Life Expectancy of an Outboard

[gunflint]

It looks like I'll be getting that new Yamaha 2-stroke for next year. But the process got me thinking. What kind of life should you expect from an outboard motor?

There are several factors involved such as, how often you use it (in my case well over 100 times per year.) What type of fishing you do. If you use a trolling motor. Distance driven to your fishing spots. Good maintenance habits ect.

My feeling is that if it's something you depend on for part of your income, you should probably trade it in every couple of years. If you just use it 10 or 20 times a year it should, with regular service, last forever. Any opinions?

[Valv]

Actually the fact that are used very little is a negative issue for outboards, and probably their main cause of problems.

Motors that are used continuously, on a daily basis have a life expentacy longer that the ones used very little.

Dirty carbs from dried up gasoline/oil, neglecting water pumps, and many other problems are the reason for failures.

You can buy a motor, use it once a year for a day, and you'll have more problems and maintenance for that motor that the one that has many hours of use per day.

Now, life expectancy might not apply here, but variables are so many it's almost impossible to determine.

Especially if you rent it at a resort, customers can draw sand in pumps, hit lower units, run them full throttle then shift gear, etc (you've got the picture).

Many resorts replace motors regardless of status every 1 or 2 or 3 years, depending on their budget, some keep them until they die for many years.

[prophet]

i have a 35hp johnson from 1978,runs great,with regular

maintaince i hope it continues for a long while

[Wishin2BFishin]

I've got a 1964 9 1/2 hp Johnson that still runs great. Like Valv said it depends on how much it's used. If your depending on the motor for making money then you should have one that you can depend on. If your client's are paying you money to find them fish and you spend more time keeping the motor running than fishing, they won't be too happy. If you buy a good motor to begin with and maintain it well it should last you for years and if it starts to give you troubles replace it then. Just my two cents... best of luck...

[Surface Tension]

I agree with what Valv has posted. An outboard that sits around is more prone to gas breaking down and varnishing the carbs, thus you have an engine that runs lean, lean enough to were you don't notice it but its doing damage.

Fogging your engine is recommended for long term storage but when your outboard gets used a few time a summer theres a lot of idle time there.

So I think your more likely to develop problems from lack of use rather then to much.

Things like impellers, spark plugs and fuel filters should probably be changed more often on an outboard that gets a lot of use.

[PierBridge]

Outboards NEVER die.....People kill them.....

[Animal]

My buddy has an 86 15HP Yamaha that has given great service with no breakdowns. He does the scheduled maintenace each year. I would estimate his useage is 50 days a year.

[Satchmo]

Most manufactures design their motors for a life expectency of 400 to 600 hours of average use. Since the AVERAGE use for an outboard is 30 to 50 hours per year this translates in to about 10 years for the average consumer. That being said, Valv is totally correct in the fact that the more you use it, the longer the life. This holds true "ONLY IF IT IS PROPERLY CARED FOR". It is sad but true that most outboard motors get nowhere near the proper treatments at the proper time. This includes fuel stabilization, gear lube replacement, winterizations, prop shaft greasing and fishing line removal, fuel system cleaners, crankcase oil and filter replacement, fuel filters, and good general cleanings. All of these contribute to the LIFE or DEATH of new motors. The old saying still holds true--Take care of it and it will take care of you. Good Luck, Greg

[Slyster]

Is that true? Yikes.. what if you live by an ocean and use it 2 hours every day.. your motors is dead within a year?

[Valv]

Slyster brough up another issue...we are freshwater, our motors last forever.

Get a 2 years old saltwater, and you'll be surprised of corrosion, even if you flush it after every use.

[outdoor ran]

Good topic. I was wondering that myself. How about an inboard motor with long periods of slow trolling speeds. Its nothing to hit the big lake 40 days and troll 10 hours a day. Thats 400 hours on it right there in one season. How many hours can you expect out of it before its rebuild time?

[Valv]

Inboards have a lot more life expectancy, being 4 stroke and oil lubricated.

Basically they are auto engines with few modifications.

When you see a motor with 300,000 miles on it.....you know they go a long way.

[Slyster]

Then, I wonder, would perhaps a 4 stroke outboard has a longer life than a 2 stroke outboard?

[Steve Bakken]

with a proper maintainance schedule and due to the fact that they are oil-lubricated, I would have to vote definitely yes on this one.

[gunflint]

If it's true that a 4-stroke has a longer life expectancy then a 2-stroke that would bring down the overall cost of a 4-stroke when the two are compared. My argument for 2-strokes has always been that 4-strokes (I'm talking tillers here) are heavier, slower and it would take too long to make up the price difference vs fuel savings. If however 4-strokes do indeed last signifcantly longer, that changes things.

In the many disscusions and arguments that I've read over the years in the 2-stroke vs 4-stroke fight, I've never read anything about life expectancy.

[Valv]

I think we cannot say much about their life expectancy due to the fact they are relatively new to market. They had small 4 strokes in the mid '90s, but that's it.

Now look how many 1960s and 1970s 2 stroke do you see around ? This will be a great subject in 20 years

[slick814]

I agree with Valv - the more it's used, and maintianed properly, they'll last pretty much forever. We've got a couple of old Evinrudes from the '60's (10 & 18 HP), and a '50's johnson 10 Horse that runs as good now as the day they were bought.

Keep them in good shape, and they'll give you as much use as you could ever want, IMHO.

[Surface Tension]

Quote:

---

Outboards NEVER die.....People kill them.....

---

This is so true. Maybe not 100% of the time but in a lot of cases anyway.

New or old, an outboards can death is usually attributed to something the owner did or didn't do.

[Valv]

I've seen a new outboard dying even before hitting the water.

2 "dudes" with a brand new bass boat and 225 Merc, lined up at landing and started motor up to let it "warm up" before putting boat in water.....

Brand new motor was no more a motor.....

[gvt]

I'd like to know what the oil pressure is on a typical 4-stroke while idling. Long periods of idling are generally not good for 4-stroke engines. It's possible that the manufacturers have taken this into account with the design of the outboard oiling systems, maybe we will know more in a few years!

Has anyone ever done an oil analysis (http://store.avlube.com/oilandfuanki.html) on their 4-stroke outboard oil? That would give an indication of how well the oil filter is working and if the engine is wearing excessively. I've done a few with my diesel pick-up since I run synthetic oil 10,000 miles. Just a thought!