EFI or Optimax.... What is the difference?

[LoveFishing]

Hi everyone... still looking at boats. What is the difference between the Efi and Optimax. Which is better??

Thanks everyone.... Dave in S.D.

[PJM]

LoveFishing


The Optimax is a direct injected motor which used a computer to a just the fuel going into the motor giving you the best possible burn, fewer emission and better performance. The EFI motors are reliable but put out a lot more emission and are on they way out. The EFI is basically a electronic carburetor run by a computer. The fuel economy on the direct injected in much better then the EFI and they start better because they inject fuel right into the cylinder. I run an EFI but the direct injected is the wave of the future.

[jerry]

PJM,

I'll agree with your statements about the Opti being more fuel efficient. But, I have an EFI and it starts on the first try every time. And, as for running, my EFI runs all the time versus the Opti, which has been the problem child of Mercury. Believe it or not, I only the second set of plugs in my 2000 200 HP EFI Saltwater. It is an awesome running engine. I wouldn't trade it for an Optimax under any circumstances.

[PJM]

jerry


The guy asked what the difference was, not what motor was better. I run an EFI and have run direct injected motors and yours might start well but over all the direct injected start better. An notice that I am saying direct injected not just Optimax. The only problem the Optimax had was with the 200 & 225hp blocks a few years ago and I have not seen any bad posts of late. The 135 and 150 blocks seem to have no problems at all. I don't run Mercury motors, I am just stating facts. And again the EFI is a good reliable motor.

[Correction]

Yes he did ask which motor is better.

[PJM]

Correction


Your are right, he did ask what is better but that is a tough question to answer. There both good..........

[LoveFishing]

Thanks guys.. everyone's input is appreciated. Right now I am looking at several used boats/motors around the 1999-2001. Several have 200hp EFI engines and a couple have 200 or 225 Optimax. Just still leary about buying a used boat, but leaning heavy on trusting people. I just wanted to make sure I do my due dilligence first. Pretty hard to try a boat out with ice on the lake, yet still looking for a good buy. When I get this sorted out ... I will ask for wisdom about the package I am thinking about buying.

Your guys are a great resource for me!! Thanks again... Dave in S.D.

[jerry]

Lovefishing,

There are good and bad motors in all makes. The EFI I have has been a true runner, as I fish the PWT, RCL and MWS circuits. I've fish about 125-150 days a year and the EFI I have has been awesome. I had an Opti before that and blew 3 powerheads on it. I changed to an EFI and have been happy.

PJM,

Yes, the Opti problems were with the 200 and 225 HP's. The problems I had were with a 225. If I were buying, I would choose the EFI, but that is just my opinion based on the problems I encountered.

[mrbreeze]

Well, here we go again...

I have an Opti and love it. I've never had an EFI, but hear that they are good as well. I don't know if I have heard of a motor from ANY manufacturer that hasn't blown a powerhead. EFI's do it, and so do DFI's. Sometimes.

As another poster stated, EFI is a technology that has been around for quite a while and is proven. It is, however, and older technology that will likely be replaced in total by DFI's and four strokes over the next few years. In comparison, the DFI system is newer, but most find it to be highly reliable and efficient. In general the DFI's will get better gas mileage than an EFI of comparable horsepower. DFI's tend to be more computer driven, where the EFIs operate in more of a "mechanical" mode.

All that being said, on Optis, it is easy to tell the motors history because much of its operational pattern is stored in its onboard computer. If you are looking at an Opti, take it to your nearest Merc/Opti dealer and have them hook it up to the computer. It will tell you if it has all of its updates and a record of its performance. If you have an EFI, take it to a marine mechanic and have them give you their opinion. Since it has no computer for storage of data like the Opti, you'll need a reliable and experienced mechanic to evaluate its condition.

Don't be afraid of either motor as they are both good. However, if it were my choice, I'd prefer the newer technology...which, afterall, isn't really that new anymore.

[Wondering]

I'm just wondering why only thr Mercs, if your looking at used boats there must be some other brands too. Or is it because you will onlt consider used boats with the Merc?

[ebijack]

efi is exactly what is on most every 1990+ vehicle on the road. "electronic fuel injection"..it's computer controlled using a fuel/spark curve (not unlike a fuel /spark curve developed for each carbed motor but more controllable than a carborator)dependent on throttle position/rpm/coolant(water) temp etc.
dfi is "direct fuel injection" where merc uses high fuel pressure (compressor driven pump) to atomize the fuel (less fuel/oil used at all part throttle points)again controlled by computer (but more parameters of the engines are monitored).
an efi motor is basicly a carb motor with the efi added to replace the carbs.....long history of durability.
the dfi has most everything changed..pistons/rings/ports in the pistons and heads and tolerences etc. ...both the fuel and the oil are used as a lubricant and cooling to the engine.. besides the fuel to develope power(combustion). with the tighter tolerences to try to get lower emissions and still make an engine live is where merc and others are working to get to that "history of durability". the larger HP motors in merc's line up really need more displacement (cubic inches) as to not put such a strain on the blocks/pistons etc. hope that helps explain sort of simply.

[jerry]

mrbreeze,

No need to get upset. LoveFishing is asking for opinions/experiences on the Opti's and EFI's. I just gave him my opinion and the experience I've had with both motors. I don't know what "here we go again" refers to, as I don't recall reading many discussions on this topic. Maybe I've missed out in the past. But I will say this: from a longevity standpoint, I will put my EFI up against any Opti on the market. This motor is an absolute horse and all it does is just run...and run...and run.

[PJM]

jerry


There are certin topics that get people going on this site. Several years ago both the Optimax and the Ficht were putting up good numbers on replies. If you want to see another topic that gets attention, look at the Canadian site with any thing to do with DUI and drinking in boats. Those posts get big in a hurry and sometimes personal and are very interesting.

[mrbreeze]

Hi Jerry, I didn't get upset I just thought that your comment would inspire/lead to another opti-bashing fest. I'm surprised it didn't, and hope it won't.

As far as your success with EFIs, that's hard to beat. I've been equally pleased with my Opti...and know lots of folks who have also been happy with them. I guess that if I were going to get a new motor (or "new" used), I would just opt for the newer technology. My opinion.

It just seems that on the tournament circuits, where motors get used and abused maybe a little more than the average, it appears that the Optis just outnumber the EFIs maybe 4 to 1, maybe more. That just indicates to me that the Opti is a good technology that people have a lot of faith in. I'm sure that the poster appreciates your opinion and experiences though, and I hope that my comments were helpful as well. I would buy another Opti without a second thought.

[mike t.]

mrbreeze,

While I agree that the tournement fisherman strongly favor the DI motors the fact remains that the Vast Majority of these fisherman do not keep their boats for more than one year. Furthermore they are sponsored by the motor companies, whom will want them to run the Opti's. But their opinion is biased and I do not give it much weight.

I put more "stock" into the everyday fisherman who uses his/her hard earned dollars into their equipment and keeps it for 3,4 maybe 5 years. I've melted down some powerhead(s) on a 225 Opti and I would agree that without question the EFI in the long run will likely prove more reliable. Sorry these are the facts.

[Sunshine]

My understanding is that my mechanic can tell the motors history on my EFI because it is stored in its onboard computer.

It's also my understanding that when you get past 5000 rpm the fuel consumption on both motors is basicly the same.

I chose the EFI because it's built like a tank, has a great track record and keeps on ticking. I use my main engine at fast speeds so gas consumption is a mute point.

[consider this]

Mike

Most of these tour guys you talk about put more hours on that engine than most people will in 5 years. So I think that is a mute point. The opti has been around for years now they have had there problems but have put the money and time into fixing the problems.
I have run a HPDI since 2001 and have never had a problem. I have put well over 300 hours on this motor, thats something that most guys wont do in 10 years. I also have a buddy that blow up his efi last year with under 100 hours on it.
Compaines are running Promo's for sport show that offer people 3-5 year warr. this is one heck of a deal. You better get used to the newer motors because the new regs. will not leave you the efi choice in a few years.

[mrbreeze]

Mike-

Goood comments, but I've fished with pros and they are hard on their equipment. Maybe I shouldn't say "hard"...but they get one heck of a lot of use. Also, there are very few "pros" that actually are getting any break on these from Merc. I don't know the number, but certainly well less than a majority. Most of the guys who decide to fish professionally are regular guys who are trying to take it to another level. They have the ability to buy any motor they want, the fact is that most of them choose the Opti if they are choosing a Merc.

Sunshine is also correct, at wide open throttle the EFIs and the Optis probably use about the same amount of fuel. I say probably because while that has been tossed around on the site, I've never seen any written or confirmed evidence of that..but I'll go along with it. The fact is though, most folks don't run them wide open all of the time. At 3/4 throttle, my guess is that the Opti is 20% more efficient - it seems like I saw that somewhere but don't take it for concrete truth. I fish some tourneys and yes timing is everything getting back to the weigh in, but I can probably count on one hand the number of times that I had to make a WOT run fro a distance of more than 2 miles at a crack. I just think that running at WOT for a long period of time is hard on a motor. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but it just makes me feel better when my throttle is NOT all of the way down, and I can cruise at 2/3 knowing that my Opti is only sipping a fraction of the $1.75/gallon gas that the neighbors EFI is when I'm making a 25 mile run.

Like I said before I'd buy another one. Neither motor is anything to sneeze at and you'll probably be happy with whatever technology you choose.

[boat nut]

Since no-one has actually said this yet, I'll give it a try:
EFI 2 strokes are fundamentally the same as carburated engines in that the air/fuel/oil charge is brought in through a throttle body, past a reed assembly into the crankcase on the upstroke of the piston. the mixture is sent to the combustion chamber on the next downstroke, and because the exhuast port is open at this time, some of the charge is wasted, out the exhaust port. The advantage of EFI is that the mixture can be controlled to allow for altitude/fuel quality changes, and produce a better running engine.
DFI engines are quite different. The air charge only is brought in through the (throttle body) crankcase, while the fuel is delivered by an injector in the combustion chamber. this allows the fuel to be delivered after the exhaust port is covered by the piston, meaning no fuel is wasted by the induction process. Oil is typically injected directly to the main bearing journals, and is added to the air charge in the crankcase. This allows for way less oil consumption, bringing the overall oil/fuel useage way down. Mixture is again controlled by the computer which uses sensors (02) to examine the exhuast gasses. You might find it interesting that many dfi 2 strokes get better fuel economy than their four stroke counterparts.

[Toolman]

I really can't add much concerning the durability of either the EFI or Opti. I will say that when I was looking at boats a year ago, the horror stories of the Opti had me scared. The EFI seems to have been more reliable over the years since the Opti has been available. I was nearly convinced to stay away from the Opti, but reconsidered and ended up with a (boat with) 1999 225 Opti. So far I love it. If it quits on the next trip out, I'll probably become an Opti basher like many others;).

As far as fuel consumption, tests have shown that at idle and WOT the two motors are comparable. It's the mid-range RPMs where the Opti outperforms the EFI for efficiency. (In my case that's where I do alot of my running on Lake Erie). B&W Boats did some tests in 2002 (I believe) to this effect. (I save all my issues for some reason-I could try to find it). It might be accessable on-line. Do a search under Opti fuel consumption-should get you some more reading material.

As some of the others have stated, the Opti bashing (or lots of reported problems) was rampant a year ago. It seems to have died. I'd guess because the problems are in check and the poeple who had problems have let it go.

Tim

[merc guy]

BOOM!!!! and purrrrrrrrrr guess which purrrs

[kelloggs5car]

Don't know about the optimax and i don't know about the big horsepower motors, but i bought my first 4stroke last year for my 1675 explorer and it was a merc 4stroke efi and I absolutely love that motor. Sorry can't offer an opinion on which is better but am a very happy customer with what i got not to mention i got the 5year merc warranty.

good luck and happy fishing