The Mercury Air Injector Assembly is a precision component used in the Mercury Opti DFI direct fuel injection system. Also searched under 884595A01, 884595A02, 884595A1, 8M0065917, and 840497A1, this injector is commonly used on select Mercury and Mariner Optimax, Pro XS, XS, Sport XS, 300XS, and DFI two-stroke outboards.
 
These are often referred to in the Mercury performance community as the gray air injectors or blue air injectors, especially on higher-performing Optimax engines such as Pro XS, XS, Sport XS, and 300XS models.
 
Buckshot Racing #77 offers used Mercury Optimax air injectors that are professionally cleaned, rebuilt, and flow-tested before sale. These are not unknown take-off parts. Each injector is serviced and checked to help restore proper air delivery and consistent cylinder performance.
 
Why the Air Injector Matters
 
Unlike a conventional EFI outboard, a Mercury Optimax uses both fuel pressure and compressed air. The air compressor supplies air to the rails, and the air injector works with the fuel injector to deliver a finely atomized charge into the combustion chamber. Correct air-injector operation is critical for clean combustion, stable idle, throttle response, fuel economy, and long engine life.
 
When an Optimax air injector becomes restricted, contaminated, weak, or inconsistent, the engine may show symptoms that resemble fuel injector problems, ignition issues, reed problems, or air-compressor failure. Common signs include rough idle, hard starting, hesitation, misfire, poor acceleration, excessive smoke, low power under load, or cylinder-specific running problems.
 
Cleaned, Rebuilt, and Flow-Tested
 
Every used 8M6001744 air injector sold by Buckshot Racing #77 is cleaned, inspected, tested, and verified before shipment. This process helps remove contamination, carbon, varnish, and debris that can affect air delivery and spray quality.
 
Balanced air delivery is extremely important on Mercury DFI two-stroke outboards because each cylinder depends on accurate air and fuel metering. A single weak air injector can affect idle quality, throttle response, combustion efficiency, spark plug color, and piston safety. Professional servicing provides far more confidence than installing an untested used injector from an unknown engine.
 
Mercury Optimax Fitment
 
The Mercury 8M6001744 gray/blue air injector is used on select 75 HP through 300 HP Optimax and DFI outboards. Common applications include many 75 Optimax, 90 Optimax, 115 Optimax, 115 Pro XS, 125 Optimax, 200 XS, 200 Pro XS, 225 Optimax, 225 Pro XS, 225 Sport XS, 250 Optimax, 250 Pro XS, 250 XS, 250 Sport XS, and 300XS 3.2L engines.
 
This injector family is also associated with select 1.5L Optimax, 2.5L Optimax / XS / Pro XS, 3.0L Optimax / Pro XS / Sport XS, 3.2L 300XS, 200 DFI SportJet, and 200 DFI M2 Jet Drive applications. Because Mercury used different injector styles across serial ranges, always verify fitment by engine serial number, injector color, connector style, and original OEM part number before ordering.
 
Part Number Cross References
 
This serviced Mercury Optimax air injector is commonly searched under 8M6001744, 884595A01, 884595A02, 884595A1, 8M0065917, and 840497A1. For SEO and parts lookup, 8M6001744 should be treated as the primary number, while 884595A01 and 8M0065917 remain important cross-reference numbers.
 
Value Compared to New
 
New OEM Mercury air injectors can be expensive, especially for owners maintaining out-of-production Optimax engines. A professionally cleaned, rebuilt, and flow-tested used injector offers a practical service option when an original air injector is contaminated, restricted, or failed.
 
The value is not only the lower cost. The real advantage is buying a serviced and verified injector instead of gambling on an unknown used part. For Optimax, Pro XS, XS, Sport XS, 300XS, and DFI Jet Drive owners, tested injector performance can reduce repeat troubleshooting and help protect an expensive powerhead.
 
Buckshot Racing #77 Tech Tip
 
Do not judge an Optimax air injector by appearance alone. An injector can look clean externally and still flow poorly internally. Before replacing parts, verify air pressure, fuel pressure, compressor output, rail condition, tracker valve condition, ignition spark, compression, and fault history.
 
On Mercury Optimax DFI engines, both the air injectors and fuel injectors matter. If contamination is present in the rails, servicing only one injector without addressing the system can lead to repeated problems.
 
Final Thoughts
 
The Mercury 8M6001744 Optimax Air Injector Assembly is an important DFI component used on many of Mercury’s best-known direct-injected two-stroke engines. Whether you are maintaining a 115 Pro XS, 200 XS, 225 Pro XS, 250 XS, 250 Pro XS, 300XS, or 200 DFI SportJet, clean and consistent air-injector performance is essential.
 
Buckshot Racing #77’s professionally cleaned, rebuilt, and flow-tested used Mercury gray/blue air injectors provide a smart repair option for owners who want reliable Optimax performance without the risk of untested used parts.