Mercury Raciing Optimax 2.5 XS

[Richard Earl]

For a number of months Scream and Fly has had an "engine evaluation" of the Optimax 2.5 XS on their opening page. Why isn't that engine listed by Mercury Racing among their "Consumer Outboards?" According to the Scream and Fly article the 2.5 XS requires 91 octane fuel and has a higher RPM range than the Optimax 225 Sport XS. What happened to the 2.5 XS?

[halveb]

I believe that it was removed from production due to lack of sales.

[Scream And Fly]

It's possible the 2.5XS might come back. :)

[150aintenuff]

it was discontinued but there is a few rumors that it may return as a feasable replacement for some of the EFI motors that were discontinued in 06. maybe MERC will do it right next time and use all 2.5L parts instead of the heavier 3.0L parts with a 2.5 powerhead...

[Scream And Fly]

maybe MERC will do it right next time and use all 2.5L parts instead of the heavier 3.0L parts with a 2.5 powerhead...

You don't think 106MPH (http://www.screamandfly.com/home/evaluations/mercury_2.5xs/1.htm) on an STV Euro with a full load is not doing it right the first time?:confused: I think they did.

Greg

http://www.screamandfly.com/home/evaluations/mercury_2.5xs/images/016.jpg

[150aintenuff]

nope i dont... how much faster would it have been if they used the 2.5 L mid, offshore mounting bracket and the 2.5 L gearcase... that change alone would have shed about 40 lbs...

[Scream And Fly]

It would not have gone any faster. The offshore midsection weighs more than a standard midsection. There is very little weight difference between the 3-litre mid and the 2.5L offshore unit. The gearcases share the same exact profile, so there's no performance loss there either.

[Rusrog]

[QUOTE=Scream And Fly]You don't think 106MPH (http://www.screamandfly.com/home/evaluations/mercury_2.5xs/1.htm) on an STV Euro with a full load is not doing it right the first time?:confused: I think they did.

Greg

Nope... Not really. Show me some punch. Any motor can run a big number if you throw enough pitch and a long enough stretch of water at it. But what fun is running a big number if it takes an hour to get there????

[Scream And Fly]

Russ, did you read the article?:)

We tested that boat with four people aboard using 32P and 34P cleavers. It actually feels like it has more low end torque than a 260.

Greg

[1BadAction]

hey I got an Idea, how bout the haters take a 7200rpm BRP or yamaha DFI motor and see what it'll do on a euro... oh thats right, none of them will turn that, BLAHAHAHAHAHA.

[150aintenuff]

RPM isnt everything.. if it was there wouldnt be any 100+ mph sterndrive offshore boats because very few of those turn over 6K.. .... .and greg it does have more torque than a 260... it makes near same HP at lower RPM... so in order to do that it requires more torque.. hate to state the obvious but its mathmatics:p..

[Scream And Fly]

I can't state facts on the 2.5XS torque numbers because we never put one on a dyno. The 2.5XS will surely outperform a 225 ProMax and hold its own with a stock 260. It's an impressive engine - even for a diehard 2.5EFI fanatic. I hope they bring it back.

Greg

[150aintenuff]

it just goes to reason near equal power.. lower RPM.. increase in torque.. dyno # or not.. it is hard to argue with science and if seat of pants tells ya it has more oomph it probably does.. the fact it is turnin a 34 P prop also tells me its gots more torque..

[dspencer]

Has anyone heard of problems with this engine? It sounds like a deal if its reliable.

[150aintenuff]

not many motors out due to being discontinued but havent heard anything wrong

[Scream And Fly]

It may come back ;)

[David]

Does the 200XS have similar low end torque to the 2.5 XS?

I assume no one has dyno curves, but does the 200XS feel stronger than a carb 200 at low rpm?

[OntarioStreamin]

I don't have numbers but I have a friend with a 200xs on his restored v-king and he's running low 90's.
I would say that the 200xs has more punch than a carb or efi 200.

Andrew.

[1meanstream]

That V-king 200xs ss with a sportmaster and 1:87 gears was owned by Voodoo2. (Me) In my opinion it would pull harder than the 200 efi or carb. And use way less fuel to boot. A very nice rig---and yes I miss it!!!!

[DarthVMAX]

The only other article that I have seen on it was a B&WB article that had it rigged to a Norris Craft bass-boat. Performance was nearly identicle to the 225 Pro Max (on the same boat). Of course running quality and fuel efficiency was FAR superior to the Pro Max. The did weigh the motor and said Merc was optimistic with its advertised weight (came in with a user weight of around 465 pounds I believe). That and the 3.0 mid were the only detractors to them.

The S&F and B&WB articles are the most positive things I have read about the 2.5xs. I have seen a lot of ripping of the 2.5xs by folks, but like Greg I don't see Mercury only offering the 200xs for a DFI 2.5L performance outboard for much longer. Surely they have something up their sleeve.:confused:

[us1ss]

I was told last week the 2.5xs will not be back. This was during discussion involving a new "green" OPC class.

[hsbob]

i have both a 200xs and a 200efi on 20' voyagers. without out a doubt the xs has more low end than the efi. im turning a 24 on the xs and a 23 on the efi. the 24 is currently not enough prop as it hit the limiter continously. i tried a 29 tempest and while the hole shot was not rapid, it did not boug down at all. the review on the 2.5 in my opinion shew it to have even more low end torque, i wish i had bought that engine.

gas economy on the 200xs is amazing. i can get 7.4 regularly on the smartcraft system readout [at 50+mph] try that with a 4 cycle.