Optimax Engine Life

qcamel · 26 January 2006, 19:35

Just out of interest I was wondering if anybody could advise me on the length of reliable service that can be expected from a well maintained and serviced engine. I know this is a 'how long is a piece of string' question but if you think about a car you can expect to start to encounter problems after 50,000 miles and get into some major stuff after 100,000 miles.

What are your thoughts?? Want to keep reliability as long as it is sensible to do so..

Ollie

TJ101 · 26 January 2006, 19:45

Best i keep a eye on this thread,, seeing as i have just bought a 225 opti

Hopefully,, built like a Volvo,, good for 200,000k plus

qcamel · 30 January 2006, 21:03

I am amazed that there is no response from the great pool of knowledge...

Surely someone must have some thoughts on this question??

Hugh Jardon · 30 January 2006, 21:12

I too am waiting for the "experts" to pass their knowledge on this question as i have recently purchased an opti. Lets hope it is more reliable than an audi!!! a lot more reliable than a Landy and heaps more reliable than a Jag!!

personally i doubt i will have it for 500 hours so not too bothered as i will be onto something else by then but you never know...

when i was doing some research i was told there are a lot of engines out there with well over a thousand hours and going very strong and smoothly

TJ101 · 30 January 2006, 21:21

Well i was speaking to a Mercury agent today, and telling him what i have bought,
He did say there was a bit of trouble on the early 2001 engines, ?? manifold's ?? I belive ??

Tim

Hugh Jardon · 30 January 2006, 21:31

i was in taunton this weekend visiting the parents and dropping off the boat in yeovil to get the tubes fitted..

yes some earlier engines had some probs but they seem to have sorted that out now

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJ101

Well i was speaking to a Mercury agent today, and telling him what i have bought,
He did say there was a bit of trouble on the early 2001 engines, ?? manifold's ?? I belive ??

Tim

Ribshop · 31 January 2006, 08:28

My experience with 225 optis I would put an expected life before stopping at around 25 hours.

One of the most troublesome engines I have ever come across.

qcamel · 31 January 2006, 09:11

Well thats me living on borrowed time then, had 200 hours of trouble free running sobfar!!

Ribshop · 31 January 2006, 09:23

All my probs were with the 2001-2003 engines. I stopped fitting them after all the problems so hopefully they have improved a bit since.

TJ101 · 31 January 2006, 09:35

Well this one's on 60 hours, belive 3 years warranty ? so ok !! to July 2007 then i hope !!!!!!!!

Swifty · 31 January 2006, 11:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by qcamel

'how long is a piece of string'

Exactly twice its half

Hugh Jardon · 31 January 2006, 11:18

a few dealers that i spoke with had very good things to say about the optimax's, most if not all had not seen any real problems and would recommend them as reliable for sure. these dealers also sell yamaha, suzuki etc.

as with all things you will hear horror stories here and there and all you can do is do some research and form a view or opinion based on what you have heard from a collective group of people.

in my research i heard some great things about suzuki and some of them doing huge amounts of hours with no issues to speak of which is great......i like suzuki as well and have two suzuki motorbikes, but no suz boat engine really fitted the bill for what i want.

Hopefully my opti engine will give some long and reliable service but time will tell i guess.

Rogue Wave · 31 January 2006, 14:26

I love Opti's but I wouldn't be mad ken on owning one out of warranty especially a 200/ 225. The oil compressor is a real point of failure in my experience. They may have sorted trhe problem out.

Hugh Jardon · 31 January 2006, 14:37

keith said his compressor had been replaced at some time but his is a 99 and done in excess of 780 hours and all going well, so fingers crossed

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

I love Opti's but I wouldn't be mad ken on owning one out of warranty especially a 200/ 225. The oil compressor is a real point of failure in my experience. They may have sorted trhe problem out.

Rogue Wave · 31 January 2006, 14:43

The one that packed up on me was a 2004 , but yes I hope you don't have any problems

CJL · 31 January 2006, 17:48

My Opti 135 has 800+ hrs and was serviced 200 hrs/18 months ago.

I regularly clean the plugs, wash out after salt water use....it NEVER misses a beat but it is used every weekend!

Chris

Turbodiesel · 06 February 2006, 21:28

Ive just got a pair of 135 Optis in for a there first serviced, used by the Police, they have done 410 hours with no problems.