2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

j442w30

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jan 9, 2007
Messages
264
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

Depends on the application and budget.

I am considering re-powering my boat with a new Mercury 40 hp 4 stroke. Right now I have an older Mercury 40 hp 2 stroke and I would like to get a newer 4 stroke engine for the quietness, smoothness and fuel efficiency. However, it is about 30 lbs heavier and I don't know how much performance I would lose.
 

TOHATSU GURU

Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2004
Messages
6,164
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

Only barbarians use four-stroke engines when superior two-stroke outboards are available:)
 

JRJ

Commander
Joined
Sep 11, 2001
Messages
2,992
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

I bought a 4-stroke because I don't like smell and sound of ring-a-dings.
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

EFI Four stroke. Probably Suzuki or Honda.

User friendly, quiet, smooth, economical.
 

steelespike

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Messages
19,069
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

Depends on the application and budget.

I am considering re-powering my boat with a new Mercury 40 hp 4 stroke. Right now I have an older Mercury 40 hp 2 stroke and I would like to get a newer 4 stroke engine for the quietness, smoothness and fuel efficiency. However, it is about 30 lbs heavier and I don't know how much performance I would lose.

Take a look at the Etec 40 ,240lbs. Based on a block they use for 40,50,60 all
weigh 240.Merc 4st 40 is 216.Merc will be quieter than your old motor but not noticeably quieter than an Etec. GPH on a 4 stroke can be marginally better than 2 stroke but miles per gallon is pretty much a wash.As I understand it the Etec 2 stroke is the only one allowed on Lake Tahoe.Also no scheduled maintenance for the first 3 years.Your not required to run only Evinrude oil ; but motor needs to be programmed to the oil you select.
 

cc67

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 4, 2007
Messages
365
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

A fishing buddie of mine has a Evinrude 70hp 4-stroke. Its quiet, very economical and seems to have plenty of power. We can run all weekend on a tank of gas. If they could get the weight down to a 2-stroke level, I would probably buy one.
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

Since fuel economy comes up frequently in discussions like this, I refer you to this fuel economy study comparing "carbed" two strokes, with EFI two strokes (E-tec) and EFI four strokes (Yamaha) on the same boat. Be sure to read the entire 40 responses so you fully understand what you are dealing with when it comes to economy -- and more importantly, how people perceive economy. Things aren't always as they appear.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=219751&highlight=Fuel+economy+study
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

E-tec is DFI, not EFI. Probably just a typo, but there is a big difference. When DFI 4 strokes show up there will be a major improvement in power and economy.

That Evinrude 4 stroke 70 is a repainted Suzuki DF70, cc67. A really great engine.
 

cc67

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 4, 2007
Messages
365
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

"That Evinrude 4 stroke 70 is a repainted Suzuki DF70, cc67. A really great engine."
That's true, there's another guy here in town with same motor that says Suzuki.
 

05GlastronSX

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 29, 2005
Messages
437
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

2 stroke all the way. Right now i have two carbed 2 strokes and I would not get rid of them for anything. Simple to work on, rock solid reliable, tons of power, great sound, and i love the smell of 2 stroke in the morning. I do not mind spending some additional money on fuel as i am on a lake in northern Wisconsin and do not travel very long distances at a given time so DFI and 4 strokes are not needed in my particular application. I want the most speed, power, holeshot for tubers and skiers, and reliability i can get and a 2 stroke carby satisfies every one of those.

I will eventually upgrade and when that time comes, i will be going to a DFI 2 stroke mercury as i have owned them for 30 years and have been nothing but great. No offense to the people who love 4-stroke outboards but you will never catch me with one unless i got it for free or am forced to buy one if that time ever comes (hopefully not)
 

TonyNoriega

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 31, 2007
Messages
100
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

While some other guys complain about the smoke and smell of a 2 cycle, I actually LIKE the smell of it, especially if I'm crusing along in the prop wash of a boat in front of me and the smell gets blended with that of the clean water of the Gulf of Mexico! I guess it's what the smell has represented through the years: the sheer joy of being in pristine water and having the fun of catching fish and seeing the sights too....

All that combined with the proven reliability of 2 cycles would make my choice easy. Oh, and by the way, for 11 years I ran a 1988 Mercury and when I switched to the Yamaha HPDI I couldn't believe how much quieter the thing is compared to the older generation......with the 200 running at 3200 rpm it's not a problem holding a conversation at the console.
 

pecheux

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jun 9, 2006
Messages
1,200
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

And all this time I tought I was the only one who liked the exhaust smell of a 2 stroke OB ... I even pick my odor by choosing certain bran of oil ... LOL Amsoil synthetic Injector 2 cycle oil pleases me most ... LOL
 

EJ3

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 15, 2007
Messages
171
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

And all this time I tought I was the only one who liked the exhaust smell of a 2 stroke OB ... I even pick my odor by choosing certain bran of oil ... LOL Amsoil synthetic Injector 2 cycle oil pleases me most ... LOL

That's awsome! I got a good LOL out of that one!!!
 

noelm

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 8, 2005
Messages
761
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

OK here goes my thoughts on all this, first off, we are dealing with NEW motors, so we are talking Etec, Optimax and the like, compared to a 4 stroke, the fuel usage over a whole range of operating conditions will be almost exactly the same!! some may use a bit more or less at certain RPM, but over all it is a non event, now for the noise factor, a 4 stroke is definately quieter AT IDLE but cruise RPM and WOT they are almost exactly the same, try actually measuring it! I have, now we come to weight, in almost all cases a 2 stroke is lighter, but not by much, and in some HP, they are heavier, so, in essence, it also evens out! next we have Oil, compare one that burns a tiny amount during use, to one that needs it changed and chucked away, along with an over priced filter, once again, it is proven that the actual cost of doing this over time, costs are almost no difference regardless of which way you do it! so you can see, there is never a winner, just People who are so tunnel visioned, that their motor is the only one in the entire Universe that is any good, and the "other" operating principal is crap, and they will never be convinced other wise. DONE!!
 

Lone Duck

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 17, 2007
Messages
868
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

noelm;
bravo! clap! clap!
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

Well, I was talking about medium to large outboards. . .let's say 40HP and up. We older, wiser boaters tend to find something that fits our wants and stick with it. My Suzi DF70 fit that to a "T".

Now, small engines. If anyone ever built a small outboard that was in the same class as the JW series 3 to 4.5HP Johnnys and their cousins and descendants I never heard of it.They first showed up 55 years ago and nobody has matched them since.
 

45Auto

Commander
Joined
May 31, 2002
Messages
2,842
Re: 2 stroke or 4 stroke preference? Why??

Noelm did that very well (post #16). Best response I've ever seen to the 2 stroke vs 4 stroke questions.
 
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