Multiple versions of Optimax in 2001?

[coldmark]

I have the outboard below. The owner's manual the previous owner provided doesn't appear to match up exactly, and the local technician was thinking there may have been an early and a late model that year. The thing that caught my eye is the storage section detailed how to winterize the water separator fuel filter. My Optimax does not appear to have a canister type filter and has a simple inline filter instead.

Does anyone know about multiple models that year? Any is there anything I should do before storage with the inline filter? I live in a cold climate. (UP of Mich) Thanks!

2001 Mercury Optimax
150XL CAR
Serial #: 0T344020
Possibly manufactured in NOV 2000

 

[tommarvin]

You should install a fuel water separator, if you don't want fuel problems.
Ive never heard anything about how to winterize a fuel water separator, you spin off last seasons and spin on a new filter.
I must admit a guy at a huge nation wide boating supply company said Dump it out grease gasket spin it back on.
Theres a list of about 15 things you need to do to winterize correctly, starting with decarb.

 

[Yegboats]

Opti's are DFI not carbed

 

[Dukedog]

that's a plain jane carb 150... not an opti... that's why there's no separator.....