4 Stroke outboards??

[JohnMickish]

This is not intended to be a mine is better post so please don't turn it into one. My question is for the owners of 4 stroke outboards. After seeing the E-tech infomercial and the regular commercial, how much maintinance is there on your 4 stroke?

What would you say the average yearly maintinance bill is in either dollars or hours?

[cliffy]

I own a Honda 75hp 4-stroke. Once a season I change the oil, oil filter and lower gear lube. Maybe 1.5 hours of maintinance per season. It could be shorter..but I like to have a few beers while the oil is draining..thus I get slowed down a little. I also might pull the plugs if I think they need to be replaced..but I have not done that for two seasons...perhaps this spring. Cost wise...I am not sure..maybe 60.00 bucks...I dont recall the price of the oil,filter or lube...but its just standard stuff.....

[Can'tFishEnuf]

I would say about the same as Cliffy, 50 or 60 bucks. Plus a little time in the garage, but that's not so bad. I know they say 3 years no maintenance on the E-tec, but wouldn't a person still want to change the lower-unit?

[gunflint]

I'm sure I'll get flamed alive for this but I believe the the days of the 4-strokes are numbered. Sure they'll be around but with the innovations of 2-stroke technology 4-strokes will be going by the wayside within several years. They are too heavy, too slow, and too expensive to stand against a 2-stroke with equal milage, quiet operations, low maintanence, less emissions, more power and speed, and noticable weight difference. Some day they'll say "he was right"

[Northlander]

Gunflint how dare you say such a thing.

I dont want to hear that after buying a boat with a 115 Yamaha 4 stroke. Im not buying another boat for a while.

You may be right but I hope not. I think 4 strokes will come a long way as well.

As far as taking care of my motor I do my oil, plugs, and filter twice a summer. I use my boat daily so it gets a lot of use. No abuse just good honest use.

Just a side note I use Amsoil 4 stroke synthetic and I really like how my motor runs with it. A bit more expensive but I think it all evens out in the long run.

[Ufatz]

Hey.....you gotta be a member of the Flat Earth Society too, right? The four-strokes will be around when the 2-stroke marketing wonders are being recycled into more beer cans. There is NO comparison. Buy the pretenders if you wish, but don't even COMPARE the modern four-stroke outboards with the two stroke hybred type products. No comparison at all. To each his own, but some of us have come down from the trees and out of the caves. HA!

[JohnMickish]

This is where I didn't want this to go. Please just the facts on whay you have done to your 4 stroke. Please, no stories about neighbors or buddies motors either. I'm just trying to figure out if the two stroke commericals are blowing smoke at me or not. Anybody adjust their valves every year?

[Northlander]

Havent had to do anything except oil, filter, plugs and lower unit. After this summer (#3) I will have it given the once over by the dealer though.

[Ufatz]

Okay...okay. I have dealt with 4-stroke outboards since the little Honda first came on the scene in the '70s. I have owned Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha's and now have a 115 Yam on a Crestliner. Maintenance is minimal and simple, fuel economy is great. They run smoothly and quietly. They are extrememly dependable. They ARE heavier, but that only matters if you are using the smaller engines and even they are getting lighter. At this point 4-strokes are proven and well refined technology and are getting better all the time.In my experience Honda's are more finicky about fuel, you gotta keep it clean and remember to add treatment to the dump we now call gasoline. The little Honda 7.5 from 1971 actually better! I would not think of going back to any kind of two-stroke outboard engine. Nor would I consider a 1938 Ford, with its quaint brakes,suspension and safety systems just because somebody put an electric fuel pump on it.

Hope this helps.

[crappie todd]

Fuel economy can't be beat at this point. With the price of gas what it is and where it may go. I don't have big rig as I have a 60 HP four stroke yamaha and have had a previous 99 evinrude 4 stroke. The evinrude warranty was canceld on me right after purchase when OMC was bought out. The new owners didn't impress me leaving me with a large warranty bill. and the motor was a problem always. I am staying away from evinrude.

maint has been the oil changes and lower gear lube, Plugs. thats about it.

[gunflint]

I can't speak for the bigger 4-strokes or anything but Mercurys but here's my experience. In 2004 we bought 8 new Merc 9.9 4-strokes and a new 25hp 4-stroke. The 25 cracked a block with 11 hours on it and yes it was broke in properly. It was replaced by the dealer with a 25 2-stroke.

We ended up doing minor adjustments in house to keep two of the 9.9s running to finish out the season. Last year we relpaced all 8 of the 2004 9.9s with 2005 9.9s and they were lighter. Within a month 3 of the 8 were out of service, 2 were repaired and returned 1 disappered in dealer he11 and we still haven't got it replaced. So my opinion might be jaded but I do have documented evidence for my opinion.

Prior to the 4-stroke change over we were running 1986 2-stroke Yamahas. They ran almost trouble free for 8 years.

I get a new 25hp every 2 years as part of my guiding. I was offered a new 25 4-stroke for this year and told them that I'd rather keep the 2 year old 2-stroke than trade it in on a new 4-stroke. They relented and ordered a new Yamaha 2-stroke. I'm not trying to perpetuate the 2-stroke vs 4-stroke argument. You asked how much maintenance was involved with 4-strokes in our case, alot.

[jltimm]

(Contact US Regarding This Word) mercury's!

[Hemlock]

2001 Honda 130. Oil, filter, lower unit every year and plugs every second year. 200 hours/ season.

I love four strokes, and would flip a coin between Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki.

5.5-6 mpg too!

[Desperado]

I'm with Flint on this one.

Think about it guys. In one season, a resort can show you what your motor's gonna look like after 10 years.

I haven't seen maintenance become an issue yet (maybe because we haven't run 'em long enough yet?).

But I've seen too many that are dogs when you need the power to get home safely in high wind and waves.

Not ready to sacrifice that peace of mind for a little less noise and a little less gas.

[marknamy]

2004 Suzuki 140. Oil, Filter, lower unit, fresh gas and run it like it's rented. No problems so far. 6-10mpg if my calculations are correct. Wasn't looking for speed when I bought just dependability and comfort. I think I have it. Wouldn't be afraid of a Honda or Yamaha either.

[Havin' Fun]

My MERCURY has treated me very nicely. No problems and I'm on year 4. This is the 3rd spring it started on the first turn of the key. Does this every year!! Even at 24 degrees this past week. Change oil, filter and lower unit. I change plugs every other year and squirt a little fogging oil. Takes about an hour, and like Cliffy, it can go slower with a cocktail or brew in hand. Plus I do this in November so it's usually cold!

Cost...10.00 for filter

4.50 a quart for amsoil which I switched back to Merc oil this year at 3.00 a quart. 4 quarts.

Plugs. 1.50 each for 4.(every other year)

Most a year=34.00

Should I change my oil/filter twice?? Maybe. Maybe change the fuel filter this year as well. Still pretty cheap considering.

My old 2 stroke would cost me 200.00 at least a year on oil alone. Let alone the 6 gallons of gas per outing. Now, my 26 gallon tank last a month or better, depending on if it's Michigan or Bago' or the river.

1 more item. I grease all points every fall as well. 1 minute and no money.

[Juan Grande]

Dang it! I knew I should have gone with the Yamaha. I'm picking my new boat up in a couple weeks and I got a 115 Merc 4 stroke. I asked for a Yamaha, but it was a 2005 boat and was prerigged for a Merc.

Seems like everyone loves the Yamaha and Suzuki motors while there are mixed reviews on the Merc. Can someone put my mind at ease?

[JollyT]

How often do you have the valves adjusted on your car? The big Honda outboard motors are almost the same as their car motors.

[PierBridge]

Quote:

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Dang it! I knew I should have gone with the Yamaha. I'm picking my new boat up in a couple weeks and I got a 115 Merc 4 stroke. I asked for a Yamaha, but it was a 2005 boat and was prerigged for a Merc.

Seems like everyone loves the Yamaha and Suzuki motors while there are mixed reviews on the Merc. Can someone put my mind at ease?

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juan grande I already told you your Merc is a YAMAHA it is just as good as any of the other 4 strokes PERIOD.

[Desperado]

Quote:

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your Merc is a YAMAHA it is just as good as any of the other 4 strokes PERIOD.

---

Or depending on your perspective it might be, "just as bad as any other 4 stroke"

[Juan Grande]

Thanks PierBridge, I guess I just need constant reassurance since it's such a big investment. Both of my vehicles are Honda so I'm kind of partial to foreign motor.

I think the 4 stroke will work fine for me. I'm more concerned with the motor being fuel efficient, clean and quiet than the "hole shot." I don't fish a lot of big water so I'm not really worried about going from 0 to 50 in three seconds.

[Desperado]

Mark, I understand you don't need the extra top-end speed

Juan, I understand you don't need the extra hole shot

I don't really need them either

BUT

Neither of these were the issue on the day that I got scared from a 4 stroke.

It was the inability of a 60hp 4stroke on a 16 foot aluminum boat to get up on plane going straight into a 20 to 25 mph wind with 2 to 3 foot waves.

A 16 foot aluminum boat of comparable weight with the same brand outboard (40hp 2 stroke) running right along side in the same conditions had no problem.

Of course if you don't fish big water you may never have this problem. But a lake like White Bear or Waconia is big enough to scare me in those type of conditions.

[JohnMickish]

That's kind of what I was thinking guys, thanks. I didn't think there was as much maintinance as BRP and their E-tech make out. I should have specified at the begining, I am talking about mid horsepower (90-150) motors.

[crappie todd]

\ It is true that a four stroke will not perform out of the hole like a two stroke. I ran my 99 50 evinrude 4 stroke against a 50 Hp 2 stroke.... my old against my new.

a slight difference on top end and noticable difference out of the hole.

MAke sure of two things buying a new boat and motor. always make sure the motor is rated to the boat. DO NOT under power as the dealers always put to small a motor on the boat. Then be sure the motor has the correct prop. And use the trim to help you get er up on a plane. I have a 2005 classic SS with a 60 HP four. and I love it. against high winds is no problem.

[caseymcq]

I have a 2005 Yamaha 75HP 4-Stroke on a Alumacraft Navigator 175. The motor puts the boat up on plane easily. I can get 35 mph out of it. It is fuel injected so it starts very easily. The last day I used it before storing it was November 12. It started just as easily that day as it did in July. All I have to do is add gas, it is nice not to have to monkey with the oil.

I have seen the e-tec infomercial you are talking about. I also have a subscription to Bass and Walleye Boats. The compare motors on the same boats. The e-tec is a good motor but not quite what the infomercial makes it out to be. From personal experience I would say there are not as quiet as a 4-stroke. In a comparrison of 200HP 2-Strokes (Merc, Evi and Yammy) The Opti-max had the best hole shot and fuel economy while the Yammy had the best top speed. I believe the Merc was the cheapest.

I really think all the manufactures have good motors right now. The only thing that would keep me from buying an Evinrude is the stability of the company. Like someone else posted, if the company changes hands you could be SOL on the warranty.

[Desperado]

If you guys are happy with 'em, I'm glad for ya.

And I honestly and sincerly hope you never go through the type of experience I had that one day on Leech Lake.

But please understand I lived through a scary ride and by the time we got to shore I was happy to have survived it.

After going through something like that, I don't know if I can ever be convinced to rely on that outboard in tough conditions (and isn't that when ya really need it?).