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SHould I be looking at getting a 4 stroke or a 2 stroke, what is the difference??

2 stroke is a gas and oil mixed burner. 4 stroke is straight gas burner. the 4's have been out for a while now but i don't really know many people that have them. i prefer the 2 stroke because it has been around for 50 years or more. i bought a new xpress boat and it had a 100 horse 4 stroke on it. i made them take it off and put a 115 2 stroke on it before i would buy it. but it is your money and your decision. just thought i would put in my opinion since you asked.

Dont know what all you'll be using it for, but a four stroke is gonna be faster and much more quiet. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

was your question concerning a boat or a 4-wheeler?

Looking into buying a used motor for my duck boat. And did not know that there were two types. Which is more reliable? 2 or 4 stroke

We have a 100 hp 4-stroke and love it. We have had no problems with it whatsoever. It runs much quieter than a 2-stroke and I am told that they get better fuel mileage and you don't have to bother with putting oil in it. You simply change the oil every so often like you do in your truck. It may put me down tomorrow, but I am very pleased so far. Also has plenty of power. Ours is a yamaha. I am a honda fan, but the guy that we bought ours from sold both and said that they were identical motors and the yamaha was less expensive.

Kinda like auto vs. pump. Conditions, driving habits play a role in your question.

Four strokes are MUCH quieter, more fuel efficient and do not require the oil in the gas as two-strokes do, but they are much heavier and more expensive. Two-strokes by design are polutors because they don't burn as cleanly and emit oil into the water. That same design makes them very reliable too, because when used properly, the cylinders are being bathed in oil, thus providing longer life, but aren't very enviromentaly friendly. The four-strokes burn much cleaner, and I have heard talk about some states phasing out two-strokes over the next 20 years or so. The problem is all those two-strokes out there that just won't quit!! I remember going on a guided trip in Arkansas with a guide that had a 1950's vintage outboard, and he claimed he had gone through several newer two-strokes, but finally just had the old one re-worked and it ran like a top. Those of you that have heard one of those old outboards know what I mean, they even sound different. He said he will never buy a new motor again.

Eventually, (probably not in our lifetime), some lakes will require you have a four-stroke. I know there are some private lake communities that require it now, and studies have shown significant improvement in water clarity/purity. I myself have a Yamaha two-stroke, but have been looking at the Honda four-stroke. I checked the warranty claims on the four stroke two years ago and they only had about 8 nationwide!! Pretty impressive. But that price tag is a major factor as well. Check your local classisfieds, there are PLENTY of two-strokes for sell, but rarely will you see a four-stroke.

Your experience/mileage/preference may vary. [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

as Harley said, the 4 stroke is much, much quieter, doesn'r leave a trail of oil mix in the water, but as a rule they are alot heavier.... i am really carried away with the 4-strokes... no mixing fuel or waiting for the injector to go bad and seize a 2-stroker... some Tn. lakes have banned 2-stroke engines but will allow a 4-stroke for polution reasons... both hace their advantages and set-backs....

judge jb

Here's something I found that you might be interested in. Personally, I prefer 2-strokes.

TWO STROKE ENGINES

Advantages:
- Two-stroke engines do not have valves, simplifying their construction.
- Two-stroke engines fire once every revolution (four-stroke engines fire once every other revolution). This gives two-stroke engines a significant power boost.
- Two-stroke engines are lighter, and cost less to manufacture.
- Two-stroke engines have the potential for about twice the power in the same size because there are twice as many power strokes per revolution.

Disadvantages:
- Two-stroke engines don't live as long as four-stroke engines. The lack of a dedicated lubrication system means that the parts of a two-stroke engine wear-out faster. Two-stroke engines require a mix of oil in with the gas to lubricate the crankshaft, connecting rod and cylinder walls.
- Two-stroke oil can be expensive. Mixing ratio is about 4 ounces per gallon of gas: burning about a gallon of oil every 1,000 miles.
- Two-stroke engines do not use fuel efficiently, yielding fewer miles per gallon.
- Two-stroke engines produce more pollution.
From:
-- The combustion of the oil in the gas. The oil makes all two-stroke engines smoky to some extent, and a badly worn two-stroke engine can emit more oily smoke.
-- Each time a new mix of air/fuel is loaded into the combustion chamber, part of it leaks out

i had a freind that just purchased a four stroke yamaha and he loves it. he previously had a 25hp. 2 stroke that work okay but he thought i was time for a change. I know thatin 2004 or 2005 there wiil be know more 2 strokes made..plus, honda is already just making four strokes only...good luck bud

2-cycle engines can continue to be manufactured after the year 2006. But they must be made to meet a new standard. The new standard requires a 75 percent reduction in outboard and personal watercraft engine hydrocarbon emissions from 1996 levels by the year 2006. I believe that 4-strokes will dominate the smaller horsepower arena. Up to say, 100 HP. While optimax type 2-strokes will carry the higher horsepower applications. The reason I think this way is because most of the big outboard motor manufactures are already well on their way to meeting the new guidelines. They have done this by making their high end 2-strokes more emission friendly, and by developing and refining all of the smaller 4-stroke engines. I heard this was the main reason that Johnson/Evinrude went bankrupt 2 years ago. Because their annual cash flows would not be able to cover the capital expenditures required to meet these new guidelines. I don't work there, so I don't really know the whole story, but it makes sense to me.

It might work out that the smaller 2-cycle engines will become discontinued after 2006, because none of the manufacturers seem to be working to improve the emissions in the smaller engines. I sure hope they don't go away, because I really love the way they perform. But this just my opinion.

Has anyone else heard anything else to the contrary?

Cookm did you ever talk to F&F?

Just bored this time of the year.

[ March 13, 2002: Message edited by: Wildfowler ]

I don't know what size boat you have but if you plan on hunting at Bayou Meto or most public land spots a 25 hp is the largest you can have. I would recommend a Suzuki 25 hp, it is a 2 stroke 3cylinder oil injected motor that is extremely fast. It would be comparable to a 30 t0 35 hp merc or johnson as far as speed goes mounted on a 15ft boat. It is very smooth and very quiet much like a 4 stroke. It is the motor of choice at Bayou Meto. Also 2 strokes are faster than 4 strokes in any size engine.

The next time I am in the market for an engine I'm just gonna give the expert, the Wildfowler, an open ckeckbook to use his knowledge to purchase me the outboard of his choice. How about you Hambone? The boy has missed his calling!