Opinions on Optimax

[tkw]

I am looking to upgrade to a newer fishing rig. Never been much of a fan of Mercury outboards, but am finding quite a few out there. Anyone have any personal experience with a newer 150 Optimax?

[Hombre Robusto]

Had a 135 Opti on my last rig and loved it. Got a new rig this spring, and had a 225 Opti hung on the back. I've never had a problem with either. The 225 is actually a lot quieter than the 135. Not that the 135 was a loud motor, but they certainly have a very distinguishable growl to them.

[Opti-Mist]

I have a 2006 175 since August 2005. It's been flawless and performs really well.

[staylor]

Probably the best large motor I've ever owned.
Doug

[larrym]

Have a 2004 135 (same as the 150) and it's been flawless for 6 seasons. Like the way those DFI's start instnatly when you turn the key.

[KHedquist]

I have 200 Opti, and I can honestly say it is an awsome running engine, I run mine 10 months a year here in MN on the river, just like any water cooled engine let it warm up properly, the small block Optis are pretty bullet proof

[SLE]

I have a 05' 225 Opti with 144 hours that has been perfect. nothing but standard maintenence. Been very impressed so far.

[Vikings Fan]

The Small block 135-175hp Mercury Optimax's have been the most reliable and best performing motors I have ever owned. The only thing wrong with the Optimax's is that they are still made in Wisconsin by hard working American workers who have families to feed. Just like you and I...

If that bothers you don't buy one.

[Wall-i-Lama]

I have a 150 Opti. Performance is great. Good gas mileage for this size motor. Flawless so far!

[maidsrone]

225 xs ,so far its great

[turtle chain]

I had a 150 for ten years awesome motor now a new 175 proxs love it. One thing when launching be careful when you punch it you my end up in the back of your pick up tons of power good luck

[Esoxchaser]

Had a 2002 150 I bought new. It was a POS, three powerheads in two seasons. That was the last black motor I will ever buy, Mercury was less than helpful. I dumped the thing for pennies to a guy who also gave up on the POS.
Meanwhile the 2000 ELPTO 90 I had (origonal owner) is still going strong, just sold it this year. The good with the ELPTO will never outweigh the hosing I took with the Optipop.

[TomP.]

I have a 2000 Opti 135 and luv it. Biggest thing with Opti`s is let them warm up for a good 2 minutes or so before putting the hammer down. They don`t like those cold cylinder walls at high RPM`s.

My 135 gets way better fuel mileage cruising then my Evinrude 60 horse tiller ever thought about getting....of course unless I run WOT all the time.

Would buy another Opti in a heart beat.

[Chucker57]

Opti 150 is a very good, bullet proof outboard.

[FWW]

tkw
The small block Optis ( 135,150 & 175) all share the same block. It's a 2.5 L block and has been time tested for over a decade. As you can tell by the responses, the owners love their engines and it is because these units have been proven to be reliable and fuel efficient . I have owned a 150 Opti and now have a 175 Opti on my boat. Both have been excellent performers for me.

[eye4aneye]

I have a 2000 Opti 135 and luv it. Biggest thing with Opti`s is let them warm up for a good 2 minutes or so before putting the hammer down. They don`t like those cold cylinder walls at high RPM`s.


Really good advice there.

Two seasons and 100 hrs on a 150 for me. Very economical engine to run haven't done anything but put gas and oil in. I will take it in for the 100hr checkup after the ice thaws.

[PAL]

150 Opti, I have had for three years, other than an issue under warranty with the internal oil reservior, it has been a great engine.

[mrwalleye5]

Speaking of the oil resevoir on the motor itself... should this be filled even if I have a remote oil delivery system?

W5

[2Labs]

2002 150 Opti here. I bought it new in 2003 despite fear and trepidation about Opti engines supposedly blowing up.

I talked to a couple of dealers I respected and they said it was the 2000, 2001, and 2002 big block Optis -- the 200 and 225 hp versions -- that had the problems. The mid-block Optis -- the 135, 150, and 175 -- were fine with great records they told me.

So, I bought my 150 Opti. I have 300 hours on it over 7 years and have had only 1 minor problem. The pulley on top the engine broke free of its bolt and had to be replaced. Merc did that under the warranty (I got the 6-year warranty as part of a boat show special offer). It would have cost me about $150 to replace the pulley and the belt if I had to pay for it myself the dealer told me.

I would buy that engine again ... in a heartbeat. Don't be afraid of the mid-size block in any year.

PLUS, Merc has modified its big block as well and with the exception of the 2000, 2001, and 2002 engines I am told they have been very reliable.

Plus, I understand that Merc has put more insulation under the engine cover and the engine is now quieter than the one I have. That is a plus.

[TomP.]

Speaking of the oil resevoir on the motor itself... should this be filled even if I have a remote oil delivery system?

W5

Do you have the Opti or EFI? Opti.... If the resevoir is run dry yes the engine resevoir needs to be filled before starting. Other wise it should keep itself full from the remote tank. Opti`s use a pressurized remote tank so be sure the tank cover is tight. If oil is added and the oil alarm goes off it is more then likely the tank cap leaking.

[mrwalleye5]

Straight Opti

W5

[staylor]

The tank on the motor must always be kept completely full- you only add oil to the remote tank. If you see any air space in the tank on the motor you have to go thru a bleeding procedure after refilling the motor's oil tank as best you can. This involves loosening the motor's oil tank cap slightly with motor at idle to bleed out air. This is a bit messy but no big deal. I had to do this to my Opti 150 after winter storage the fourth year I owned it. Its a 2002 and it has never needed this done since.
Doug

[1shooter]

I have a 150 opti that I bought new in 2002. It has been a great motor.

[weedsnager]

i have a 115....wonderful engine, like someone stated already , i Like the way those DFI's start instantly when you turn the key.

[Shuclan]

I am looking to upgrade to a newer fishing rig. Never been much of a fan of Mercury outboards, but am finding quite a few out there. Anyone have any personal experience with a newer 150 Optimax?

I had a 2009 150 Opti and it performed very well. Hardly any oil smell and it is very responsive. If you like 2 strokes, it is a very good motor.

[ohiojmj]

My 2008 opti 90 runs smooth, idles quiet, great hole shot/starting/gas mileage, low oil usage, no foiling during long troll days, but I did have a coil go bad that forced me to crawl back to boat launch on Erie. Guess any motor can need an occasional repair. Not so concerned about this anymore since I installed kicker for trolling, shallow rocky water, and safety.

[chitterchad]

I have a 2005 Optimax 115, it has around 260 hours and it's on a 17' the motor has been great and trouble free. I doesn't use much gas or oil, it also quieter then a carb 2 stroke and it doesn't smoke or smell like them. I Definitely would recommend one.

[eyepirate]

i have 2 boats ,one with merc the other etec.the opti uses a lot more oil(7bucks or so a quart) and there is virtually No starting differences..........maintainence is also a little more costly on the opti..other than that it runs fine...would i buy another? nope..already have the next 2 boats on order..one with yammies, the other with 'rudes'..i run 2 boats because..1 stays at the cottage(serves as a back up incase the trailered one has any failures)..happened back in 2005..i missed the last half of fishing season with a alumacraft/merc set up that needed service...not to mention a merc pro kicker issue in spring 06..)lost 3 weeks).so i said never again!!!! 2 boats til i die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:cheers:

[jhuston]

I have a 2005 115 opti with 1160 hours on it . Have never touched the motor and it runs great

[ohiojmj]

Not trying to steal your thread, but how do you get the number of hours run on the Opti?

[jhuston]

I have the mercury smartcraft gauge,turn the key without starting it . It should show the hours on the engine. Thats how mine works and I would think they are all the same.

[chitterchad]

Not trying to steal your thread, but how do you get the number of hours run on the Opti?

SmartCraft Gauges, I have the Speed & Tach, the hours read out on the Tach. I think the only other way is with the computer that they have at the dealer when the motor is serviced.

[2Labs]

I think the only other way is with the computer that they have at the dealer when the motor is serviced.

Yup. It is a simple matter of attaching a read-out device to the motor and it will give the tech any codes in the engine, the hours run, and the hours run in each RPM band.

I get razzed because most of my hours are in the 3000-4000 RPM band. But at 3500 RPM I am running at 30 mph, just above planing speed, and at a very comfortable pace for my fishing partners.

Every once in a while, I like to let the big dog run, however, just for grins.

[lundeepv]

I have the Smartcraft gauge also. Tells the total hours, rpm, cooling temp, cooling pressure and lots of other neat to know stuff!!!

[LUNDEXPLORERSPORT]

I have a 2008 115 opti Im the original owner. Followed breakin by the book. So far I have had a air compressor go bad 1 month later direct injector failed. That was all covered 1600.00 in parts only. The next season running 3/4 throttle the engine cutout but it would start right up. As soon as that happen the engine sound different it has a loud knock that speeds up with rpms. Dealer cant figure it out so this spring Im taking out the area rep for a ride he will decide if I get a new engine. Ill pay the difference for a 150 no more 115. I had to buy a yamaha t8 because I was sick of being stranded with my two girls 3 and 7. I really didnt want to put a blue engine on a black boat with a black merc.

[Chucker57]

I really didnt want to put a blue engine on a black boat with a black merc.

So Lundexplorersport what color is your Yamaha T8????

[LUNDEXPLORERSPORT]

I really didnt want to put a blue engine on a black boat with a black merc.

So Lundexplorersport what color is your Yamaha T8????
The T8 is blue does it come in different colors.

[Chucker57]

I guess my question was if you really didn't want a blue motor why you wouldn't put on a black, matching 9.9 Mercury Pro Kicker?

[LUNDEXPLORERSPORT]

I have a Black opti on the back that has left me and my family stranded on the bay (more than once). I was a little angry when I bought the Yamaha I had to troll back to the launch 4 miles with my bow mount with a 3 and 7 year old asking alot of questions and complaining that it was taking so long. After some settle down time I would probebly get the Pro Kicker.