Ssshhhh...Don't let the Merc Inline Guys See this...

[SeaKaye12]

Hi...<br /><br />There are some posters here who own and swear by the Merc in-line 6's as God's gift to outboarding.<br /><br />I'd like the straight story...do those 1500's really run like raped apes? Did Mercury really produce a great engine (in it's day) compared to the OMC stuff that existed along side? Should I take the stories of melted pistons and the like with a grain of sand...and assume that it was the result of gross neglect and such...<br /><br />I should tell you that I own a Mercury...but only because some-one gave it to me. It's a 85 HP...4 cylinder...so even then...I'm not a "member of the club" so to speak...<br /><br />I know that much of this is Ford vs. Chevy of course...but still...opinions please.<br /><br />Thanks so much for reading; Chuck

 

[Chief101]

Re: Ssshhhh...Don't let the Merc Inline Guys See this...

You need to take it all with a grain of salt. I've run 'em all and Mercs of that vintage are dying out fast. If you have one pamper it, and for gods sake keep the rpms up, and don't use it for trolling.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Ssshhhh...Don't let the Merc Inline Guys See this...

The inline 6 dates back to 57 when it produced 60 and 60+ hp in the marathon six hydro.E/J had yet to introduce their fat 4 50 hp.Which was not the perfect motor when first introduced.This six can loosely be traced to the KF9 Thunderbolt of 49-50 a 25+ hp inline 4 and the Mark 50 40 hp of 54 when E/J were still at 25 hp.In 58 a Mark 75H Set a world outboard speed record of almost 108 mph.<br /> I believe over the years timing and octane have been critical to proper care in some models.<br /> I think the almost 50 year production run speaks for itself.<br />I'm not a Merc. nut,just a motor nut.Or maybe just a nut.