2-stroke vs 4-stroke engines

Tobias_Neumann · Posted: Mar 08, 2005 7:06 am Post subject: 2-stroke vs 4-stroke engines

Hi !

If you can´t like me get a real wakeboard specific boat and have to go with what your family wants, what would you prefer - 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine. I´ve heard alot of bad things about 4-stroke engines and I´d like to get some more info from actual riders and not from sales people. 4-stroke consume 25% less gas and since gas is VERY expensive in Sweden this is a big factor when choosing a new engine.

Any input would be greatly appriciated.

All the best

Tobias

mergeleft3 · Backside 180 Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 673 City: Orlando

I have the 2004 SeaDoo GTX and it is a 4-stroke and I love it and have had no problems.

bama · Pop Shuvit Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 119

well if your looking to spend less money and have a more realiable motor go with a 2 stroke...but if you got the money to spend for tune ups and all go with the 4...iv got a 175 2 stroke evinrude and i love it...it holds low speeds well and it flat out flies ( 60 mph)

warlock · Backside 180 Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 1503 City: AC

everything is going the way of the 4 now... 2 will soon be obsolite (i'm just relayin what i've heard Laughing

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masi · Posted: Mar 08, 2005 10:36 am Post subject:

i like 3 strokes better. but go with the four.

onthewater · Posted: Mar 08, 2005 11:17 am Post subject:

2 strokes are ancient engines but the simplest...they pollute the hell out of the earth for the size they are. 4 strokes are the way to go.

nichSloan · Pop Shuvit Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Posts: 245 City: Orlando

I have a 2 stroke, and it is 14 years old and has had no problems, until a couple of months ago. I have been using it to wakeboard and skate behind for years. It is a Yamaha 130. You should definitely get a good brand name like Yamaha reguardless of 2 or 4 stroke. And warlock is right, 4 stroke is replacing the 2 because it is better on gas and on the environment.

kento911 · Kickflip Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 3657 City: Phoenix

IMO, a 4stroke is a better engine for wakesports, you need the torque to combat the pull the rider creates when cutting, and plus you definately nee the torque to pull out, this is not to say a 2 stroke wont do a bangup job.

2 strokes are not more reliable as a rule, but they are much much eaisier to repair, four strokes are defiantely cleaner burning, and less hassle, no adding oil to the gasoline, but 2 stokes need the top and bottom end of the motor gone through much more often than 4 strokes, much in the way a 2 stroke dirt bike does, basically I would say if your ona tight budget, go 2 stroke, they are cheap to get and cheap to fix, but be prepared to be doing maintenece every 100 hours or so, if you really aren't too cornered by money as an issue get a 4 stroke, the advantages and longevity are worth the money

bama · Pop Shuvit Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 119

actually kento...marine 2 strokes dont require near as much maintenance as a dirtbike, they really can't even be related. we've had our evinrude 175 for well over 15 years and it will run right with any other motor in its power range. And we've never rebuilt it...and the compression is still there.

see a marine 2 stroke (big ones) dont run at as high rpms as a dirtbike. Therefore, everything does not get wore out as fast...they are freaking indestructible...i ran it for 5 hours with a box filter...like one from a drier...lol...and it still ran

crazy_Syber · Posted: Mar 10, 2005 3:05 pm Post subject:

evinrude sucks get a Yamaha 225 outboard still the best.

BillyOLDS · Posted: Mar 10, 2005 3:11 pm Post subject:

i have over 250hours on a year old honda 4stroke turbo and its never broken down or anything, its anazing

kento911 · Kickflip Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 3657 City: Phoenix

bama, according to a friend at mercury marine, 2 stroke outboards average 50 hours between regular maintenence. aside from that the 4 stroke still holds a very large advantage in the water b/c of torque. also motors in the water do put alot more load on them than any motor on land of equivalent size, if you dont know why I suggest a little lesson in hydrodynamics

nichSloan · Pop Shuvit Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Posts: 245 City: Orlando

bama · Pop Shuvit Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 119

[quote="kento911"]bama, according to a friend at mercury marine, 2 stroke outboards average 50 hours between regular maintenence.

could u please inform me on what "regular maintenance" is? I mean is it changing 6 spark plugs every now and then? cause thats all it takes really. Of course tho if you really dog a motor then your going to have to rebuild it eventually...but iv gone 10 seasons without a rebuild with no problems.

I dunno...im just going by what I know...and for me real world experience has always been better then advice...

BUT...regardless of this...the 4 stroke is going to take over...
1. because more people are looking into enviroment friendly motors
2. they have better torque which is better for "family oriented sports" such as wake sports and tubing and what not.
3. 2 strokes were made with high end speed in mind for tournament bass fishermen...(mine really flies) but its not the BEST for wake