Who has gone from a 4 stroke to a 2 stroke?

[snoozebutton]

Looking at getting a new boat next spring and thinking about getting a 2 stroke (17 footer with a 150.) I currently have a 16 footer with a 90 hp Suzuki 4 stroke and I really like the motor, love the way it starts right up no matter how long it sits, it's quiet and I don't have to worry about an oil reservoir. A 2 stroke would be lighter, a little faster, and you can run it wide open for longer periods.

Just wondering if anyone on here has gone from 4 to 2 and what your thoughts are on the differences?

[fishadb]

Do not do it, you will hate yourself in the future. I have a two and dad has a four. It has gotten to a point where I can't stand to pull plugs in my boat after being in his just because of the noise. It's nice to be able to have a conversation with the motor running.

[Ufatz]

Sure. Go ahead dummy.

You will start regretting it about......oh, I'd say the second day you run it.

And while your at it, plan on taking a Waco bi-plane on your next coast to coast flight and enjoy driving your 1918 Reo rent a car.

Har dee har har!

NO! Don't do it.

[snoozebutton]

Thanks and yeah, kind of what I thought. I like the idea of a little lighter/faster and running wide open but.....

Anyone else gone from a 4 to a 2 and actually was happy with the switch over?

[th64]

High tech like the computer now on my lap should mean smaller and lighter I sold a 4 because it was heavy and big. My new 2 stroke is quiet strong and powerful. My 4 stroke also took a long time to warm up in cold weather, I would have to run the thing in neutral for at least 5 min. before I would put it into gear or it would kill. For many 4strokes are the way to go but not for everyone

(BTW the e-tecs are awesome) Good Luck

[ClownColor]

Not to hijack but is a 2 stroke more powerful than a 4 stroke? Looking to replace a 4 HP 2 stroke with a 4 HP 4 stroke...same weight but need all the power I can get.

[h8go4s]

Looking at getting a new boat next spring and thinking about getting a 2 stroke (17 footer with a 150.) I currently have a 16 footer with a 90 hp Suzuki 4 stroke and I really like the motor, love the way it starts right up no matter how long it sits, it's quiet and I don't have to worry about an oil reservoir. A 2 stroke would be lighter, a little faster, and you can run it wide open for longer periods.

Just wondering if anyone on here has gone from 4 to 2 and what your thoughts are on the differences?

Where did you come up with that notion? I just read through my Yamaha 50 4-stroke manual again and there are no restrictions on running wide open. The only mention is this:

"Performance:

Full throttle operating range:

F50B 5000–6000 r/min"

No time limit on that.

[Ufatz]

Yeah, I agree; don't know where the notion of "not running it wide open" came from. Personally I never run an engine wide open for more than a few seconds but I know guys who do it all day long.

Yew, the two stroke is lighter. Yes, it will, in most cases spin up higher and faster but so what? It is also dumping fuel into the lake and burning more in the process than a four stroke. The Suzuki you presently have is a marvelous outboard engine. For a boat the size you discuss and in the power range you need I can see no defensible argument for going to two stroke. None.

But ......hey!...it's your money!

[BobT]

I haven't made the switch but I can say that I have been very impressed and pleased with my E-tec. No oil changes to deal with, at 100:1 it sips oil, quiet, comparable to any 4-stroke in fuel economy, auto winterizing, will definitely beat a 4-Stoke out of the hole, and unmatched performance.

[magicstix]

It is also dumping fuel into the lake and burning more in the process than a four stroke.

This is not entirely a true statement. A poor running 2 stroke or even 4 stroke will dump fuel in the lake and burn more fuel. As a "general" rule the new 2 strokes use less fuel per HP than the 4 strokes. The biggest selling point, IMO, for a 4 stroke is the quietness.

It also varies from manufactur to manufactur and from HP to HP.

I would consider a new 2 stroke depending on how you are going to use the boat.

I seen a new 150 Optimax at the boat launch last week that seemed pretty sweet to me, however others have said they are noisy but I didn't think it was too loud.

[LunkerCity]

Less fuel for a 2??? I run a 15 hp Johnson 4 stroke, my buddy runs a Merc 15hp 2 stroke. Speed and hole shot are about the same but my motor runs on almost half as much fuel pushing the same boat on a weekend trip. Maybe his is running rich, but there is no way a two would use less on average.

[20lbSloughShark]

I'll tell you one thing, I have never in my whole life said "wow, I'm glad I got a 4 stroke."

[th64]

Yes CC 4 strokes are not as powerful as 2 strokes-I have a mechanic friend who explained it to me and I still don't get it, something about every stroke on a '2' being the 'power stroke'.

If I were buying new for a bass boat I would buy an e-tech, pontoon on the lake, 4 stroke.

Used and only a few grand to spend? Yamaha 4 stroke( other Japanese stuff is probably just as good or better but I would want to look into parts and service availability first, I know Yammy has a great network)

All of course IMHO!

[theiceman]

I had a Mercury two-stroke 50 horse and ate through the fuel. I bought a 60 horse Yamaha four stroke with a heavier boat and I can get almost 6 miles to a gallon running almost full throttle. To me there is no comparison of a four stroke to two-stroke. You're talking faster more power how much faster to 3 mph big deal. I think as far as fuel economy and it'll enjoy the quietness of the motor I stay with a four stroke if I were you. And as far as the E-tec goes I've had three friends all guides who had have had them and had nothing but problems, I know some good, some bad, but that's why I'd want to definitely stay away from.

[magicstix]

There's fuel consumption charts out there that show estimated fuel use.

Only reason I ever looked at charts was because all I heard from salesman were how more fuel effiecent these new motors are and I wanted to know how much fuel I was going to save. I was surprised at the results.

The new EFI motors defineitly run much smoother and more consistently.

[SledNeck]

Went from 4 stroke to a 2014 175 mercury proXS optimax. This motor is phenomenal. The power is awesome. Beating other walleye boats with 200 and 225 4 strokes is awesomer!

[20lbSloughShark]

The point is there are lots of people who prefer the 2 stroke, it just depends on what you want. Neither is "better," but each has its merits. The whole oil argument, whether its pre-mix, oil reservoir, or changing oil on the 4 stroke is a moot point. All three are probably the easiest things you can possibly do. Making the morning coffee is more difficult. I can mix gas in under 5 seconds, same to top a reservoir. To change oil is what, like 15 minutes if you're slow? Plus you do that once or twice a year. Like I said, oil is a moot point. Sound getting quieter on 2 strokes. Even old 2 strokes, which were louder at idle, were quiet enough to talk above. At full speed, they are equally loud. Doesn't matter the exhaust, an engine at 5,500 rpm's is loud. You can argue these things all day and get nowhere. The main difference between the two is power. A 4 stroke will troll around slowly all day happily, but lacks torque compared to a 2 stroke. A 2 stroke will troll fine, but not as long. After a few hours the old ones can build up carbon inside and start to act funny. You can run them full throttle to clean them out, and go back to trolling. Generally old 2 strokes were less fuel efficient than 4 strokes. New models are about the same. If you are comparing a 2014 4 stroke to a 2014 2 stroke, you basically have to ask yourself, am I going to be trolling around for hours at a time, or do I want the added torque? I encourage anyone to actually look up what makes a 2 stroke work, same with a 4. There are a number of reasons why a 2 makes more torque, even with the horsepower the same. The main reason is the power stroke. A 2 stroke makes power every other stroke, while a 4 does it every 4th.

A 2 stroke engine goes like this: starting with ignition; piston travels to the bottom, and sucks in fuel (its a lot more complicated in reality). That's one stroke. Then it travels back up, and compresses that fuel. BOOM! and it repeats that every time.

A 4 stroke works like this: The piston is at the bottom after a power stroke. The piston is moving up, and the exhaust valve opens. The piston is at the top of the stroke and the exhaust valve closes. The intake valve opens and the piston travels back down, sucking fuel in. The intake valve closes, and the piston travels back up to compress the fuel, BOOM!

While the 4 stroke is more exact in its nature, it has a ton of moving parts, it makes power half as often, plus lacks a super charging effect that 2 stroke have. If you have no idea what I'm talking about look up why 2 strokes need a specially shaped exhaust.

[JeffB]

I had a Suzuki 140hp four stroke and it was a great engine. Smooth and quiet and never had a stitch of trouble. Then I switched to a 150 hp E-tech and also love it. More power and it is also very smooth quiet and fuel efficient. The new two strokes are great just like the new 4 strokes.

[Ufatz]

Good reply S'shark. Useful information. While I understand your tendency toward modern two strokes the 4-stroke engines are likely to be more durable and will probably require less maintenance in the long run.

Just as a personal preference I would remain a 4-stroke guy but I see your advocacy of the modern E-tec type engines. And the two stroke IS much simpler.

[raymondk]

in the long run I think the 2 strokes will outlast the 4 strokes with less maintance 4 stroke motors do not like to sit for long periods of time also the 2 strokes always will be more durable will less parts to go bad look at some of the real old small 2 strokes that still run good you will not see the new 4 strokes last as long as them.personally I would like a 4 stroke but for the extra money I can't justify up grading. Also there always is going to be more maintence on a 4 stroke .

[snoozebutton]

Thanks for all the replies, a lot of good info to think over.

Sorry I haven't chimed in more often but been having all kids of problems staying logged in, have to delete all cookies here and on my computer just to stayed logged in for one visit here.

[BobT]

Quote:

had a Mercury two-stroke 50 horse and ate through the fuel.

Which 2-stroke is very important. If you're talking about switching from an older 2-stroke then yes, you are absolutely correct. They will eat fuel by comparison. Today's newer fuel injection technology changed all of that and now the 2-strokes are about as economical to operate as the 4-strokes. Since I switched from my old 98 Johnson 90hp 4-cylinder 2-stroke to my new 2011 90hp 3-cylinder E-tec I know I use about 20% less fuel.

Admittedly, at idle it isn't as quiet as the 4-strokes but at cruising speed it is quieter for sure. It is more economical for trolling than a 4-stroke but typical of 2-strokes, with all else being equal, it will not troll down as nice as a comparable 4-stroke.

Did I mention that I love the automatic fogging and performance and no messy oil changes and at 100:1 that it sips 2-cycle oil?

[delcecchi]

I might agree that an Optimax or maybe an etec (I am still suspicious after the FICHT fiasco) is in the same ballpark as a 4 stroke. But a modern 4 stroke compared to an old school two stroke? no way Jose.

There really are three alternatives not just two.

[slammer]

Went from 99 Merc 150 EFI to '13 Merc 150 4 stroke. New motor is 55 lbs lighter. A lot of power and pushes my 18 ft Lund 49 mph with 19 pitch prop. Old motor also had 19 pitch. 4 stroke is 2 mph faster than the old motor. Trolls down nice and very quiet. Must be a popular motor as I had to wait 3 weeks to get it. Overall I think this new one performs equal or better than the old 2 stroke. New 2/stk's are way better than old one. I went 4 for the quiet motor.

[Northlander]

I would go 4 stroke all the way. After having a few of each I wouldnt go to a 2 stroke. I love the quiet of my Yamaha F115