Gas Consumption 225 V Max?

[Harley]

I realize that any of the big motors can and do use tremendous amounts of fuel at high rpms, but I have heard a rumor that the 225 v max is a real gas hog compared to the Ficht or Opti Max. Yes I know that the direct fuel injection of the Ficht and Opti make them more fuel and oil efficient than the carburated motors but they also have the reputation of being not so reliable. If you had to buy new which one would you choose? and how much difference is in the fuel consumption?

[Colin D Crawford]

Just to use as a starting point, 3 boats started at the south end of Saginaw 620 w/225 opti 620 w/225 v-max 619 w/200 opti. We went up pass the charities and back close to 110 miles round trip. My 620 w/opti used 38 gal. 619 w/ opti used 30 and 620 w v-max used 47 we ran pretty hard, the water was in good shape for the bay. Ranger put a smaller gas tank in the redesigned 620 for 2002 (42 gallons) if planning any long runs you might think on a 619 w/hpdi if you want a Yammie.

Colin

[iamwalleye1]

I just ordered mine with the yamaha v max 225. 2.8 to 3.1 is what I was told from some tourney guys. I will find out the spring!

[Sergeant D]

Harley,
Yamaha.com is a great website that has performance bulletins on their outboards. I suggest you view that site and look up the performance of that engine on several different boats that they have tested. It gives fuel consumption, speed, planing time and other categories. I used this data to purchase my Yamaha 200 HPDI.

[Eric Olson]

Harley,
In the RCL championship the V Max 620 went 44 mi out not quite all the way back. I believe it was calculated to around just over 2 mpg on a relatively flat day 3. Full load, 2 people, all tackle.

Hope this helps

Eric Olson
Tight Lines
Big Fish

[FROGMAN]

First of all you have to compare apples to apples, not oranges. The HPDI would be what you want to compare alongside the Opti, and Ficht technologies. The V-Max is an awesome motor with amazing power! When reliability counts, it's Yamaha for me! If you care to discuss it further feel free to e-mail me.

Hoppy Holidays

Keith Segar
NPAA #260
lillypad@novagate.com

[Eric Olson]

Hey Keith!

The comparison I made was just for the 620. You wouldn't put a 200 HPDI on a 620. At the present time the HPDI isn't available in the 225. I agree that comparisons should be of equal technologies but in this case hp is the only comparison one can make to the Yamaha 225.
If the 619 was in question then yes the HPDI would be a valid comparison.
Not trying to start a brand war, just stating the facts as neutrally as possible.

Eric Olson
Tight Lines
Big Fish

[Harley]

FROGMAN
I would like to compare apples to apples but Yamaha does not make a 225 HPDI to compare with the Opti or Ficht. The reason for my original post is that I finally have made the decision to buy a 620 Ranger and was wondering what the gas/oil difference would be between a reliable motor (225 V-Max)or two motors that do not have such a good reputation for staying on the correct side of blown up, (Ram Ficht, Mercury Optimax). After further review of the gas situation I am leaning towards a Ram Ficht. My reason for this is that the new 2002 Ranger 620 now comes with a 43 gallon tank versus the 50 gallon that it had in the past the probability of running out of gas is looking pretty good on long runs with the V-Max. I don't usually fish big water but I do enjoy fishing some tournaments that are on Green Bay and don't look forward to running out of gas and being put in a very bad situation. Thank you all for the good info.

ps. Eric you are the third person that I have talked to that has mentioned the boat that ran out of gas at the RCL running the V-Max.

[FROGMAN]

No offense taken.

Hoppy Holidays

Keith Segar
NPAA#260

[Dave Bentley]

Harley,
I have run the 225efi VMax for three years on the 620 Ranger,
Trouble Free !!
on average I burn 550 gallions of fuel each year and log close to
1800 miles on my gps, this would be 3.2mpg average.
Running at W.O.T. I get around 3mpg.
Now take the cost of a new ficht or opti and compare that to the cost of a VMax the VMax is $3,000.00 less than the ficht or opti, based on that savings at current fuel pricing of .99ct per gal, and an average fuel usage of 250 gallons a year, it will take 12 years to pay for the cost difference between the ficht and the opti
Even at $2.00 per gallon it would still take 6 years to make up the difference. The range issue, the new 620 will have a 42 gal main tank
and a 5 gal reserve for a 47 gal total at 3 mpg that is a range of
140 miles and I know from experience that is real close.
Just some facts.

p.s. you will love the new 620.