2003 Mercury Racing 250 XS Reliability?

I'm looking at a boat that has a 2003 Mercury 250XS racing motor on it. Does anyone know anything about the reliability of these motors? I have read that they are very strong motors and built at another facility that the production motors, I'm just curious if they're more reliable and use better components or are they less reliable since they're higher compression and designed and built for racing?

Thanks

The racing version has a 2 year warranty and comes with a sportsmaster gearcase but not much else different than the Pro XS.

The Pro XS has a torquemaster lower unit and comes standard with a 3 year warranty and at different times they sell it with a 5 year.

generally these motor are purchased to run the top end an are not typically good motors for heavy bass boats to run with tournament loads. be sure to get a printout to see how it was run.

Some of the early 250XS Race motors needed piston rings fairly often. They are performance low tension piston rings. I wouldn`t like having to run 91+ octane all of the time. The Pro XS is another story with the only issue being the air compressor. Some owners have the compressor rebuilt and change the compressor air filter every other year with their normal maintenance. Adds about 600.00 to the cost of maintaining the motor every 2 years. Others add DFI oil at 150/1 to the fuel for added compressor protection. Good Luck

Gary...please check that. I believe you want to use an oil like Premium Plus that was meant to mix with the fuel for the 150:1 extra lubrication. DFI oil was never meant to be mixed with fuel, as it is direct injected.

The early XS Opti’s are actually great motors.... the only down fall is the premium fuel and lower rev limiter... this motor would have come with a torque master not a sportmaster unless rigged on a light platform like a Bullet, Alli or stroker. Just make sure that is has a 1.75 gear ratio in the lower not 1.62’s. Also, powerheads are almost identical between the Pro XS and XS.

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The adding of Premium Plus oil at 150/1 ratio to the fuel is for keeping the fuel injectors lubricated. Fuel does not go to the compressor. DFI oil is used to lubricate the compressor and is injected to it with the oil pump. I have one of these motors (2005 250xs).[i]

Be sure to add your fuel additives and don't run any ethanol. These motors are high maintenance. They don't like to be idled around alot, because they build up carbon doing that. Have the motor checked over really well before buying it. Get a compression test done (correctly) and a leak down test performed. Good luck.