Thread: 2-Strokes are Done

Originally Posted by fireman1501

When i bought my new boat the shop mechanics told me to stay away from the 4 stroke engines. So i bought the 2-stroke mercury and so far would not have anything else.

I've had both 2 strokes (various models) and (1) 4 stroke... I'll never go back to a 2 stroke after owning a 4 stroke!!!

Less noise, less emissions... what's not to love about a 4 stroke?!!!

... plus you don't have to worry about your oil pump going out and frying your motor like you do a 2 stroke!!!

4 STROKES RULE!!!

Originally Posted by skintback

a 4 stroke is an overpriced anchor. it's the worst thing that's happened to the marine industry. they cost way too much considering they have no power and are way too heavy. who decided anyway that 2 strokes were so bad for the environment? they've been around for decades and i've never heard of a fish kill or polluted water because of a 2 stroke outboard. it's all hogwash!

I usually don't agree with GCD:p but he is right on this one. I use my 4-stroke for pulling crank baits and a 2-stroke just can't do that aleast the older one.

4 strokes are not more eco friendly. ALL 2 and 4 stroke motors have to meet the new EPA requirements. Some manufactures couldnt make that happen with their 2 stroke design, so they stopped producing them. Its that simple.

2 strokes that meet the new EPA requirements actually generate less pollution than a 4 stroke of the same hp. FACT!

2 strokes are used in more than just boats, they also power snowmobiles, motorcycles, and power the majority of vehicles in some Nations. 2 strokes arent going away, only the manufactures that couldnt make a design that met the new EPA requirements are going away. In fact the US automakers are looking at 2 strokes to provide power to modern vehicles to met federal EPA regulations on automobiles.

2 strokes last longer, generate less pollution, are lighter, cost less, and burn less gas. The only advantage to a 4 stroke is noise reduction, and that isnt by much.


I have a 2 stroke that's 53 years old and still runs like a champ. All motors need regular maintenance, and sometimes they need to be rebuilt. Only a fool runs them to total failure. Not sure about you, however my money tree hasn't dropped anything in a long time.

Yep,...the carbureted two strokes are gone as far as trying to find a brand new one. Unless a dealer has some left over,you might be able to find one,
but those pickings are getting very slim to no more. Yamaha and Mercury
no longer make carbureted two strokes per EPA regulations. I have heard some four strokes run and I have to say that I am mighty impressed with how quiet they are at idle. I will have a (Tohatsu built) Mercury 15 four stroke on
the new Lund A-14 I am waiting delivery on. No more mixing gas with oil and
no more headache producing two stroke fumes,...and no more clouds of blue smoke trailing behind ,either. Now,...if only Mercury would have brought the DFI Optimax motor down to 15 HP,I would have gone with an Optimax. But,
since they did not,...I 'll take their little 15 four stroke.

Originally Posted by GCD

I'll be glad when they quit making them and all the old ones die!

it would help keep our lakes and streams clean, but not everyone can afford a new four stroke. and not everyone would want one. in 2005 I bought a new nitro 640 lx with a mercury 60 hp four stroke. and it just bearley could get it up on plane. the boat is rated for a 90 hp. but a 90 hp four stroke weights almost 400 pounds. so the 60 hp four stroke wasn't much. took it back. replaced it with a 2006 mercury 2 stroke 90 hp. auto oiler. very little smoke, will jump up on plane and run 44 mph with a 19" pitch prop. the four strokes are to heavy and to weak. the only good thing about them, is they don't smoke.

Originally Posted by waterdog101

it would help keep our lakes and streams clean, but not everyone can afford a new four stroke. and not everyone would want one. in 2005 I bought a new nitro 640 lx with a mercury 60 hp four stroke. and it just bearley could get it up on plane. the boat is rated for a 90 hp. but a 90 hp four stroke weights almost 400 pounds. so the 60 hp four stroke wasn't much. took it back. replaced it with a 2006 mercury 2 stroke 90 hp. auto oiler. very little smoke, will jump up on plane and run 44 mph with a 19" pitch prop. the four strokes are to heavy and to weak. the only good thing about them, is they don't smoke.

Hmmmm,...let's see here. Okay,boat rated for 90 HP,...you had a 60 HP on there. Friend,...you were underpowered to begin with and that is why the
60 horse motor could barely plane the boat out. Even if the 90 horse four stroker was 400 lbs.,..you would have gotten it up on plane much better.
Question; Is that 90 horse two stroke an Optimax DFI motor,or one of the
older carbed two strokes with auto oil injection? If you get very little smoke
out of it,that tells me that it must be a 90 HP Optimax DFI motor,...but maybe
I am wrong on that.

You still have to dispose of the oil when you change it on a four stroke. How much of that oil gets disposed of properly? I have an Optimax 115. I have not seen one puff of smoke out of it when I crank it up. It is louder than the Mercury 60 hp four stroke I had on my 2006 boat but it is almost twice as large. My new Optimax 115 has a five year warranty also.

Bottem line is 4 strokes are heavier and don't run as fast when comparing the same hp, no one should even try to argue this... I have both and it's just not there with the 4 stroker...