lid wrote:
sherwindu wrote:
There is no doubt that the 4 strokes give better fuel economy.

Yep.

However, on the
down side, this is accomplished by designing the carburetor jets to be very
fine, resulting in periodic blockages of the jets, at least in my experience with a
Yamaha T9.9.

On my (still new) Honda 20hp, it's not *just* the jets. The entire
design of the carburetor is far more complex than any 2 stroke o/b
I've ever owned. And a rebuild can be more expensive than buying a new
carburetor, which I've done already.

Another problem I'm having is impellers. This engine eats 'em for
breakfast and I don't know why. I've decided to stop flushing with a
garden hose bracket and flush only in a barrell, just to see if it
makes a difference. Otherwise, I may start buying impellers in bulk.

In a nutshell, I'm happy (amazed actually) with the fuel economy. But
this is the highest maintenance outboard I've ever owned (and that
includes quiet a few big ones).

Rick ---- who's had no problem over the years with Mercury -shrug-
whut's up with that?

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
What are you guys getting for fuel efficiency on your four strokers?
In Gph if you please.

What about maintenance costs - general operating costs?

It would appear that I might have to switch out of ETEC and go with
#$%^$%%^#$^$%#$%$^&* Yamaha's or Suzuki's to get the boat I want.
Which annoys me no end.

No, I will not go with Mercury under ANY circumstances.


My Yamaha 225 has been a "no maintenance" outboard, aside from
winterizing and dewinterizing. My previous outboard, a Merc 135 OptiMax,
also was pretty much maintenance-free, other than a factory "recall" for
a computer swap-out. But that was done at no cost to me.

"HK" wrote in message
. ..
lid wrote:
sherwindu wrote:
There is no doubt that the 4 strokes give better fuel economy.

Yep.
However, on the
down side, this is accomplished by designing the carburetor jets to be
very
fine, resulting in periodic blockages of the jets, at least in my
experience with a
Yamaha T9.9.

On my (still new) Honda 20hp, it's not *just* the jets. The entire
design of the carburetor is far more complex than any 2 stroke o/b
I've ever owned. And a rebuild can be more expensive than buying a new
carburetor, which I've done already.

Another problem I'm having is impellers. This engine eats 'em for
breakfast and I don't know why. I've decided to stop flushing with a
garden hose bracket and flush only in a barrell, just to see if it
makes a difference. Otherwise, I may start buying impellers in bulk.

In a nutshell, I'm happy (amazed actually) with the fuel economy. But
this is the highest maintenance outboard I've ever owned (and that
includes quiet a few big ones).

Rick ---- who's had no problem over the years with Mercury -shrug-
whut's up with that?

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
What are you guys getting for fuel efficiency on your four strokers?
In Gph if you please.

What about maintenance costs - general operating costs?

It would appear that I might have to switch out of ETEC and go with
#$%^$%%^#$^$%#$%$^&* Yamaha's or Suzuki's to get the boat I want.
Which annoys me no end.

No, I will not go with Mercury under ANY circumstances.


My Yamaha 225 has been a "no maintenance" outboard, aside from winterizing
and dewinterizing. My previous outboard, a Merc 135 OptiMax, also was
pretty much maintenance-free, other than a factory "recall" for a computer
swap-out. But that was done at no cost to me.


I've already done 2 oil changes (engine and lower unit) on my motors in less
than a year. You describe your F225 as "no mainenance". Does that mean you
haven't changed the oil yet?

NOYB wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
. ..
lid wrote:
sherwindu wrote:
There is no doubt that the 4 strokes give better fuel economy.
Yep.
However, on the
down side, this is accomplished by designing the carburetor jets to be
very
fine, resulting in periodic blockages of the jets, at least in my
experience with a
Yamaha T9.9.
On my (still new) Honda 20hp, it's not *just* the jets. The entire
design of the carburetor is far more complex than any 2 stroke o/b
I've ever owned. And a rebuild can be more expensive than buying a new
carburetor, which I've done already.

Another problem I'm having is impellers. This engine eats 'em for
breakfast and I don't know why. I've decided to stop flushing with a
garden hose bracket and flush only in a barrell, just to see if it
makes a difference. Otherwise, I may start buying impellers in bulk.

In a nutshell, I'm happy (amazed actually) with the fuel economy. But
this is the highest maintenance outboard I've ever owned (and that
includes quiet a few big ones).

Rick ---- who's had no problem over the years with Mercury -shrug-
whut's up with that?

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
What are you guys getting for fuel efficiency on your four strokers?
In Gph if you please.
What about maintenance costs - general operating costs?
It would appear that I might have to switch out of ETEC and go with
#$%^$%%^#$^$%#$%$^&* Yamaha's or Suzuki's to get the boat I want.
Which annoys me no end.
No, I will not go with Mercury under ANY circumstances.

My Yamaha 225 has been a "no maintenance" outboard, aside from winterizing
and dewinterizing. My previous outboard, a Merc 135 OptiMax, also was
pretty much maintenance-free, other than a factory "recall" for a computer
swap-out. But that was done at no cost to me.


I've already done 2 oil changes (engine and lower unit) on my motors in less
than a year. You describe your F225 as "no mainenance". Does that mean you
haven't changed the oil yet?




Fluids, plugs, and filters are attended to during winterizing and
dewinterizing, as it were. My gasoline powered lawn tractor requires
more attention because of the dirt that flies around when I operate it,
and the fact that it is run (properly) at WOT all the time. I drain the
oil on the tractor's Kawasaki four stroke every 25 hours, and replace
the oil filter at that time, too.

I've watched the crankcase oil being drained out of my Yamaha twice.
Still looks like "oil."

Part of the reason is that as the engines get bigger, the orifices and jets also get
bigger, so blockages are less likely. The problem is probably more apparent in
the smaller engines.

Sherwin D.

HK wrote:

lid wrote:
sherwindu wrote:
There is no doubt that the 4 strokes give better fuel economy.

Yep.

However, on the
down side, this is accomplished by designing the carburetor jets to be very
fine, resulting in periodic blockages of the jets, at least in my experience with a
Yamaha T9.9.

On my (still new) Honda 20hp, it's not *just* the jets. The entire
design of the carburetor is far more complex than any 2 stroke o/b
I've ever owned. And a rebuild can be more expensive than buying a new
carburetor, which I've done already.

Another problem I'm having is impellers. This engine eats 'em for
breakfast and I don't know why. I've decided to stop flushing with a
garden hose bracket and flush only in a barrell, just to see if it
makes a difference. Otherwise, I may start buying impellers in bulk.

In a nutshell, I'm happy (amazed actually) with the fuel economy. But
this is the highest maintenance outboard I've ever owned (and that
includes quiet a few big ones).

Rick ---- who's had no problem over the years with Mercury -shrug-
whut's up with that?

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
What are you guys getting for fuel efficiency on your four strokers?
In Gph if you please.

What about maintenance costs - general operating costs?

It would appear that I might have to switch out of ETEC and go with
#$%^$%%^#$^$%#$%$^&* Yamaha's or Suzuki's to get the boat I want.
Which annoys me no end.

No, I will not go with Mercury under ANY circumstances.

My Yamaha 225 has been a "no maintenance" outboard, aside from
winterizing and dewinterizing. My previous outboard, a Merc 135 OptiMax,
also was pretty much maintenance-free, other than a factory "recall" for
a computer swap-out. But that was done at no cost to me.

sherwindu wrote:
Part of the reason is that as the engines get bigger, the orifices and jets also get
bigger, so blockages are less likely. The problem is probably more apparent in
the smaller engines.

My little T-8 hasn't given me any carb problems, maybe
because it gets run almost every week.