MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

[jkust]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

from the tech bulliten Volvo sent us just before christmas of 2009 it said both the GL and the GXI were being dropped and no more 3.0L motors would be produced but dealers could still sell the remaining
QUOTE]

Well, I would imagine that doesn't bode well for anyone contemplating selling a used boat with a 3.0 if they are discontinued and since their will be a flood of new 4.3's at a certain point. Do I understand correctly that the EPA is commanding all these changes?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

ot the EPA per se.
its simple bean counting.
the 3.0 is mostly an entry level money loser.
the epa mandates the catalytic converters and emissions standards.
its simply to costly to keep redesigning and retooling for a limited market engine.
kinda why Brunswick dropped the force line, simply to costly to bring it up to EPA standards.
about 10 years ago marine power added a throttle body EFI to the 3.0 as an option.
worked very well but never caught on.
if GM goes ahead and stops production on the 8.1L I think you will see more partnering with some of the new high speed DEC controled diesels.
thats why I am debating going to some diesel schools or hoping to simply retire in about 5 years.
but its a simple matter of bean counting when most products get dropped.

 

[treetopclimber]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

I'm confused...I've been researching my next boat and the Stingray looks good to me. I'm looking at the Volvo 3.0 since I will not be doing any watersports. My confusion is this : I'm reading all this about this motor being discontinued and fuel injection being phased in in 2010 . If this is true, how come all of the on order 2010 Stingray inventory I'm seeing still has these engines available and with carburetors ? Or is this for the next model year ? If this engine is being discontinued, what will replace it ?

 

[Don S]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

Because they are using all of their 2009 engines they have. The 3.0L Carbed engine will still be available (But limited) in 2010. Only the fuel injected 3.0L Volvo engines were discontinued. IfStingray bought 10,000 3.0L engines in 2009, they are allowed to use them in 2010 boats until their stock of engines runs out.

After January 1, 2010, VOLVO PENTA discontinued the 3.0Gi and GXi. The GL is still being used, but in limited supply.

 

[Don S]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

Maybe this will help. Look at the date in the lower left.

 

[treetopclimber]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

Thanks Don... Why would Volvo do this after upgrading the manifolds for the hp increase and adding the fuel injection ? It seems a little odd to shelve it after one year. Is the catalytic converter an issue ?

 

[sickwilly]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

One of the dealers that posts in the Stingray website said exactly what Don has said, that they will sell them till their supply is gone. He said they expect to have them through the first part of 2010.

He also speculated that it might help resale for the smaller boats with a 3.0 -- don't know if I agree.

Here is a comparison of the injected and carbed volvo 3.0 -- I guess Trailer Boats missed the memo that Volvo had killed off the injected version:

http://www.trailerboats.com/output.cfm?id=2415655

 

[Don S]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

Thanks Don... Why would Volvo do this after upgrading the manifolds for the hp increase and adding the fuel injection ?

Volvo tells it's dealers WHAT they are going to do. Not WHY.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

I have the bulliten in front of me.
Ill try to see if my wife can scan it into her computer later and either post it or email it to DonS.
the 3.0GL,3.0GXI,5.0 GL GI and GXI, 5.7GI and 5.7 GXI will no longer be manufactured for sale in the US after jan 01 2010.
units manufactured prior can still be sold where legal.
for complete details see: dealer newswire: special edition: gasoline emissions update,new boat sales on partner network.

 

[Lou C]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

Well I'm a fan of technology that can be easily fixed by the home mechanic but that's rapidly fading into history...I have my old school 4.3/4bbl carb for a long time and it's no trouble to keep going (as long as I can get Cobra parts) but I'd take the advice given and avoid either one year only or unproven technology (esp cats on I/Os)...if I wanted a high tech engine I'd probably go for an outboard in a smaller boat anyway...I think the cost of adding FI+CATS to I/Os will even up the cost differences between I/Os and OBs and maybe we'll see more OBs on smaller boats and not just fishing boats...

Without a standard system like OBD II for cars you are at the mercy of the dealer to do all your diagnostics.....I've been able to fix a number of problems with our vechicles with a standard OBD-II scanner too bad that'd not the case for boats...

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

Lots of changes coming down the pipe in the automotive ind..GM needs to get its act together and be competive and PC...All of those blocks are dinasours... Good one but still old news

 

[Don S]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

Ill try to see if my wife can scan it into her computer later and either post it or email it to DonS.

Rodbolt, what's the bulletin number on it, I have access to all of them. No sense sending it.
PS: You have a PM

 

[sohcfour]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

For what it's worth, we put down money on the carbureted model. The clincher for me was a little in-depth reading on the EPA's website that revealed that OBD-M is going to be some special 6-pin connection. What that tells me is that the handy $100 scan tool I used on my OBD-II car won't work. That means an expensive call to the dealer. Done.

A number of posts back, someone mentioned that the 4.3 and 8.1 would not have to meet emissions in 2010. This is evidently because GM plans to eliminate these blocks, and therefore the EPA deemed this uneconomical for manufacturers to comply for one year. These will be replaced by a 4.1L 6cyl, and a 6.0L V8 supercharged model. Not sure of those details, particularly the 4.1L. Anyone know?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

DonS
havent read the PM yet but I will.
this bulliten came from chesapeake VA with NO bulliten number.
Ill get the wife to scan it and either post it or email it to you.
its odd but no number anywhere.

 

[treetopclimber]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

Sohcfour...Looks like you made the safe decision. The fact that you can get them both for the same price makes it a closer call though. Did the Merc MPI have the converter or was that just in California ? (2009 ) According to the Volvo chart, the GXi did not have the converter. ( California GXiC ). So for 2009 without a converter and at the same price ( normally around 2k more for fuel injection ? ) , it makes it closer still. More potential problems with the MPI , but advantages too... On a larger note, with Volvo phasing out the 3.0 , will Merc follow ? And then no 4 cyl engines at all ???

 

[180shabah]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

So my follow up question is that the article says that the EFI has nothing to do with the 15 hp increase, But I thought that on the 4.3 MPI, the MPI has everything to do with the 30 hp increase over carb??

Nope, it is still about better breathing. Take ath 190hp 4.3 and swap on a 4bbl carb and a good intake manifold and watch the power climb. The EFI engine can still show a few hp advantage, the gap is very small.

 

[Lou C]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

Nope, it is still about better breathing. Take ath 190hp 4.3 and swap on a 4bbl carb and a good intake manifold and watch the power climb. The EFI engine can still show a few hp advantage, the gap is very small.

I have a 4 bbl carb on my 4.3 and it does add nicely to the top end...you can feel a surge of power when the secondaries open up on the old Q-Jet.....the ironic thing is it's probably going to be easier to find techs who can fix FI more easily than it is to find ones that can rebuild old school carbs in a few years...

 

[180shabah]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

I have a 4 bbl carb on my 4.3 and it does add nicely to the top end...you can feel a surge of power when the secondaries open up on the old Q-Jet.....the ironic thing is it's probably going to be easier to find techs who can fix FI more easily than it is to find ones that can rebuild old school carbs in a few years...

sounds like a learning opportunity, rebuilding a carb may be intimidating, but not very complicated.

 

[treetopclimber]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

After much thought and research, I put a down payment on a boat with the Volvo 3.0 GXi. I was definitely leery of the fuel injection and the catalytic converter plus the fact that this motor is being phased out. I actually wanted this engine over the 4.3 for several reasons though. What sealed the deal for me was that I was able to purchase the boat at dealer cost ( 2009 model). That definitely made the decision easier. Time will tell over the long term if it was the better decision...

 

[180shabah]

Re: MerCruiser 3.0 Carb vs. MPI

Curious, what influenced you to want the 3.0 over the 4.3?