– Competitive bass anglers have long considered Mercury Marine’s Pro XS series the best performing, most reliable tournament-fishing outboards on the water. Which will you choose? Online Outboards offers a variety of both EFI and 4-stroke carbureted motors 2.3HP to 30HP to meet your needs.FOND DU LAC, Wis. If you live in or head to a mountain state with your boat, you probably don’t want to have to worry about switching out your jets every time your elevation exceeds 5,000 feet (and switching them back when you head to lower elevations.) A computerized, EFI engine is designed to compensate automatically for changes in both temperature and elevation.įinally, because an EFI engine relies on a computer and isn’t dependent upon the fluid dynamics involved with a carbureted engine, in general, it’s going to provide you with better throttle response and overall better performance.
Elevation Considerationsĭepending on your location and how you like to use your boat, choosing an EFI engine may be an easy decision.Ĭarbureted engines are only designed to work up to 5,000 feet above sea level. On the other hand, when EFI outboards do require maintenance or repair, the cost to maintain and fix them is generally higher.Īnother important consideration – if you’re someone who enjoys working on your own engine, you won’t easily be able to diagnose and fix a problem you experience with an EFI engine, which requires sophisticated computer diagnostics for troubleshooting issues. Maintenanceīecause of their design and how they operate, electronic fuel injected outboard engines require less maintenance than a standard 4 stroke carbureted engine. With a carbureted engine, you’ll burn a lot more gas while trying to push watercraft that are heavier than the engine is designed to move. This is especially true if your plan is to try to get away with a lower horsepower engine than the one for which your boat is rated.
Fuel Efficiencyĭespite its extra weight at the same horsepower, an EFI engine will give you better gas mileage. That’s because an EFI engine requires more moving parts to make it work. If weight is a factor, it’s important to note that an EFI engine is going to be heavier than a carbureted engine of the same horsepower. (California Air Resources Board) rating and are well within current EPA guidelines governing the release of carbon emissions. Most now carry a 3-Star or even a 4-Star C.A.R.B. However, in recent years, manufacturers of marine engines have made great strides in reducing carbon emissions of their 4 stroke carbureted engines. They produce fewer emissions than carbureted engines. Environmental Considerations with 4 Stroke OutboardsĮFI engines have a clear edge from an environmental perspective. But, because of their many other advantages, you might find that an EFI engine is easily worth the additional purchase price. Costīecause of the more sophisticated equipment involved in making them work, EFI outboards cost more than traditional 4 strokes. With no choke involved, it definitely makes starting your engine easier. From the Startįirst, when it comes to starting 4 stroke outboards, an EFI engine has the advantage. When choosing 4 stroke outboards – depending on the horsepower range you need for your craft – one of the decisions you’ll need to make is whether you want an electronic fuel-injected (EFI) engine or a standard, carbureted 4 stroke.