More power for less fuel
Verado's new Range Plus powertrain significantly reduces friction inside the engine, giving boat owners more power at the propeller while also saving on fuelVerado, Mercury Marine's supercharged FourStroke outboard, is the only engine on the market to offer this new technology.
With everyone becoming very conscious of fuel economy, Mercury engineers had the challenge to maintain or increase power output and reliability, while improving fuel consumption at the same time.
"In a standard engine, considerable friction is developed as the crankshaft rotates at high speed through the oil in the crankcase," said Ken Evans, Mercury's Product Director, Outboards.
"The oil is actually whisked in a tornado-like cloud, and because it takes power to push through this cloud the engine runs less efficiently, consuming more fuel and delivering less horsepower to the propeller where you really need it."
This friction, called windage-based friction, also increases oil temperature which causes the oil to degrade faster.
Verado's new Range Plus powertrain, introduced with Verado's 4-cylinder 200hp and 6-cylinder 300hp flagship models and now featured in all Verado 135hp through to 300hp models, includes a range of specific modifications that significantly reduces this friction.
Re-designed crankshaft oil scrapers minimise the amount of oil allowed to remain suspended in the crankcase.
- New eccentric grooved bearing shells reduce the amount of oil delivered to the crankshaft.
- All new, higher temperature forged pistons eliminate the need for cooling oil jets, further reducing the oil in the crankcase.
- A new intake cam significantly improves airflow and optimises top end power.
- Enhanced calibration of the engine electronics further improves fuel economy at full throttle and cruising speeds.
"It is important to note that the power gain produced by the Range Plus powertrain is delivered without having to increase boost pressure or cylinder pressure, which translates into no loss in reliability or durability," Ken said.
"The improvements are significant. At cruising speed you'll get the fuel economy of a smaller engine and at full throttle you'll get more power than a similar-sized outboard for the same fuel."
Visit www.mercurymarine.com for more information.
Photograph caption
- The grey bit is the original cylinder block design
- The blue bit is the connecting rod big end
- The green bit is the crankshaft
- The red bit is the new oil dam insert
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