Hi Guys,

This Wednesday I am picking up a 2000 Outlaw 25 with the 502 MPI and it has 400 hours on it. The boat is beautiful and cleanest boat over 10 years old that I've seen. I currently own a 2006 Outlaw 20 that I purchased with about 60 hours on it so wear on the engine was not a concern of mine when I purchased it. Should I be concerned about upcomming maintenance or issues with the 502 MPI with 400 hours on it? What should I look at to evaluate the condition of the engine? On the purchase agreement I requested a compression and leak down test be performed before I pay for the boat on Wednesday but that was about the extent of my requests. I am also going to do a sea trial before I give them the check. Are there any tell-tale signs I should look for during the trial run? What are some of the troubled areas on these boats or things I should look closely at? I would appreciate any advice before dropping the coin on this one.

Kevin

Merc scan tool your surveyor should have should be able to tell you how long motor has been ran at various throttle settings if I remember right. A 502 mag that has 400 hours of easy cruising might last another 400 hours and one that has been pinned 50% of its life might be ready to be rebuilt now, boats 13 years old, nothing last forever but other than metric rings and mediocre lifters, cam and valvetrain the 502's are pretty stout motors, Smitty

Had 600+ on mine still was running strong when i sold it

Probably the only thing it may need is valve springs. Mine were tired at 250 hrs but it still ran strong.

Friends, 342 boss has over 650 hours on hid 502's at loto, another friends single
Has close to 1000 in a light open bow. Have the engines checked and enjoy.

My uncles H2X has over 600 hours on it and runs strong, and he runs the hell out of it, but maintains it really well. Good motors.

Have them run scan , it will show you if was ran hard

if its a salt water boat. check the exhaust

A scan will show the hours at various rpms on a 2000? My buddy's 1999 502 Mag just showed total hours, well actually total minutes.

Like others said, depends on how the motor was ran. I have read that about 500 hrs you want to rebuild the top end, and 1000 total rebuild. My self, I had about 625 +- hrs, on my 502 before I blew head gaskets and was time for a top end rebuild.

Doing all the labor my self, it cost about $1100-1200. But that included injector cleaning & flow testing and having a shop rebuild my heads for me.