Most reliable consumer V6 two stroke ever made?

[rdoaner]

My thinking is it's Yamaha's 2.6 liter block. But the question is, which configuration was most reliable? Their carbed version (which you can still get in many countries), the OX66 version, or the HDPI? Thoughts?

[David]

We have not had a V6 Yamaha in our family. So far my brother’s 1989 Johnson V6 is our family durability champ. My 150 Merc XR4 ate lower units - probably my fault for surfacing them. My Promax had a propshaft failure.

[LakeFever]

Can’t speak to the v6 because all the ones I’ve had I hurt or sold after a couple years. I had an 83 115 v4 cross flow that was billet proof. Sold the thing a few years ago when my driveway started filling up with streams

[22R]

My slightly modded XR6 has been like a Lexus.

22R

[JBS]

3.0 Efi Merc
It reliably ran and reliably drank gallons of fuel!

[108]

300x

[David]

My slightly modded XR6 has been like a Lexus.

22R

So was everything but the gearcase on my XR4. It's still running, but no longer surfaced.

[rdoaner]

I certainly agree with the Mercury 3.0l being very reliable, although wasn't the 2.5l considered more reliable?

And anyone with experience with the 2.6l Yammi?

[mragu]

2.5 merc

[David - WI]

The 3.L were great but it's not really fair; I don't think any of them were wound as tight a some the 2.5's... 280hp or 300hp at 1 million rpm?

[pcrussell50]

3.0 Efi Merc
It reliably ran and reliably drank gallons of fuel!

2.0/2.4… They reliably run (to this day), and probably drinks even more fuel, lol. That makes them even better, right?

In 2012 I bought a 2.0/150 (my first ever Merc V6). Turns out it was down on compression in the top two cylinders. One is only 90, the other 105, the rest 118-120. It ran so well and still does, that I didn’t even think to check compression until about five years ago. LOL.

-Peter

[JPEROG]

The 2.5 200 that we had ran forever.

Joe

[pcrussell50]

The 2.5 200 that we had ran forever.

Joe

Never had one of those, but if my 2.4/200 ever goes crook on me, that would be the motor I would want. And on an XB2003 if possible.

And thanks to inspiration from you, if the Mercaha 90 FourStroke on my 17 Whaler ever goes crook, I think the 2.0/150 will go on it. It’s no heavier than the 90 FourStroke, anyway.

-Peter

[skialot2]

In reality, if you are using them as a fishing motor, all the consumer outboards are very reliable. Especially the carbed ones WITHOUT oil injection. Not much to go wrong. But, if you are going to be running hard all the time. Nothing beats a carbed 2.5 Merc. Super reliable and parts are readily available.

[pcrussell50]

In reality, if you are using them as a fishing motor, all the consumer outboards are very reliable. Especially the carbed ones WITHOUT oil injection. Not much to go wrong. But, if you are going to be running hard all the time. Nothing beats a carbed 2.5 Merc. Super reliable and parts are readily available.

It cannot be over emphasized, how true this is.

I’m quite sure the carby 2.5 Merc V6 is the pinnacle of this, even though I’ve never had one and only been boating for just shy of 15 years.

But the 2.0/2.4 family is what I blundered into by accident early on, after not knowing anything about Merc V6’s, (it’s the girl I came to the dance with, so to speak). And it has yet to let me down or give reason to move on.

If my 2.0/2.4 family ever lets me down, on the good word of you gobblers here at S’n’F, I’ll probably move into 2.5’s.

-Peter