Whats the diff 1987 inline 6 vs 1989 4 (115 HP)

[quebec#1]

I just bought a beautifull cvx 16 with a 1987 inline 6 115 hp (tower of power) .
I was also looking at another cvx 16 with a 1989 merc 115 but a 4cyl.
I know mine doesnt have oil injection and has another 2 cylinders but how would they both compare to each other ?
I have a rep at my dealer that claims the last of the good old inline 6cyl 115 hp's were one of the best motors out their and were lighter and faster than the more current 115 hp 4 cylinders like the 1989. Any truth to that ?

 

[Laddies]

Re: Whats the diff 1987 inline 6 vs 1989 4 (115 HP)

You have the better of the 2 engines built at the end of a 30+ year cycle and much stronger than the 4 cyl replacement the bean counters wished on the public

 

[MercGuy]

Re: Whats the diff 1987 inline 6 vs 1989 4 (115 HP)

Laddies,

Can you tell us specifically what you don't like about the 4 cyl ??

I've never owned the 6, but after 9 years and 700 hours of run time on my 4 the only things I've ever done to my engine outside of normal maintenance is replace the water pump impeller (one time) and do a link-n-sync that had apparently been done poorly at the factory.

Other than that, my engine has been flawless, I've got no intentions of replacing it any time soon. How much better can the 6 be than that ??

I've got to believe (but I don't know) that the 6 is heavier, louder, and burns more fuel (most because of 2 more cyls)

I'm curious to know why you have such negative feelings about the 4...

 

[MercFan]

Re: Whats the diff 1987 inline 6 vs 1989 4 (115 HP)

The six is a classic, the 4 isn't. I doubt there'll be any noticable power difference. Though the 2 engines will deliver max torque and max power at different rpms. The six is just that, a six. Fuel consumption on the six will, at a guess, be worse than on the 4. But when someone asks you "What are you running" you get to say "A tower of power". What's cooler than that?!

 

[quebec#1]

Re: Whats the diff 1987 inline 6 vs 1989 4 (115 HP)

Im told that merc also went with the 4 cyl because they used up some of the old usa marine parts ?

 

[Laddies]

Re: Whats the diff 1987 inline 6 vs 1989 4 (115 HP)

MercGuy, In a word nothing, from poor electronics to sleeves that come loose to a flat spot off idle during the transition to 4 cyls. See how many are around in 40 years there are still plenty of inline 6s out there humping it up and down the waterways of the world.

 

[jimg984]

Re: Whats the diff 1987 inline 6 vs 1989 4 (115 HP)

You tell them Laddies and i will pat my feet lol

inline 6 tower of power rules!!

 

[MercGuy]

Re: Whats the diff 1987 inline 6 vs 1989 4 (115 HP)

...sleeves that come loose...

The inline 4 is not a sleeved engine.

This seems to be an emotional argument, not a factual one...

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Whats the diff 1987 inline 6 vs 1989 4 (115 HP)

The old middle 70's were screamers.(honest mechanic!!...buy him dinner)...my latest is a crank up TOP rebuild..real depends on a light boat and speed, or the family thing

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: Whats the diff 1987 inline 6 vs 1989 4 (115 HP)

The inline 4 is not a sleeved engine.

This seems to be an emotional argument, not a factual one...

I think they were talking about the difference between the newer configuration of the 1989 115 which is much different than the older inline fours and sixes that we have grown to love and respect.Ron G