Mercury 225L FourStroke Outboard Motor

This used Mercury 225L FourStroke Outboard Motor pairs the 225 hp V6 with a 20 inch shaft and Mechanical throttle and shift, the cable-based counterpart to the DTS version at the same shaft length.

Powerhead

Mercury builds this block as a 64-degree V6, 3.4 liters or 209 cubic inches, 24 valves total, dual overhead cams, 3.6 inch bore, 3.4 inch stroke. Full throttle rpm sits between 5200 and 6000.

Rigging and care

Mechanical throttle and shift is the control type on this one, sold on its own, which keeps the swap simple for a boat that still runs steel cables back to the helm instead of a wiring harness. Electric start works through SmartStart Protection, and the steering can be upgraded to hydraulic, power-assisted, or joystick piloting setups. This one weighs 475 lbs dry on the published spec. Mercury's recommended fuel is 87 octane minimum or 90 RON with up to 10 percent ethanol, and the recommended oil is NMMA certified FC-W 25W-40, swapping to 10W-30 in cold weather, at a 7.0 quart (6.6 liter) system capacity. No propeller ships with it.

Because both the DTS and mechanical versions of the 225L share the same block, picking between them usually comes down to what your current console already supports rather than any difference in performance.

A 20 inch shaft on a V6 this size tends to suit a lower-set transom, often on an older hull design, so measure before assuming this will match a boat originally rigged for a 25 inch motor.

Does this use a cable throttle? Yes, Mechanical throttle and shift, not DTS.