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Old 24-05-2009, 10:24 PM   #1
j.p
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 16
Mercury 2.4 efi

Hi,
a friend of mine is interested in a Phantom 18 with a mercury 2.4 efi "race spec", whatever that means?, engine on the back. I've heard mostly bad things about them today after speaking to some people so I thought I'd ask on here too.

How are these old engines? Frequent rebuilds? Reliable? High maintenance? Heavy drinkers? Good for cruising, ie not WOT all the time?

Regards,
J
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Old 25-05-2009, 08:08 AM   #2
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Location: GOLDEN MILE
Boat name: LILY THE PINK AND TERMINATOR 11
Boat make: PHANTOM 21 AND 20
Engines: 2.5 EFI X 2

Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: GOLDEN MILE
Posts: 2,475
I've never owned a 2.4 efi but I've had many 2.5 efi's and reliable isn't a word i'd use to describe them, but when they work there's no other engine to match them. They are an awesome engine but thirsty and will drink circa 30 gph at wot.

Rebuilds are usually around 100 hours and mine happily cruises at 6/7k.

Use a good synthetic oil at 32/1 and look after it maintainence wise and its guaranteed to bring a great big smile to your face every time you use it.
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Old 25-05-2009, 01:45 PM   #3
j.p
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The good bits sounds fantastic but the bad bit about the reliability issue is somewhat disturbing as he is not a mechanic by any means and neither am I. You say "when they work" is that a rarity then? How bad is it? breaks down regularly? cuts out suddenly?

A few more questions for you: (sorry for bombarding you)
How much mechanical knowledge is needed to run these engines on an everyday basis?
Also the oil, there is no need to premix or anything? it sorts all that out itself?
How costly are the rebuilds?
Operating rev range as well as wot limiter?
Look after it maintenance wise? What does this entail?

All insight into how it is to live with these engines is greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks,
J.
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Old 25-05-2009, 09:34 PM   #4
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Country: netherlands
Location: Mijdrecht/holland
Occupation: truck repair
Interests: fast boats/porches
Boat name: bernico cat
Boat make: bernico 26 cat 2x 2,5,s
Engines: merc,s 2,5 EFI,s
Cruising area: ijselmeer

Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Mijdrecht/holland
Posts: 382
I have had several of these 2,4 EFI,s ,and found them very powerful ,compare to a 2,5 EFI ,there is not too much difference.
The 2,4 has a bridged exhaust port ,and that is mostly the cause of damage to these engines.
I used one 2,4 EFI for 10 years every summer without putting one wrench on it !
I once had a catamaran with 4 x 2,4 EFI,s ,those tanks were empty in short time
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