550 vs 450

[wakeslasher69]

Hmmm, go used and get what you want or go new? I think you would save enough on the purchase of a used boat to offset the 'increase' in upgrade and the consumption over time. Now not having access to fuel is a different story!

[Beg4wake]

Hmmm, go used and get what you want or go new? I think you would save enough on the purchase of a used boat to offset the 'increase' in upgrade and the consumption over time. Now not having access to fuel is a different story!

Although the OP stated he is ordering new...so buying "used" doesn't pertain to his situation.

[wakeslasher69]

Well since you had hijacked the OP thread I was actually responding to your assertions. The OP has already made his decision and moved on.

[Beg4wake]

Well since you had hijacked the OP thread I was actually responding to your assertions. The OP has already made his decision and moved on.

How did I "hijack" his thread? My comment was to the OP stating my opinion on ordering a new boat and choosing between the 550 and the 450. YOU are the one that brought up buying a used boat....my further comments were in response to your defensive retaliation on my opposition to your opinion. Don't get all butt hurt because somebody doesn't agree with you.

[Kevcec94]

Just wanted to throw this out in case it's being over looked,
With the new DI engines, the H6 (6.2L Direct Injection) should have considerably more torque than the old ZR450 6.0L. As long as elevation isn't a major factor, the H6 mated to the 2:1 will be more than sufficient

[wakeslasher69]

Didn't mean to offend you Beg, I was just coming at this from someone who actually owns a G23.

[Beg4wake]

Didn't mean to offend you Beg, I was just coming at this from someone who actually owns a G23.

Not offended...And I understand completely. And sorry if I offended you! I was kinda joking in the beginning when I said I disagreed and not to drive both! Like I said...I would rather have the 550. And if it didn't require premium, I would!! I was more speaking from my own personal opinion...I know if I would have test drove the 550 back to back to the 450, I would have spent the extra money which would really be unnecessary for me!

[JoeA]

NEED and WANT are two very different things! Unless you just have more money than you know what to do with! Don't get me wrong...I would LOVE to have the 550! But the practicality of it just doesn't exist for me! I will likely never go more than 1k over factory ballast. Plus 91-93 octane fuel isn't easily available on my lake if I were to need some fuel in a pinch (I mostly fill the boat every day since I pass a gas station heading to the lake which is 5 mins from my house). And the extra cost of the upgrade along with the extra cost of fuel plus the added fuel consumption....Just not worth it to me. Now if I win the lottery, then I will def be buying a new G with the 550! But for now, building my dream house on the lake is taking precedence of my funds! Which is why I'm glad I didn't test a G23 with the 550....bc I prob would have ended up picking it! haha

I do not know what the 500 costs for 2016 but when compared to other brands like Malibu and Mastercraft the upcharge to a 500 is quite a bit less. Finding premium fuel is a lame excuse. Ever visit a gas station? If you want a 550, get one. It's a personal choice and a big decision when buying a new boat.

[Beg4wake]

I do not know what the 500 costs for 2016 but when compared to other brands like Malibu and Mastercraft the upcharge to a 500 is quite a bit less. Finding premium fuel is a lame excuse. Ever visit a gas station? If you want a 500, get one. It's a personal choice and a big decision when buying a new boat.

I never once said the 550 was the wrong choice. I just simply stated it may not be necessary. Have I ever visited a gas station?? REALLY?! Actually yeah, once or twice. I fill my boat up every time I head to the lake at one. But guess what...there are only a few places to get gas ON my lake and only one has premium. So...what if I was running low on fuel and happened to be on the opposite end of the lake from the station that carries premium. Guess my day of fun on the lake is over considering I would have to pull the boat out, and drive to the nearest gas station just to get fuel. And what if I lived on a lake that didn't have and gas stations that carry premium. Those type of places do exist. I would then have to use gas cans all the time or take the boat off the lift, load it on the trailer (if I had one considering some people who live on lakes don't), and then drive it to one of those gas stations you speak of. Don't know why you got all defensive and became a smart *** about it. I don't really know why I'm even typing all of this considering I stated this already in what you quoted me on....I'm not even sure you really read it. I was simply stating to the OP MY reasons for choosing the 450 over the 550, to maybe help him make an educated decision about what to spend their money on, rather than just saying "get what you want". I mean heck...I WANTed a 550 engine...I just simply didn't NEED it.

[JoeA]

Beg......I never intended to offend you or upset you. Two points I was trying to make,

1. Premium fuel is readily available at a gas station. I know that you can burn a full tank in a day but that would be a lot of hours and or riding heavy.
2. Engine choice is important and a personal choice. Nautique charges a lot less for engine upgrades when compared to MC and Malibu.

[Live to surf]

What is the definition of premium gas? My gas stations say 91 is premium and 94 is like ultra or something. I always thought 91 and above was fine for 550.


Sent from my iPhone using PLANETNAUTIQUE mobile app

[Miljack]

I believe that the 550 will run on ANY gas, it just won't make max power without the 93 octane fuel. The engine management system(ECU) will pull spark advance out of the engine once it starts pinging or detonating. Not a good situation, but, you could run it for the balance of the day until you get a chance to add the premium fuel.

One thing I've never seen mentioned in these 550/fuel threads is the occasional use of octane boosting additives? Keep a bottle in the shop and bring it along on a day you may need to refuel on the lake? I don't know what PCM's manual states in regards to these additives?

[nyryan2001]

can anyone chime in with what is the time to go 0-23mph in a 2016 550 G23 with full 2850 OEM ballast, full fuel tank, NCRS at 0?


A 1.48:1 550 G23 is 7 seconds on OEM 15x14 prop

A 2:1 450hp G23 17" prop is 9 seconds

A 1:48:1 450hp G23 on a 2315 prop is 13 seconds.

2016 550 2:1 17" XX seconds???

[Laptom]

If a follow the 450 logic... around 4.5 seconds.


I need a 550 with a 2:1 in a 210, that would be funnnn

Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G901F met Tapatalk

[Beg4wake]

I believe that the 550 will run on ANY gas, it just won't make max power without the 93 octane fuel. The engine management system(ECU) will pull spark advance out of the engine once it starts pinging or detonating. Not a good situation, but, you could run it for the balance of the day until you get a chance to add the premium fuel.

One thing I've never seen mentioned in these 550/fuel threads is the occasional use of octane boosting additives? Keep a bottle in the shop and bring it along on a day you may need to refuel on the lake? I don't know what PCM's manual states in regards to these additives?

You may want to check your facts on that... The following is listed in the owners manual under "Failures Excluded From Warranty":
"any failure resulting from the use of parts, fuels, oils or lubricants not suitable for use with the product and/or materials or parts not approved by PCM"

Also...this is DIRECTLY STATED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL (under "Fuel Requirements").....

WARNING: The XS550/XR550 Supercharged applications REQUIREthe use of premium 93 Octane fuel. Failure to due so could result in poor engine performance and engine damage that is not covered under warranty

In my experience (mostly dealing in modifying and tuning Corvette motors including supercharging, etc), it is imperative to have adequate octane when dealing with forced induction such as on the XR/XS 550 engines. With the forced induction, the timing is advanced which means that a less than adequate octane level could cause detonation in the motor which is detrimental for engines. Granted, as you stated, there probably are fail safes built into the PCM motors that will pull timing if such a thing occurs to prevent detonation, however, it will still throw a "MIL" (check engine light for PCM) which will require a trip to a service technician. When they go looking at the MIL code it will tell them that timing was pulled and they will then know a lower than adequate fuel was involved, eventually resulting in the owner having to pay for that service. Unless you have a very cool technician that will just sweep the details under the rug if all that is required is a code clearing. Now if the engine fails...you can pretty much bet that PCM will require a detailed report and may even send their own technician to verify the circumstances of that failure before issuing any replacements under warranty.

Now as far as the other question goes...YES, 91 octane IS considered premium fuel. Anything 91 or higher should be just fine to use with the XR/XS 550 motors, however, since the manual states "93", you're kind of playing with fire as far as the warranty is concerned. Anything 87 or higher will be just fine to use in the H5 or H6 motors. And as always, optimum output will always occur with higher octane levels.

One new thing that PCM did for the '16 motors, was that the power levels stated for the H5 and H6 motor was done so using 87 octane (so I was told), which means a higher octane will only net better results! In the past, they kind of cheated (which pretty much every auto manufacturer does) using numbers taken while using higher octane fuels to claim their output numbers. Which I personally think is pretty cool of PCM.

All of this is just another reason why one may want to consider the H6 over the 550. NOT all states, but SOME states, don't even carry 93 octane at all. Many western states such as CA and AZ don't. Also, many gas stations all over the US carry 91 instead of 93, simply because it is cheaper yet still meets most requirements for "high octane" fuel, yet they can still charge the same premium prices as the station across the street selling actual 93 and most people wont even catch the difference!