How many hours should a merc 300x last?

[woodster]

Im just curious as to how reliable and how many hours should you expect out of a new outboard such as the merc 300x before having to rebuild.. Sorry for the dumb question but it seems like the older merc 2.5s dont last very long.. A freind of mines has blown up twice in the last year.. Hes thinking of upgrading to the 300x.. Thanks

[ZSARGO]

woodster:
Im just curious as to how reliable and how many hours should you expect out of a new outboard such as the merc 300x before having to rebuild.. Sorry for the dumb question but it seems like the older merc 2.5s dont last very long.. A freind of mines has blown up twice in the last year.. Hes thinking of upgrading to the 300x.. Thanks I HAVE A 2003 300X FOR SALE. NEVER USED. 1 YEAR WARRANTY. THE 300X IS A VERY USER FRIENDLY MOTOR. NOT AS MUCH STRESS ON THE MOTOR AS THE 2.5.

[HavasuDreamin']

IMHO........the 2.5 is a very reliable and dependable motor. The problem is you have a bunch of river racers who hop them up, change out the rev limiters, etc. then try to turn them 8,500 + RPM's like the drag boys do. You are right, the 2.5L will not last under these conditions. Neither would a 300X or an OMC, or a Yamaha.
If you leave your 2.5L alone, and spin it within the factory RPM band of 7,200 - 7,500 RPM's, there is no good reason that motor should blow. The only reasons would be lack of cooling, or poor rebuild job.
All things being equal, the 300X should last a little longer than the 2.5L. First it has a rev limiter keeping it to at most 6,800 RPM's. Second, it is oil injected which means theoretically it gets proper oil 100% of the time. Third, it is monitored by computers much more significantly than any 2.5L motor.......so if there is a problem, you will know about it right away (as apposed to driving down the lake running lean, etc).
If I am your friend, I look at the big picture. What type of boat is the motor on? What does he want from the motor? Has it been rebuilt? Could the engine builder be the culprit? Etc.
Good Luck :cool:

[TOBTEK]

I currently have a 2003 300x, and its been bullet proof with all of the six or seven hours that are on it :D . The last boat I had was equipped with ???? year 260hp carb 2.5 I never had one problem with that motor(once I learned the how to start it) Mixing the gas isnt that big of a deal, but the oil injection is nice and brainless. The thing I miss about the 2.5 is the fast reving quick excelleration, rev to the moon power. Kinda like having a 125 motocross bike compared to a CR500.....If the boat is small enough and light enough, I wouldnt't have a problem owning another 2.5. They are a GREAT motor!.....tobtek

[Screaming Pete]

ZSARGO:
woodster:
Im just curious as to how reliable and how many hours should you expect out of a new outboard such as the merc 300x before having to rebuild.. Sorry for the dumb question but it seems like the older merc 2.5s dont last very long.. A freind of mines has blown up twice in the last year.. Hes thinking of upgrading to the 300x.. Thanks I HAVE A 2003 300X FOR SALE. NEVER USED. 1 YEAR WARRANTY. THE 300X IS A VERY USER FRIENDLY MOTOR. NOT AS MUCH STRESS ON THE MOTOR AS THE 2.5. ZSARGO, Email me with what you want for the 300X

[TOBTEK]

Screaming Pete:
ZSARGO:
woodster:
Im just curious as to how reliable and how many hours should you expect out of a new outboard such as the merc 300x before having to rebuild.. Sorry for the dumb question but it seems like the older merc 2.5s dont last very long.. A freind of mines has blown up twice in the last year.. Hes thinking of upgrading to the 300x.. Thanks I HAVE A 2003 300X FOR SALE. NEVER USED. 1 YEAR WARRANTY. THE 300X IS A VERY USER FRIENDLY MOTOR. NOT AS MUCH STRESS ON THE MOTOR AS THE 2.5. ZSARGO, Email me with what you want for the 300X Is someone needing a little more power :D YOUR 300 PROMAX WILL BE FASTER THAN OUR 300x! yours is about 1000 pounds lighter than ours wink .... Pete, are you and miss SP going to the show Sunday? Mis Tobtek are going in the am...

[kab]

Toby, The wife and I are planning on going sunday also. What time are you heading up??

[Screaming Pete]

TOBTEK:
Screaming Pete:
ZSARGO:
woodster:
Im just curious as to how reliable and how many hours should you expect out of a new outboard such as the merc 300x before having to rebuild.. Sorry for the dumb question but it seems like the older merc 2.5s dont last very long.. A freind of mines has blown up twice in the last year.. Hes thinking of upgrading to the 300x.. Thanks I HAVE A 2003 300X FOR SALE. NEVER USED. 1 YEAR WARRANTY. THE 300X IS A VERY USER FRIENDLY MOTOR. NOT AS MUCH STRESS ON THE MOTOR AS THE 2.5. ZSARGO, Email me with what you want for the 300X Is someone needing a little more power :D YOUR 300 PROMAX WILL BE FASTER THAN OUR 300x! yours is about 1000 pounds lighter than ours wink .... Pete, are you and miss SP going to the show Sunday? Mis Tobtek are going in the am... check your e mail

[502procharger]

i might want to buy that 2.5 260hp if you get the 300. let me know.

[Skaterfast]

All is true above.I had a 1996 2.5 260hp Merc.Put good gas and oil in it and didn't touch the thing for 4 1/2 years.It had well over 300 hours on it when I sold it.Leave the ECU boxes alone and don't spin it at 7,600rpm all day and they should last over 400 hours.As soon as you play with NO2,rev limiters,cheap gas,cheap oil,they go boooom!I've got twin 1997 225 Promax motors and I have no problem holding the pedal to the floor for 10 or even 20 minutes.No worries they have sensors for everthing on those motors.My buzzer was going off one day and I found a thimble full of water in the filter.Talk about idiot proof.
BY THE WAY TOBY CHECK OUT THE BOOGER I FLICKED ON YOUR BACK SEAT.JUST KIDDING.NICE RIDE!

[TOBTEK]

502procharger:
i might want to buy that 2.5 260hp if you get the 300. let me know. I think ZSARGO's 2.5 is down the road....but if you and Screamimgpete get together and buy his 300 promax, then he can get the X.......although if he keeps his promax mine will still be faster.....so never mind :D :D

[502procharger]

but will it be faster than my boat with 4 2.5's?

[TOBTEK]

502procharger:
but will it be faster than my boat with 4 2.5's? NOT EVEN CLOSE!

[502procharger]

any idea how fast a 30' x racer chris cat will go with 4 2.5 260hp mercs and 12" standoffs. it is lighter than a reg chris cat/ao 30' boat by over 1000lbs. just wondering how fast this thing will run?
[ February 24, 2003, 01:16 PM: Message edited by: 502procharger ]

[TOBTEK]

502procharger:
any idea how fast a 30' x racer chris cat will go with 2 2.5 260hp mercs and 12" standoffs. it is lighter than a reg chris cat/ao 30' boat by over 1000lbs. just wondering how fast this thing will run? no idea! but im sure faster than a little heavy MACH22 with one motor missing :D

[502procharger]

actualy i will have 3 more than you, but mine is a much bigger, older, heavy boat. rigged 4 four so that is how many i am putting on. i have 2 and a still looking for 2 more 2.5 360's if you know of any please let me know

[ed bullock]

hey pro charger you started those things yet?

[502procharger]

started one, can't start the other, something is wrong in 1 cyl. only like 60lbs comp. hope it is something simple like a ring. i have been in colorado for the last 2 weeks so i am going to work on it when i get back this wekend. i will keep you posted.