Interesting Fact

[Airwave(OH)]

I may be the only one to not know this but I just was told today and got a kick out of it. For those who don't know: The blocks on Mercury motors are made from melted down BEER cans . It is said to be the best Aluminum there is. My Boss toured the factory and verified this. Kinda explains why some PUKE now and then...:)

[Driftr]

hahaha, OK :-) Ummm, is the OptiMax Premium or Lager cans.
Driftr

[Airwave(OH)]

I didn't believe it either at first. I know,hard to believe any friend of mine would try to pull one over on me but I think he is telling me the truth.

[Nofish]

Hey Gang,

If it works......Besides, I am even more proud of my Opti Max now. I even feel that in some small way, I contributed to the developement of the block in my motor.......:P

Have fun...........R

[Backwater Eddy]

A meaner & Greener motor.

How many beer's per horse power?

Backwater Eddy

[205]

Black and Red, Thats Strohs colors arent they? Maybe they could call them the Rolling Rock Blocks! :-) Russell

[Backwater Eddy]

HA!

:)

[Tuffovich]

A friend of mine was at the Lund plant and told me there were truckloads of recycled beer cans behind the plant and I DO believe him!Imagine that!

[Jersey John]

24 hrs. in a day, 24 cans of beer in a case. Something to think about. Now I know why I have 2 Mercs! I paid way to much for these motors! JJ

[Stezostedion vitreum man]

Airwave,

I'm sure recycled aluminum gets back into many products that are found on the market, but beer cans exclusively used for outboard motor production? I doubt very seriously that the factory that produces these motors are also in the business of melting down the aluminum and then recycling it into aluminum sheets that are used in the manufacture of boats.

By the way, I have a used car for sale, for any of you that might be interested.

Keep your eyes open and your feet dry.

S.v.m

[Historical Fact]

In the old days of Damascus barrels on guns,old railway spikes worked and twisted made the best barrels. I don't have a problem with my motor being an old beer can. Kind of makes me proud.

[River_eye]

SVM, you are right in that the motor companies probably don't recycle the aluminum. The process is much more complicated than melting down the aluminum. Actually, in the recycling process, the cans don't get melted at all. It's a series of chemicals that dissolve the cans, then a few more reactions that cause a pure aluminum precipitate. I did this as one of my Organic chem labs.

River eye

[Stezostedion vitreum man]

River_Eye

I agree with your assessment of the recycling of aluminum. I was using the term "melting" in a generic sense associated with the recycling of metals without trying to get too technical. Thanks for the clarification on the chemical process that is involved with recycling of alumininum cans.

Too bad I drink mostly bottled beer. I don't feel that I'm doing my part in helping to provide the recycled aluminum necessary for the production of outboard motors.

Keep your eyes open and your feet dry.

S.v.m

[River_eye]

I just thought it was neat when I found it out. As with most other people, I thought that the cans were simply melted down and then reshaped again. Although this does eventually happen, it's not until they have the pure aluminum, minus the paint and plastics that cover beer and pop cans, as well as other impurities.

River eye

[Popeye]

When I was in Korea in the early 50's the Koreans (south that is)
use to make corregated roofs our of our beer cans. When I saw this I tried my best to provide them with as many as I could.
I'm a Johnrude man so I'm going to just throw mine along the road now that I know that.LOL I think your funning us. Popeye

[Airwave(OH)]

I wasn't interested in getting into all the logistics of the process. I was just stating alittle something about the Motors that I thought was funny. I honestly could care less on how many or how it's done. Laugh alittle...