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SteveD.
Surprises me that people think the new 4-strokes would use less fuel. It takes X amount of fuel to make X amount of power, if an engine utilizes direct injection it is going to run at a leaner AFR and therefore burn less fuel vs a port injected motor which is not as efficient.
And torque. 6 power pulses per revolution produces more torque than 4 every revolution (8 every two for a 4-stroke). Unless you ramp up the displacement a lot as Merc did with the new motors. I only have real experience with one. We fished on Pickwick (two boats, 200 4-stroke merc and my 200 pro XS). Made a run way up-river and back plus a few detours. Before heading back to the campground we filled up, I needed right at 20 gallons, he was around 24.5. GPS trip odometer said we had gone something like 90 miles or a bit more. This was at WOT for him, not quite WOT for me since I was following him and his ranger. Can’t say how much of that was boat and how much was motor, but at WOT it did burn some fuel.
At 50, my merc monitor says I am burning about 10 gallons per hour. Or about 5mpg. That’s actually better than what I used to get with my old XR6 150. At WOT it dropped to around 4.something mpg, not unexpected.
oldtimer57:
And torque. 6 power pulses per revolution produces more torque than 4 every revolution (8 every two for a 4-stroke). Unless you ramp up the displacement a lot as Merc did with the new motors. I only have real experience with one. We fished on Pickwick (two boats, 200 4-stroke merc and my 200 pro XS). Made a run way up-river and back plus a few detours. Before heading back to the campground we filled up, I needed right at 20 gallons, he was around 24.5. GPS trip odometer said we had gone something like 90 miles or a bit more. This was at WOT for him, not quite WOT for me since I was following him and his ranger. Can’t say how much of that was boat and how much was motor, but at WOT it did burn some fuel.
At 50, my merc monitor says I am burning about 10 gallons per hour. Or about 5mpg. That’s actually better than what I used to get with my old XR6 150. At WOT it dropped to around 4.something mpg, not unexpected.
Yeah not fair compare a lead sled plowing through the water, props and engine height on even the same boat will affect efficiency as I know you know and a carbureted XR6 isn’t even close to the efficiency of direct injection. If not running wide open the load of the largest displacement 4-stroke at a lean cruise might close the gap as torque is what ultimately moves the boat. HP is just a derivative of torque and rpm, so if spinning more rpm with a 4-stroke at WOT then you’re going to be pulsing fuel through the engine at a slightly faster rate. That’s why most people I’ve heard who’ve switched have dropped a pitch going to the 4-stroke which means a faster holeshot, but also means that at the same cruise speed you’ll be turning slightly more rpm than before which means slightly more fuel consumption all else equal.
Good read I stumbled across about the old “Eagle”…
Jones TrollingMotor:
Steve, you statement ” arguably best engine for a bass boat ever made” is certainly a matter of opinion. I don’t know if you’re old enough to remember several years back and the Opti is certainly one of the best, but as to the best, it was hard to beat the old 4cylinder 90 degree V’s from OMC. These included the 115, the 135 and the 140. Another one to give the Opti a run for the money is the 2.5 Mercury, either in a 135, 150 (workhorse for years) and 175. I do agree with you that shying away from the 3.0 Mercury because the new 4 strokes are out doesn’t make sense.
BTW, I run a 3.0 225 on my Puma and it does really well
John
There have been many great engines through the years by most everyone with exception of Chrysler. I bought one of the first Three cylinder Evinudes sold by Buddy Rodgers at Ark-La-Tex marine. Ran that thing for 10 years with no problems, upgraded to one of the newer V-4s and the old 3 cylinder was used on pontoon boat by a friend for 20 more years. The engine companies have do well in keep up with technology. My very first was a old 35 Hp Evinrude Fastwin. Smoked like a tar kiln but ran like a champ. I do run a 3.0L Pro Xs on my Cougar FTD. Just can’t seem to pull the trigger on a new one.
I’ve for sure seen some xr6’s take some abuse and keep kicking. My buddy lived on the lake years and hardly did anything to his other than annual service and some coil packs, I bet it had thousands of hours on it before it cut loose. Most of the people I know with optis have had pretty good luck. Yea the market is taking a hit with people wanting to unload boats for ‘new tech’ which has not quite yet been proven by time, but for sure looks like a solid product. I know of a few guys with shift actuators leaving them stranded in tournaments before the recall dropped. Have not hear of any other issues on that motor other than that….
If I could still order a brand new mid-90’s Merc 2.5 with EFI, I would buy it over everything produced since. I don’t care about fuel mileage or oil use. Those motors were awesome. I also still own a Fastrike 175 and it just keeps running and running. My only knock on either engine is neither likes to idle for long periods of time.
I always loved the smell of a carbureted 2-stroke on a cold morning.
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