Mercury 150's

[Coryc]

I was wondering what the difference is between the Mercury 150 XRI, XR6, XR4, XR2, Black Max, and any other models around 1989.

[Ron V]

150 XRI is fuel injected 2.5 litre
150 XR6 is carbureted 2.5 litre
150 XR4 is carbureted 2.4 litre
150 XR2 is carbureted 2.0 litre

Black Max was a name given to the first Merc V-6 and it stuck for a number of years on numerous motors from 150 - 225 hp, not sure when they dropped it but I think the name was gone by the early '90s. The Black Max 150 was a carbed 2.0 litre and I don't believe the Black Max nomenclature was ever used on a 2.4 or 2.5 litre carbed 150 because those were all XR4s and XR6s. The 2.0 litre carbed 150s were made alongside the XR2s, XR4s, and XR6s throughout the years, but disappeared a few years before all carbed motors were dropped in 2005. I'm not sure if any fuel injected motor ever carried the Black Max name but I don't believe it did (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

The XR2, XR4, and XR6 were all targeted at the bass boat crowd. The XR2 appeared in 1985 and the last XR6 was made in 2005. The last XR6s like mine were actually referred to as the "XR6 Classic" in the lineup.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong on any of that but going from memory that was pretty much it.

[David]

Garden variety 150's of that era were 2L carb and had 2:1 4.5" gearcase
XR2 was a 2L higher reving engine, same gearcase
XR4 was 2.4L, lower reving, 1.78 4.25" gearcase
XR6 was 2.5L, lower reving, 1.78 4.25" gearcase, some had 1.87 4.5"
XRI started in 1992, 2.5L, 1.87 4.5"

All that is from the brochures.

[Coryc]

I am looking at a 150 Black Max (oil injected) I didn't see any other markings like XR2,4, or anything. what would this be then? I believe the engine is a 1989.

[David]

2L, 2:1 4.5" gearbox

[Coryc]

What is the fuel consumption like on these engines?

[David]

15 gallons per hour? In my experience, better than my brother's 200 Johnson of similar vintage, but it does like fuel.

[Ira Tindale]

I get almost 4.5 miles to the gallon. Mine isn't thirsty at all.

[Coryc]

Really?! almost 4.5 miles to the gallon? wow, okay so I should get much better gas mileage than my previous Johnson GT150.

[Ira Tindale]

Yep. And I run hard, up to 8000rpms. I run a 7 gallon tank and carry an extra 5 gallon tank to run all day. From just my experience the mercury is better on fuel.

[Coryc]

And thats the 2.0L your talking about? my Johnson GT150 only got 1.5 miles to the gallon. Is the 2.0L a 150?

[Ira Tindale]

Yes the 2.0L and yes it is a 150. I know it's hard to believe.

[Grantham75]

How about i have a 1994 2.0 150 that was a EFI engine that now has 200 hp carbs and reed cages .. I bought the boat with this set up on there and its amazing it works as well as it does from what i understand. Motor has offshore mid and cle 2 hole lower with 1.87 gears. This poor over geared engine got my hydrostream virage to 71 mph with a 26p big ear with 2 people. Can't wait till winter to get a promax 225 on there

[Varmint]

150 XRI is fuel injected 2.5 litre
150 XR6 is carbureted 2.5 litre
150 XR4 is carbureted 2.4 litre
150 XR2 is carbureted 2.0 litre

Black Max was a name given to the first Merc V-6 and it stuck for a number of years on numerous motors from 150 - 225 hp, not sure when they dropped it but I think the name was gone by the early '90s. The Black Max 150 was a carbed 2.0 litre and I don't believe the Black Max nomenclature was ever used on a 2.4 or 2.5 litre carbed 150 because those were all XR4s and XR6s. The 2.0 litre carbed 150s were made alongside the XR2s, XR4s, and XR6s throughout the years, but disappeared a few years before all carbed motors were dropped in 2005. I'm not sure if any fuel injected motor ever carried the Black Max name but I don't believe it did (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

The XR2, XR4, and XR6 were all targeted at the bass boat crowd. The XR2 appeared in 1985 and the last XR6 was made in 2005. The last XR6s like mine were actually referred to as the "XR6 Classic" in the lineup.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong on any of that but going from memory that was pretty much it.

1991 2.4l xr4 black max

[toyomirage02]

my 2.0 loves fuel