Mercury 225 EFI --- 2000 yr

any issues or problems with this motor ?
anyone have any comments about the motor ?

The EFI's are pretty solid from what I can tell. Buggy electricals from time to time but mechanically solid. I have a 2003 EFI with nearly 700 hours that still runs fine.

I had one. It is bullet-proof providing the owner(s) have maintained it properly. Check the compression and make sure it is consistent across all six cylinders at 100-110 psi and look at the LU grease closely. If it is milky looking it could cost you $500 to $1500 to rebuild depending on how much you have to replace.

2005 225 Optimax with over 500 hours....starts and runs like new!

Merc's 225 EFI was their workhorse. Like the guy said, bulletproof. I had about a half dozen of them including a 2000. Faster than an Opti, and more dependable back then. Problem is, carry your credit card, it loves to stop at gas stations.

My 2000 Nitro 929 has a '97 Merc 225 efi with about 450 hours, runs like a top with zero issues.

Agree with everything said here. They are thirsty little beasts.

Don't mind the gas if they stay running and don't have issues.

Don't mind the gas if they stay running and don't have issues.
*****
Thanks for the replies, it helps.

Have a 1996 200 EFI. Second owner and run the fool out of it. No issues.

Had 99 200 EFI and no issues at all. Ran strong too.

I have a 1999. and it is dependable and a beast with power. . Mine came without the oiler when i bought it. I premix and it has never had any problems, I change plugs and fuel filter every year plus lower unit lube. So far 300 hours later it has been a fine motor.

Excellent motor. Son has one on his '99 Ranger 519DVS. Very reliable, and strong. Pushes that boat 72-73, but yes it likes the gas. Love it in the morning when all the SHO's sound like Buick V-6's and the Pro XS's sound like the compressor in the garage, but his EFI is growling, spitting, cussing, barking like a hotrod big block in a street rod. Awwwuuuu!!

Probably the best motor I've owned.

It did have one problem, the water pump housing bent on mine, from the lower unit pressure getting too high. I noticed the problem at a tournament, I had lower unit fluid leaking out of my low water pickups on my lower unit. Talk about a lot of head scratching. The fix (from Mercury) was to use the stainless housing plate off the 250 XB. It required drilling and tapping holes and screwing down the plate over the impeller. It fixed the issue.

I love my Yamaha, but honestly, it doesn't compare to that older 225 EFI, that thing was a beast. You can advance the TPS a little, put hotter plugs in it and will scream. 6100 RPMs turning a 27" Power Tech equaled 82 mph gps in a Gambler Intimidator.

Like Bryan O says, that motor has a unique sound, I really miss it and get a little envious when I hear one.

For the most part, they are great engines. Couple of don't do's: Mix different brands of oil in the remote reservoir. scrimp on water pump maintaince, lower unit oil changes, and thermostat replacements. Nothing any other motor would require to give excellent service. and lastly DO NOT MIX LEADED AND UNLEADED FUELS.....BAD JU-JU WILL HAPPEN

Only place you can get leaded gas as far as I know is Aviation fuel and it is on the way out. Banned as of Jan. 2018 per my FFA service bulletin's. It has been illegal to sell leaded fuel or fuel additives with lead for automotive or marine use since 2013. Be sure that motor is an EFI because I do not like the 99-2000 DFI they are a pain to keep running right.

Agree the DFI is way more intense....Whole new ball game there.

I have a 2000 225EFI that has 300 heads, fuel and ignition ECM's, fiber reeds, and lightweight flywheel... I modified it as soon as the warranty was up. It now well over a 1,000 hours and runs like a top. Pushes my Gambler in the low to mid eighties all day long. Great motors. A New LU 6 years ago.

Change the plugs, fuel filter, water impeller every year. thermostats every 3 years.


Gman

Gman, who did the work on your motor? You?

Yes

The EFI'S are some of the best motors Mercury ever made. Change the water pump, fuel filter and lower unit oil once a year and their pretty much trouble free. Alot of these running today have over 800 hrs and never been rebuilt. Not as good on fuel milage as the Optimax, but when you can run hundreds of hrs vs a few hundred hrs for the Optimax on engine rebuild the xtra you spend for gas is not so bad. Most Optimax's with 3-400 hrs have already been rebuilt

WOW!!!!

Sorry about that, I meant 300-400 hrs.

I don't believe that. I have 334 on mine and the compression is still within tolerance. Never had a serious problem with it. Also its one of the 2000 models.

I Said most. I have some customers that have 600 hrs on theirs.
Look at the classifieds. One out of four boats with Optimax's has a new powerhead @ 300 hrs,400hrs ect. They will not run as many hrs as an EFI was the point i was making.

Everyone can argue over the average hours, but your overall point is well taken.

Around here they are referred to as "Optipops", but the ETECs and big block HPDIs are equally susceptible as well. All these engines run so lean there is no room for error.

The advantage to the Opti's is they are the most fuel efficient of the three.

End result is the DFI owners save money on fuel compared to the Merc EFI and Yammie OX66, but as a collective group on average the DFI owners will spend more money on rebuilds than the than the gas savings over the EFI motors. Individually, there will be winners and losers.

I own a pair of HPDIs (offshore boat) as well as a 2001 Merc 225 EFI and a 1987 carbed Yamaha 200 on bass boats.

The EFI is definitely the bad a$$ hot rod that I love to drive

I'm not quite sure on the logic behind the statement that "most" Optimax motors get rebuilt by 300-400 hours when the anecdotal information offered says "one out four you see advertised with 300-400 hours have been rebuilt." Even if true, consider

1) For that scenario, the math says 25%, but that's not "most" in my mind. To me, "most" implies at least 50%
2) Judging the field of boats for sale is biased as many people get convinced a motor is "bad" if it blew, so their tendency is to sell it. More people with a trouble-free motor tend to keep it - while people with a troublesome motor tend to sell it. Such a survey is more accurate if done at a ramp, not via for-sale listings.