1999 225 optimax

[Hiwassee Angler]

Hey guys. Just wondering how these engines perform...What are the problems that most people have? Basically the pro's and cons of the engine. How fast would it push a 22 foot ranger also? Thanks!

 

[wrechin2]

Maybe some of the owners will chime in. I know that they have a lot of compressor failures. As far as speed, there is a lot of factors to consider. You may go to Bass boat central and see if you can find your boat and the 225 opti combination and see what others are getting with the combo and their set up. Just my .02

 

[nickajack-smack]

Low 60's

 

[Oldman]

i dont know about a 99 model but you could not give me one of the newer ones.way too many compressor problems.i really think they should have been re called but we all know better than that happening.

 

[jbh3]

The 3.0 liter Opti's have had some issues since being introduced around 1998. Over the years, Merc has addressed a lot of them. If I were looking at a rig with that engine (or any used engine), I would find a good tech and have them go over it with a fine-toothed comb. If need one, the folks at Bunch Marine in Harriman run a very good shop and know the Opti's well. Opti engines are very good on gas and oil especially when run in the 4-5K RPM range. Get on BBC and read the FAQ's on the Merc boards. Pay special attention to the recommendations regarding maintenance, oil, fuel/fuel additives, battery, and operating temp. VERY important to let these engine warm up before dropping the hammer. On a 22' Ranger, I'm thinking you'll be lucky to crack 60. Have a good one!

 

[brushhog]

i went with 225 efi when i bought my 02 21ft stratos, alot less complicated engine, when i bought it they said were some issues with the optimax and the efi engine was more reliable,, i have over 400 hrs on it haven't had any issues, my boat will run lowrance gps 74.3 mph,70.4 fully loaded 2 guys and gear 50 gallons of fuel,.....

 

[m17glock]

personally i would stay away ..... yes they have great fuel mileage and dont use a lot of oil, but that savings was wiped out for me over the summer with a failed air compressor ( $900) which also took out the air/fuel rail . i did find one place in texas to rebuild the air/fuel rail for $400 if not for that a new one would have cost $1200. plus diagnostic charges of around $200.

the other down side is that very few places truly know how to work on these complicated beasts. bunch and chatt fish n fun being the only 2 around here.

give me a call and i can tell you more

303-8982
david

 

[wrechin2]

Good advice David. The compressors are a weak point. It was mostly due to the oil system from what I understand. Eventually more places will have to work on them. They are not going away. I am already looking into getting some of the diag tools to work on them myself. Not for anytime in the near future though!!! LOL!!! At this point in time I have no "have to" need to work on them.

 

[jbh3]

I believe that if you maintain these engines on the same level as your vehicles, you can expect similar longevity and performance. You really need to follow the factory recommendations regarding maintenance intervals, fuel, fluids, filters, etc. pretty closely. Also a good idea find a good DFI/Optimax mechanic and have him lay hands and eyes on your engine pretty regularly. For examples, catching a worn belt or loose compressor bolt can prevent a failure that will cost many $$$ to fix. Have a good day everyone!

 

[Hiwassee Angler]

Thanks for all the insight everyone. Both the boats were looking at have opitmax's on them. One is just a little younger than the other. Both the engines were used pretty regularly and hopefully maintained well. So I guess we'll just see!

 

[nickajack-smack]

i had 99 225 optimax on my bullet and i loved it never had any problems with it at all i would really consider getting it also my fishing partner has a 225 opti on his bullet and has never had an issue at all with it and we have put a lot of long haul hours on it and it gets wonderfull gas milage

 

[captain kirk]

I have an 09 Optimax and the dealer can access the total hours on the engine by interfacing with the computer. Don't know about the 99 model.
Migth be worth your time and money to have the engine checked by a qualified shop.
Could be the computer also has a lot of the engine's history stored in it.