2 stroke longevity?

[Scott06]

So it sounds like the PWC 2 strokes aren't really built that different longevity wise from say the old 2 strokes I ran for years.

No pretty simple and easy to work on. I wouldnt worry too much if you have one that was taken decent care of

 

[JimS123]

Many boat people don't know how to maintain their boat, nor want to learn. It's a boat, right! So let it sit outside in the rain and snow - it'll be OK.

I always knew that jetski people were even worse. The old adage - run hard and put away wet. For that reason my first PWC was bought brand new. I also bought a shop manual. My maintenance was by the book.

The one in question was a 1999 GTI. Bottom line - it was crap. Problems with the oil injection system, starting issues, oil tank cracked. Yada, yada....to many problems to mention. The machine spent more time in the shop than in the water.

Then we bought a 4-stroke. 14 years trouble-free. Traded it in on another - 10 more good years. Altogether the family has owned four 4-strokes. Not a single one ever went back. We do all our own maintenance.

Given the choice, if I could not afford a 4-stroke I wouldn't own one. JMHO.

 

[jimmbo]

It's probably true that a 2 stroke won't last as long as a 4,

You got that backwards

 

[Lou C]

You got that backwards

Any Evinrude Etecs with 4,000-5,000 hrs on them?
This is not uncommon with 4 strokes even here in salt water...
don't get me wrong I like 2 strokes myself, but there is a reason why the market went 100% 4 stroke for outboards. Then again, if our un-elected bureaucrats hadn't stuck their big fat fingers into the marine world (EPA runied 2 strokes, and IMO ruined gas inboards with cat converter exhaust), the outcome might have been different.

 

[cyclops222]

Why do we have troublesome Turbo chargers in many small engines. Mine dies at 12,000 miles. No charges by Accord.

 

[dingbat]

Why do we have troublesome Turbo chargers in many small engines. Mine dies at 12,000 miles. No charges by Accord.

Known problem…..I’m a Honda guy, but removed Honda from contention for our last vehicle purchase for that reason

Drivers Say Honda’s Turbo Engines Are Failing Early And The Company Knew | Carscoops

One of the plaintiff's had to pair to get their head gasket replaced twice in two years

www.carscoops.com

 

[dingbat]

Any Evinrude Etecs with 4,000-5,000 hrs on them?
This is not uncommon with 4 strokes even here in salt water...

I personally know of three Honda 4S (250hp) that went over 4,500 documented hours in saltwater. All swapped out in running condition as PM in guide service.

 

[cyclops222]

Loads of state and USA law enforcement use Hondas In my area.

 

[Lou C]

Why do we have troublesome Turbo chargers in many small engines. Mine dies at 12,000 miles. No charges by Accord.

Thank your unelected bureaucrats at the EPA for forcing that. When you get to replace a cat converter and you have the misfortune of living in a Cali emissions state (14 of them) you’ll learn that it costs 2-3x as much as a fed converter. Same reason why all you can get is ultra complex small engines…

 

[Lou C]

I think the problems with 2 strokes has always been:
1) integrated fuel and lubrication systems, yes they work but the second they don't, bad things happen...on a 4 stroke, you check the oil, as long as it's clean and full you rarely have problems....
2) sensitivity to lean running which can cause rapid damage to pistons etc
Now with pre-mix engines were there is no oil injection to fail, as long as they are never straight gassed, I think they can last longer, like all my small engines, all of which are more than 20 years old, though I do have a 1987 3.5 Briggs 3.5 hp that keeps running just fine as well....

 

[jimmbo]

Far fewer Parts in a 2 stroke to fail/wear. There are tens of thousands of 2 Stroke Motors from the 50s still running, and have never been apart. I doubt that in 20 yrs there will be many of the current 4 Strokes still running, the original Powerheads

 

[Jeff J]

Parts are getting scarce for some of those old motors. I had to improvise on the last early seventies Mercury I worked on because of a lack of ignition parts. It ran great once I got spark to the cylinders but it wasn’t pretty.

 

[Mc Tool]

I think the problems with 2 strokes has always been:
1) integrated fuel and lubrication systems, yes they work but the second they don't, bad things happen...on a 4 stroke, you check the oil, as long as it's clean and full you rarely have problems....
2) sensitivity to lean running which can cause rapid damage to pistons etc
Now with pre-mix engines were there is no oil injection to fail, as long as they are never straight gassed, I think they can last longer, like all my small engines, all of which are more than 20 years old, though I do have a 1987 3.5 Briggs 3.5 hp that keeps running just fine as well....

yeah , my Mrs's lawn mower ( not mine ) Briggs and scrap iron vertical shaft is well over 30 years old and all I have ever done is change the oil and blades . She has worn out 2 sets of wheel bearings tho

 

[Lou C]

Yep mines on the 3rd set of wheels and I rebuilt the Pulsa-Jet carb 2x over the years….nice little Briggs flat head…

 

[Lou C]

Far fewer Parts in a 2 stroke to fail/wear. There are tens of thousands of 2 Stroke Motors from the 50s still running, and have never been apart. I doubt that in 20 yrs there will be many of the current 4 Strokes still running, the original Powerheads

I agree if you look at a 4 stroke power head it’s scary! And I will say if the EPA kept its big fat nose out of the small marine biz we’d still have 2 strokes because guess what they do in other markets! But their draconian regs is what forced the tech that OMC/BRP, Merc and even Yamaha had trouble with, ALL of the direct injected high pressure systems!

 

[JimS123]

My OB collection is up to 75 now. Only 5 are 4-stroke, and that includes the 1950 Lauson that was built before it's time.

When we want to have some fun, we put one of the oldies on one of my antique / Classic boats and go for a spin. But, my fishing boat and family boats sport 4-strokes. Fun is one thing, but if you are fishing and/or on vacation, there is no excuse for having to tinker.

There is certainly a place for both.

 

[jimmbo]

I do like having Air that isn't full of Unburned Fuel, Carbon Monoxide, and Oxides of Nitrogen, and I suspect the EPA clamped down further Increases of those being introduced into the Watersheds.

 

[cyclops222]

Can the EPA do some good with food and water ?

 

[jimmbo]

It is the Environmental Protection Agency, and Water is part of the Environment, and Food, which we eat relies on the Environment....
When viewed from a 100,000 miles away, our little Planet, is just that, A little Oasis in the Dark Vast Emptiness of Space. It is our ONLY Home

 

[Mc Tool]

Went fishing today ( absolute fn disaster ) and whilst tied up to the jetty contemplating the lack of a pee stream , wet up to my nuts , some scroungy lookin dude with a 50 hp blue band pull started it and as the cloud of blue smoke engulfed me I relished that lovely pong , my depression lifted and I thought of the more successful fishing trips.
I stuck around untill he floored it and shot of up the lake ......lucky bastard. Love that smell