2001 Mercury Optimax 225

[Bob Dobbs]

I have been shopping around for motors and found a 2001 Mercury Optimax 225 that the guy is willing to sell to me for $7,500.00. The motor has 145 hours on it and the compression is as follows: #1-100, 2-100, 3-110, 4-105, 5-100, 6-100.

Is the compression to low for this motor? If not, does this seem like a good buy?

Also, I read somewhere that there were problems with these earlier motors up until about 2005 and that there was some class action law suit against Mercury for the problems. Does anyone know anything about this or if it is true?

Thanks

 

[WILDMAN]

Most that had problems have been repaired by now. I had a 1999, and it was the best motor I ever had. The price is pretty good. I don't know what the compression should be though. Great motors. You will love the gas mileage! I have a few motors for sale if you're interested. Email me at: liberatorboats@yahoo.com or call Randy at: Days-386-761-8050, Nights-386-788-4378.

 

[xsive]

The compression is ok, Mercury service manual says 90-110psi. As far as problems with these motors, I've been told that if the updates have been done they are a pretty good motor. As far as price goes NADA shows it at $7300 average retail.

Talk to your Mercury dealer and have the serial number to see what the applicable ervice bulletins are and make sure they were done.

 

[Bob Dobbs]

Guys, thanks for the help. I am going to get the serial number tomorrow and will see if a dealer can check the history of what has been done with the motor.

I was also looking at the following 2005 Optimax 225 on EBAY. If you get a chance read what the seller has to say about this motor. Would this be a risky buy?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005...egoryZ111126QQihZ006QQitemZ160087606033QQrdZ1

 

[JW]

I'm surprised the compression numbers are that low. All the Mercs I've had were in the 120-125 range, and that's after many hard hours of use. Strange that the Opti would be so much lower.

 

[Chris E]

Guys, thanks for the help. I am going to get the serial number tomorrow and will see if a dealer can check the history of what has been done with the motor.

I was also looking at the following 2005 Optimax 225 on EBAY. If you get a chance read what the seller has to say about this motor. Would this be a risky buy?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005...egoryZ111126QQihZ006QQitemZ160087606033QQrdZ1

looks ok if it has a full merc warrnaty then you shouldn't have problem. if it is digital throttle and shift, you'll have to get matching controls and cableing and last time i priced that out it was around 1100 canadian

 

[xsive]

I'm surprised the compression numbers are that low. All the Mercs I've had were in the 120-125 range, and that's after many hard hours of use. Strange that the Opti would be so much lower.

3L EFI motors are similar to the 3L opti's

 

[Bob Dobbs]

Ok guys I have the serial# for the 2001 Optimax. It is SN# 0T306589. He said that the ECU was replaced, something with the thermostat, and something with a spark plug fouling. So it appears that if there was a recall, the owner must of had all the problems fixed? I am guessing the ECU was the main problem with these motors. Does anyone know of a website that we can input the serial # to check this stuff ourselves?

I also found a 1998 Mercury 225 ProMax Sport for about the same price. Does anyone know anything about these motors. Between the Optimax and ProMax which one is a better motor?

 

[JW]

The Promax 225 is a smaller 2.5 liter motor. They also had recalls about that year, ecu problem. Many motors got smoked because the '98 and newer Promax 225 got too lean. Make sure that one has the Rapair updated ecu............

 

[Chris E]

Ok guys I have the serial# for the 2001 Optimax. It is SN# 0T306589. He said that the ECU was replaced, something with the thermostat, and something with a spark plug fouling. So it appears that if there was a recall, the owner must of had all the problems fixed? I am guessing the ECU was the main problem with these motors. Does anyone know of a website that we can input the serial # to check this stuff ourselves?

I also found a 1998 Mercury 225 ProMax Sport for about the same price. Does anyone know anything about these motors. Between the Optimax and ProMax which one is a better motor?

i used to be able to, but not anymore, go to your local merc dealer and they can tell you the history thru mercnet.

 

[Bob Dobbs]

Well guys,the deal fell through with the 2001 Mercury Optimax 225. The dealer sold the motor on me because I did not give an answer right away. My sales guy got caught in the middle of selling this motor with another sales guy at the same time. The other buyer just happened to be local and went in to the dealer and bought it. My sales guy felt bad and said another motor just like it was coming in and he would give it to me for $500 less. Well, I got tired of calling about it and he never called me back so I kept looking. I ran across a 1995 Mercury 200 XRI that just happened to be locally, but the problem was it was also listed on Ebay and was about to end in a day. I had to make a quick decision and offered the guy a price above the current Ebay price and the guy accepted! I hope I didn't make a bad decision here without seeing the motor first, but it sounds like it is a solid motor, and I'm paying half the cost of what the Optimax 225 was going for!

All 6 cylinders have between 125 and 130 compression. I was hoping someone could check and see what the compression should be for this motor?

Does anyone know how good these XRI 200's are?

I am going to pick it up this Saturday. I already gave the guy a deposit, so it's pretty much a done deal, but would like some feedback on what I just bought.

Thanks

 

[miami14680]

Compression

I'm surprised the compression numbers are that low. All the Mercs I've had were in the 120-125 range, and that's after many hard hours of use. Strange that the Opti would be so much lower.

Remenber that optimax are low comp motor that comp is normal for a good used motor they are around 125 new they are not like 2.4, 2.5 which comp are really high. The optimax low comp due to they use some compression also in the intake.

Best Regards

Pete
US Power