Cost To Maintain : Two Stroke vs. Four Stroke ?

[Jig Man]

43 minutes ago, gimruis said:

In addition to the maintenance wouldn't a 4-stroke use less fuel compared to a 2-stroke too?  I realize that fuel consumption is technically not considered to be "maintenance" on an outboard but it would be an additional cost.  My uncle has a Yamaha V-max and that thing sucks up gasoline like a vacuum.  I think modern versions of the 2-stroke outboard are improved but I doubt they are as fuel-efficient as a 4-stroke.

I can not compare apples to apples here but close.  I had a 225 Opti on a 20'6" Champion.  I now have a 250 Verado on a 20'4" Nitro.  If anything the Verado uses a little more gasoline.

[slonezp]

50 minutes ago, gimruis said:

In addition to the maintenance wouldn't a 4-stroke use less fuel compared to a 2-stroke too?  I realize that fuel consumption is technically not considered to be "maintenance" on an outboard but it would be an additional cost.  My uncle has a Yamaha V-max and that thing sucks up gasoline like a vacuum.  I think modern versions of the 2-stroke outboard are improved but I doubt they are as fuel-efficient as a 4-stroke.

My 225 ProXS  on a 20ft boat gets similar fuel economy to a 90hp ELPTO carbed motor I had on a 17ft boat at WOT

[Boomstick]

On 9/8/2018 at 12:01 AM, Way2slow said:

Take your Mercedes in to the dealer at the recommended service intervals and have the recommended service and see what that cost you.  I used Mercedes because taking a motor to a dealer is in about the same category.

The Mercedes analogy is a good one. They have a A service every other year, and a B service every other year. I know for a fact that one of the largest Mercedes dealers in the country who I will not name because they will probably sue me charges over $500 for the A service, and $800 for the B service on the years between which add basically "inspecting" a bunch of stuff that you know a dealer never really does anyway. You could do the same thing yourself for around $40. I will note they are probably more expensive than most Mercedes dealers.

On 9/8/2018 at 10:22 AM, Further North said:

Do most people average 40 to 50 MPH?  Probably more like 35 given that most people live in cities and towns and it takes more engine hours to drive slow than fast.

 

Edit: I just checked my car - 7,277 miles, 191.3 hours...that's 38.03 MPH...and I live out in the country, easily half my mileage (probably more) is at more than 60 MPH.

I bought my truck with 26800 miles and I believe 830 engine hours. That's around 32mph average. I had a car that gave your average speed and reset it per trip, and you'd be surprised how low the average is. If you drive 20 miles on a 55mph road and stop at one red light, your average is going to be end up being below 45mph counting starting from a dead stop.

 

I would imagine most people will slow down to look at a potential fishing spot on their boat here and there, which should have the same effect.

[slonezp]

21 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

The Mercedes analogy is a good one. They have a A service every other year, and a B service every other year. I know for a fact that one of the largest Mercedes dealers in the country who I will not name because they will probably sue me charges over $500 for the A service, and $800 for the B service on the years between which add basically "inspecting" a bunch of stuff that you know a dealer never really does anyway. You could do the same thing yourself for around $40. I will note they are probably more expensive than most Mercedes dealers.

I bought my truck with 26800 miles and I believe 830 engine hours. That's around 32mph average. I had a car that gave your average speed and reset it per trip, and you'd be surprised how low the average is. If you drive 20 miles on a 55mph road and stop at one red light, your average is going to be end up being below 45mph counting starting from a dead stop.

 

I would imagine most people will slow down to look at a potential fishing spot on their boat here and there, which should have the same effect.

On that same note. 2 stroke motors are made to run. They are much happier balls out than idling around

[Further North]

On 9/9/2018 at 7:02 AM, Logan S said:

I think he's saying WOT is WOT and results in the same wear and tear on a motor, even if the actual speed of each is different.  

That'd make sense.  I don't run my motor at WOT often.  It's happiest at about 70%. 

 

Nobody runs car/truck motors at WOT very often.

[RHuff]

I own a 2007 Triton VT-17 with a 50 HP 2-Stroke Mercury. I run fresh 2-stroke oil and high test gas in it year round with Seafoam as an additive to both the fuel and oil tank. Near the end of the season I run as much as the gas out of the tank as I can. 

 

At the end of each season before storing it for the winter in my father in law's insulated garage I pull the fuel filter and clean it out, pull the spark plugs and check them, lube the prop and wheel bearings, change the lower unit oil, and add stabil marine 360 to the remaining little bit of fuel that is left in the tank to stabilize it over the winter. 

 

At the beginning of the season all I do is add fresh fuel to the tank and a fresh dose of Seafoam. The motor starts right up with a small cloud of smoke and clears up after idling a couple of minutes. Between all of the seafoam, oil, stabil, and lower unit lube I may spend $50 a year on maintenance. The MOST important thing is to RUN your motor during the year. Letting it sit is the worst thing you can do. Keeping Seafoam in it year round is a must, IMHO.