Mercury vs. Other

[szimmerman]

What's your opinion?

-StetsD

[catfishtonyd]

I've had the following outboards

Mercury 80, Yamaha 30 (blew up, replaced under warranty), another Yamaha 30, a Yamaha 40, a Mariner 115 inline six, a Mariner Magnum 150, (wore out a top main bearing after 7 years) a Mariner Magnum II 150, (replaced the lower unit twice.) A Johnson 150, and now a Mercury 20.

The Yamaha that blew up was a factory defect in the early days of Yamaha. Â*They gave me a brand new motor in the crate, not just a new powerhead under warranty. Â*Cost me one week of down time. The second 30, and the 40 I never had a problem with. Same for the 115 Mariner.

The Mariner Magnun that wore out the top bearing was seven years old and had had the snot run out of from the time it was new, and I didn't really take care of it. Â*I put gas and oil into it, and ran it like I stold it. Â*I got my money's worth out of it. Â*

The Mag II had a design flaw in the lower units I believe. Â*That motor, and it's twin sister the Mercury XR-4 were famous for tearing up lower units. Â*When Mercury bought out the XR-6/Mariner Mag III, that problem went away. Â*(The second time it went bad, I think the mechanic who rebuilt it, used the wrong gear lube, but couldn't prove it. Â*I got a used unit and replaced it, and never had any more problem with it after that.)

The Johnson I never had a seconds problem with it. Â*It started the first time I hit the key every time. Â*I never even changed the spark plugs in that engine, just changed the lower unit lube a couple of times every year, and ran it hard.

The 20 Mercury I've got now I don't have a lot of hours on it, but it starts on the first or second pull of the rope every time. Â*

In short I don't think any of Â*them are "better" than the others. Â*I've had more problems with Mercury/Mariner, but I've had a lot more of them. Â*The problems I did have were more the result of being used hard and put up wet than anything.

I do admit that I like Mercury's because a black motor just LOOKS so good. Â*I would buy the one I could get the best deal on or who's dealer could/would service it right.

[BaSsFiShEr20]

I like Evinrude or Yamaha. I DO NOT like Mercury. > I know three people in my Bass Club who have them, and they are plagued with problems.

Charles

[Rob Mak]

i have a yamaha 2 stroke with oil injection.i use an additive for carbon build up. it will skip or miss when i run it wide *** open.at 3/4 throttle no problem. runs smooth. any one have this problem with a yammy?

bass boss
i ran rudes a long time . i got a yammy and screwed up dumping high test gas in it is a bad thing.. yammaha should put a statement in there owners booklet that high test WILL mess up there moters. the moters are tuned for the japan market they can not adjust them for high test...

i ran high test for a bout 3 months the marina wrench removed 3 pounds of carbon out of a 50 horse out board..

zooker

[socalbasser]

Zooker,
that's unfortunate that whoever sold you the motor didn't inform you not to run the higher octane gas. When I purchased mine in 02 they were emphatic about running strraight 87 octane gas in it. Did you purchase it from a dealer?

All I can say is I have a 150 vmax 2 cycle and have (knock on wood) no problems with it to date. My buddy has a 150 merc xr-6 and has had it in the shop for the 3rd time in about 2 months now. Yamaha all the way!

Skeeter

[catfishtonyd]

With only a couple of exceptions no outboard motor need to use high octane gas. They are not that high compression. The exceptions are engines that have been modified either by the factory, or an aftermarket shop, or an owner, to be "high performance" engines. Those for the most part have higher compression cylinder heads (and other "stuff&quot and need the higher octane. High octane gas does not give more performance, it does not burn cleaner, or better than regular except in the special interest uses noted.

Now. I'm just a "guy on the internet". I wouldn't advise you to take my word for anything. If you have an owners manual for your engine, look it up. The people who design these things, and who will have to pay for any warranty claims know best. If you don't have an owners manual write, call, or email the manufacturer and ask. I won't even trust dealers. When I got my Johnson 150 in 1996, my dealer told me to run high test gas. My owners manual said regular. I ran regular for the afore mentioned reasons.

Johnson designed it, and warranted it. They're the ones who have to answer for their mistakes. Not the dealer, not "some guy on the internet".