-in period up into at least 2 (preferably 3) complete HEAT CYCLES.

Still want to run it hard... and seat items, but it's a great idea to shut it down, then cool it down to ambient temp, restart and bring it up to temp (then hammer-down for more break-in). This can be VERY beneficial to the longevity of the engine.

[triplebbb1]

I strongly recommend you split the break-in period up into at least 2 (preferably 3) complete HEAT CYCLES.


Still want to run it hard... and seat items, but it's a great idea to shut it down, then cool it down to ambient temp, restart and bring it up to temp (then hammer-down for more break-in). This can be VERY beneficial to the longevity of the engine.

What ever Don says goes HE IS THE DUDE!! It is great to have his in put on this stuff