Mercury 300 XS Optimax

[23Seacraft]

Found a 2007 Mercury 300XS Optimax with a little over 500 hours. What is the longevity of these motors? If properly maintained and serviced, will these motors last a long time?

[propbender24]

The 300 xs is a recreation engine designed to live as long as every other recreational outboard on the market. I would expect to get 2000 hours out of the powerhead.

The 300 xs is a smoother engine than the 225 or 250. It also has more displacement than the 3.0 blocks with 3.2 L of displacement.

The faster you put hours on an engine, the more hours you will get out of it. I would not be scared of an 07 with 500 hours, but I might be a little hesitant of a 1997 engine with only 500 hours.

[Back-in-Black]

Yep, the 300xs is a "stroked" 3.0L block, same bore, different crankshaft giving it a longer stroke, hence a little more displacement. I too would expect 2000 hrs or so. Lately, I've seen a lot of 250XS' on commercial boats like oil field service and crab boats. Wonder what they know?

[Sleeper]

What they "know" is that the engine has been asembled by hand, sips fuel like any other Opti but has the performance of a race prepped engine. It's all good.

[Fluka Brasi]

If the reliability of the 300 xs is the same as the rest of their motors, why is the warranty reduced?

[Trav4011]

Because they have the ability to run 6K+ RPM sustained.. and no engine will survive for long periods of time at that RPM.. But, if you run the engine like you would a regular Opti.. you will get the same service life, if not better.

[hard bottom]

I have owned nearly every outboard out there and I am not brand loyal. that being said the 250XS's were the best engines I have ever owned not even close. Fastest most fuel efficient motor I know off. I PUT 1000 hours on triples and never had to change the plugs.