GQT - Mercruiser D4.2 D/Tronic - 250hp. Good/bad/ugly?

AdeOlly

AdeOlly

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Ok, a bit gardner's question time this, but the search hasn't thrown up anything much.

Looking at possibly upgrading the boat a year earlier than planned, and I'm after info and opinions on the Mercruiser D4.2 D/Tronic 250hp of 98/99 vintage on Bravo o/d.

I have naff all knowledge of Mercruiser lumps having always had green lumps throbbing beneath my feet, and seem to recall both good and bad reports on here about them.

I can find technical info on the Mercruiser site, but it relates to 2004 model engine, so not sure if it's the same or not as those a few years older. clicky here

Cheers
 
RogerRat had this setup on his Bavaria 330 Sport.
Always seemed to go well, and the BIII drives do give a lot of bite but having had one myself they do go through annodes a bit if you are in a suseptable area (think VP 290 legs with SS Props but a little worse).

The nice thing about them (and all MC stuff) is that the oil resevoir for the legs is inside the boat and is easily topped up. Also hase a low fluid alrm on it so you should never run the oil down in the leg and I beleive oil changes can be done leg on/boat in the water.

Bad news seems to be the hydraulic hoses on the legs are exposed, and can be expensive to replace.

Also, compared to the KAD series of engines they are a bit more agricutlural (good or bad depending on your view I suppose). Good an poweful, make quite a nice noise but noticably louder than the VP lumps.

Parts in the UK seem to be as expensive as VP. Maybe more options for a bit of self importing from the US though...
 
Had 2001 250 D/Tronics fitted to my old Princess V42 (unusual set up I know) and had totally trouble free boating for 5 years. Boat was good for 34 knots which aint bad for a 42 footer with only 250s. Only downside I can think of is that they are a bit noisy.
 
I have a pair of Cummins-Mercruiser 4.2 L in the 300HP 2004 on shafts
Basically the same engine.

After running 1988 Volvo s I have been incredibly impressed.

Smoke free even cold start ups
No black soot to stern/tender all season never mind 100nm
Instant start

I wouldnt hesitate to have another cummins/merc engine


( I have had them 3 1/2 years now trouble free, fingers crossed)
 
Thanks all for the replies.

Interesting about the performance. The boat I'm looking at is only 36' with a dry weight of 6.9 tonnes. Would think it'll fairly fly with 500hp then if these lumps will power a V42 to 34 knots /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Daka & Lambada - how have you found fuel consumption?

Noise I can deal with, ditto rapid anode erosion through an active system. This is starting to sound promising /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Mine are very quiet and incredibly smooth, very surprised to learn some are noisy.

Mine are two floors down and have silencers.

Economy, they are supposed to be very efficient.
they weigh a lot less than other engines of that era so should be economic and have injection management ( D_Tronic bit).

Mine are very good @ 3200-3400 which suits me fine at 24 knts
max rev 3950

As I am on shafts and three stories you dont really want to know my mpg, but compared with Volvo 370s and cats 305 they are very good.
 
Flippin 'eck, rumbled in one go. Not that rare tho, at least four for sale here in Blighty.... The 355 is a lot of boat for the money, and like my 305, solidly put together. The thing we really miss on ours is a separate saloon area from the sleeping, and with the two young un's it's, well, interesting, shall we say.

I actually, really, really, want a Windy 37 Grand Mistral HT, but I don't think SWMBO's gonna let me spend >£100k of our hard earned until she's got her new house, and I've never seen a Windy 37 even near being sub £100k. Looks like it'll have to be the boat after next, unless we decide to wait until 2010 which was the plan until last week.....

I strongly suspect the problem will be selling my 305 in the current market.... but I spose you can never tell.
 
Sorry! no figures for fuel consumption but I always found them pretty good and as Daka says they are lighter than other engines of the same HP and no smoke.
 
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