What year 502,s do I have to be careful of?? With oil consumtion??? do the older 465 have valve problems???

Mine is a '94 HP465. Same as the HP 500's other than cam and intake. I never heard of any issues of oil consumption or valves. Not to say there isn't. Mine has never used a drop of oil either. The original cam was a bad choice. Not compatable with silent choice either.

I had a 2000 502Mag in my last boat. It burned about a quart of oil every 10 hours. In contrast, my 496's burn very little between oil changes every 25 - 30 hours.

my 1997 502 uses at about the same rate as the 2000 mentioned above. Varies depending on number of hours on oil change.

mine is a '95 new to water in '96

probably 10 hours to a quart - always has been that way. An old hot boat article confirmed some of the 502 mags - use oil. Merc manual calls for a quart every 6 to 10 hours.

MAV

Oil's cheap.

US1 what do you mean not compatible with silent choice?? And did you sell your boat?

My boat came with straight thru hull. I wanted silent choice. I talked with the Fountain factory and was told they had problems of reversion real bad, so they didn't put choice exhaust on it. I also contacted the Crane tech line for a second opinion. Was told same thing. Too much cam overlap or duration, I forget. Crane said they discontinued that cam as it was a dud. It even showed signs of reversion with the straight thru hulls. I just changed over to the Crane Hyd. roller cam when I installed the choice exhaust. Dry as a bone. And yes, boat sold just yesterday. Or at least they left a deposit are going to bank on Mon. But, until cash is in hand..... You know the drill.

Thanks for the info, Yea I know the drill, That is one sweet looking fountain you have. If I wasn,t married I would ----Well then again if I wasn,y married Id be waking up in the gutter thinking I was having a great time. What are you going to buy??

Thanks! A 32' Fountain has always been the initial plan, but lately been thinking of things like Cigarette. Just not sure. What are you considering that has the 465?