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?

[lawman]

I have a 2001 Suzuki 4 stroke 115HP. Other than oil filters and good, conditioned gas I have put nothing into the engine. I changed plugs once but it wasn't necessary. The quiet running and good fuel economy are a great trade for hole shot.....what's the hurry?

[ScottND]

Quote:

---

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.

---

Then the propping was not set up right on the 4 stroke. I'd go back where I got it and complain!

[PierBridge]

Quote:

---

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.

---

Warranty would be the last thing to worry about when buying an E-Tec they are owned by BRP "Bombardier Recreational Products" they warranteed the Fict debacle when they purchased Evinrude/Johnson in 2001 they were under no obligation to cover that multi-million dollar nighmare but they did.

Good points Crappie Todd.

[Team Otter]

Ditto with what Cliffy has already mentioned. I have had to do nothing but the typical preventative maintenance on my Honda.

[caseymcq]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

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.

---

Warranty would be the last thing to worry about when buying an E-Tec they are owned by BRP "Bombardier Recreational Products" they warranteed the Fict debacle when they purchased Evinrude/Johnson in 2001 they were under no obligation to cover that multi-million dollar nighmare but they did.

Good points Crappie Todd.

---

That doesn't mean that the next company to buy Evinrude has to warranty BRP's products.

[cold one sd]

Juan Grande, your 115 Merc is made by Yamaha and will be thru 2006. Yamaha will no longer make em for Merc for 2007. Congratulations You have a yammy!!

[Chris Haley]

OK I've read every post and NOBODY has mentioned timing belt/chain. The yami's need to be replaced after a 1000 hrs of use. Don't try to get over on this as 20 miles away from the cabin is not the place for it to go out on you.

I'm sure ALL 4 strokes recomend this at some point in it's life.

For guides/tournament fisherman this can be as often as every three years.

[bigdog]

90hp '03 Yamaha tiller. Change oil, filter and lower lube once a year for about $30. Takes 1/2-1 hour. Never had a problem and no complaints so far with the motor. It sees a fair amount of use trolling trout.

[PierBridge]

---

That doesn't mean that the next company to buy Evinrude has to warranty BRP's products.

---

Same thing could be said for Microsoft's next owner..

I just don't want people to be scared away away from buying an Evinrude over something that has ZERO chance of happening.

[Guest]

I would think that they would keep improving on 4 stroke technology along with the 2 stroke direct inject.

I think they will be around for a while.

As for my Yamaha F75 - oil and a filter every year.

[Xplorer]

2000 Honda 90hp.

One oil filter $7, 5 quarts of semi synthetic oil $10 (tho really looking at switching to Amsoil this fall), one quart of synthetic lower unit lube $7. So $24 each year.

I clean the plugs each fall and replace (still on the originals)

I do run a can of seafoam in the first tank, one more around the 4th, and keep it in the tank from Labor day on.

This spring I will be replacing the impeller, tho its preventative as there has been no problems.

I have used it for trolling at 600 rpm for hours on lake superior with no loadup.

If that 16' couldnt get on plane with a 60, there was something way wrong with the setup of it or it was operator error. The topend difference of a 2 vs 4 on that rig cant be more than 2-3 mph.