#Mercury motor serial number serial number

Manufacturers say that the warranty begins when the engine is sold, regardless of its build date. Fortunately, dealers usually know which engines in their stock have the most current changes, and you should ask before buying. What's considered an upgrade? In the end, the engine manufacturer gets to decide what it is and when there's enough of one to create a new model. Consumers, however, are concerned that with computer controls, mechanically identical engines could have electronic updates applied to a batch of similar models, and earlier ones might not benefit.

#Mercury motor serial number serial number

After discontinuing model years, engine manufacturers replaced the model-year designator on the engine's serial number with a code that signifies an 'era' in which all engines are supposed to be the same, with similar upgrades. While that's true, buyers are concerned that if there's no model-year designation, they don't know if they're getting the newest technology.ДЇortunately, there's still a way to determine when an outboard was built. Outboard manufacturers say that until they make a significant change to an engine, the year it was built is irrelevant. Other outboard manufacturers, including Mercury and Honda, adopted Yamaha's practice, and most outboard engines today don't have model-year designations. Buyers typically want a 2017 engine, for example, on their 2017 boat.Д®liminating the model year solves the problem for the manufacturer and dealer but can be confusing for buyers. If it takes a couple of years to finally sell that 200-hp engine, a buyer may be reluctant to buy it if the model year isn't current, and the dealer may have to subsequently discount it. If a boat on the showroom floor comes with a 200-hp engine but a buyer wants a 250-hp engine, the dealer may have to order the bigger engine and keep the smaller one in stock. Dealers have struggled for years to make sure that the engines bought from an engine manufacturer during one year get sold that same year on new boats. Unlike cars, in which engines are built into the product, a selection of engines usually can be fitted on outboard boats. Though the reasoning is sound, it creates a challenge for consumers. In 2007, Yamaha stopped designating model years for its outboard engines entirely.

The Coast Guard has no model-year regulations for outboard engines, making it harder for consumers to determine the year in which they were built. Usually be found on a sticker near the engine's The month and year of engine manufacture can