Been thinking about upgrading from a 496HO to a used 525. All the threads about exhaust failures and trashed engines are causing me to wonder wheher I could ever buy a used one with any confidence that it hasn't failed already and that that is the reason for the former owner selling same. Are the failures as prevelant as it seems? Would you buy a used 525 eFI with 100 or so hours on it? Thanks.

Absolutely..just watch the exhaust manifolds...

i love the 525's .. they've proven very reliable in cat light racing for yrs .. they just need a little tlc and routine maintenance

ya beat me by a minute

They sell so many 525's is the reason you hear of so many problems. 525 efi is a GREAT engine the problem is there are so many out there in boats you just tend to hear of problems. Put as many 1075's out there as 525's and see what happens.

Brace: I agree, but there are probably more 496s out there than 525s and I've never heard of a failure on a 496, in stock form, that required the engine to be entirely rebuilt at a cost of more than 10k, which seems to be what's happening with some 525s due to the header problems. Point taken though.

You're right about the 496, I think the 525's problem is the radical cam (But I don't know much) Also I've heard about more problems due to mufflers on the exhaust

Is there not some problems with the fuel/water pumps also?

only issue I have heard with 525's is the exhaust, it is such a radical header design that they rust and leak quickly. aside from that they are sweet.

I have asked this before but is the 525 a direct swap with the 496. Plug it in bolt it up and go? I think the exhaust holes in the transom may be different