Mercruiser ECT's dirtly little secret??

Jdr01930

New Member
Jun 26, 2010
115
Gloucester, MA
Boat Info
2010 Sundeck 220
Engines
5.0 MPI EC Mercruiser w/ Bravo III
Mercruiser ECT's dirty little secret??

I don't think I've seen this discussed before. I'm a noob to I/O's so hopefully this makes sense.

When I decided get into a boat with an I/O engine, after a lifetime of outboards, I was fully aware of the extra maintenance they require on the risers, manifolds, etc.

However there was something I suspected, but haven't really seen discussed.
The engine on my boat is one of the new ones with Emissions Control stuff.
I asked the service manager, if, since these new engines have catalytic converters, if it's a new expensive maintenance point. (again, I didn't know much about I/Os, so my knowledge of catalyzers is limited to the automotive world - but I hear the word the think big bucks)
This was a few months back, and they actually hadn't really sold many, and they were so new none had been in for maintenance yet.

I asked the service manager if he could get prices on this stuff, and he found for the 5.0 MPI ECT engine, rizers and manifolds will run $1800, and the cats cost $1300.
With labor the bill will be about $4000 when the time comes.

The good news is they (mani's and risers) should last 5-7 years instead of 3-5 years, so maybe that will balance things out. However, he indicated the cats may need to be done half way through.

I inquired about a fresh water conversion, so those guts would last longer - that's more too, and a new control module is needed, so $5300 for fresh water conversion.

Does this all seem right? Any comments/thoughts?
I'm not complaining, as I went into this fully aware that the I was getting into more maintenance with this switch to the I/O world, but it seems that parts that used to cost in the "several hundreds" have morphed into "a few thousand". Gotta pay to play!
 
Last edited:
Thats pretty pricey. If this holds true the older pre catalytic motors will be in demand.
 

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