advice on suzuki outboard
 

Hi All, I'm thinking of buying a boat that has a 225 suzuki efi motor, year 2003, Does anybody have an opinion of this motor? Quality etc. THANKS Marc

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

Marc,
A buddy of mine has a '00 or '01 200 EFI on a 20' Sea Ox and absolutely loves it. He only runs it maybe 50-100 hours a season but so far, so good. Plus the warranty coverage is hard to beat.

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

Marc my first hand info on Suzuki is with a forty horse and I was very impressed with it. This thing would troll for an hour and never cough or sputter and would not load up at all on take off. I used it last year on a frieands whaler and was very impressed with it. I've been having engine troubles lately and went to look at the Suzuki 140. Great engine and the dealer said they have repowered six 20' seacrafts with them(including one of there workers boats). I talked to a guy yesterday with a 115 Suzuki on a 20' and I could barley hear the engine running I think I am heading that way when its time to repower. I have seen a few of the 200-225's around and have heard nothing bad about them. Down hear on the Cape in the Chatham area Suzukis are everywhere now, you can't go a mile on the water without seeing four of them. Plus the price on the 140 was very resonable comaperd to other engines.
Good luck, Jon

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

Thanks for the response, the Suzuki 225 will be on a regulator i'm thinking about, but I will still hang on to my SeaCraft! Thanks Marc

[ June 15, 2003, 09:42 PM: Message edited by: MARC ]

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

I own a 23CC Searaft and run a 99 225 Suzuki. Quality motor. Only problem is that it is in the shop right now. Had a problem with the motor missing alot at cruising speed. They are telling me that the fuel injection system had gone bad and maybe the coil under the console was fouled. Not real sure. Just anxious to get the boat back. Good thing I got the six year warranty!!!!

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

Trevor, Thanks for the comment. Marc

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

Marc-

I have a 1998 225 Suzuki EFI on my 23 Mako. The engine has about 400 hours on it....almost 100 from me and 300 from previous owner. The engine is in good shape and has had no major problems. In looking through maintenance records....I think the previous owner had some work done to lower unit under 6 year extended warranty through Suzuki/GE.(Not exactly sure0

The only thing I would look out for is corrosion. My engine has a few bubbles around cowling hatches and on the powerhead. Not really a big deal on my particular motor....but I have heard that some other Suzuki owners from the late 90's were having major corrosion problems.

On a positive side...this engine has dual ignition (12 sparkplugs), stainless steel water pump housing, gravity fed oil injection (no stupid pump to break or oil line to kink)and dual water intakes.

After 400 hours my compression is:

Number 1: 114psi
Number 2: 114psi
Number 3: 119psi
Number 4: 111psi
Number 5: 121psi
Number 5: 112psi

Obviously, pretty darn good for a 5 year old motor. I turn 5200 rpm at WOT with a speed of 48mph (not GPS verified yet).

Let me know if you have specific questions.

-Ed-

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

Marc-

One other thing....Suzuki is going to phase out the 225 EFI later this year or next year when they introduce the new big horsepower 4 strokes (225 and 250). It shouldn't really affect us, as long as we can still get parts for our 2 strokes.

As a result of their upcoming demise, I have seen new 2002 Suzuki 225 EFI's advertised for around $9,000...

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

Trevor-

That should be covered under your 6 year extended Suzuki/GE warranty. You'll most likely get a brandy new powerhead out of the deal. Let me know how you make out ( I have the same extended 6 year warranty and it expires in August 2004). I've heard from others that if one cylinder does go bad in a Suzuki it is always number 6.

Couple of quick questions for you. What oil were have you been running in the motor? Did you use ring free or some other decarbon solution? Is it mounted at the standard height? What kind of use does your motor see on a regular basis...trolling, cruising or hold on...we're flying???

Good luck-

Ed

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

So I picked up the boat on Saturday morning because they said it was done. Pulled away from the dock and became quite pissed to find out that nothing had changed. Took the boat back 10 minutes later and told them to figure out the problem and get back to me as soon as possible. Later that afternoon, they called and turns out the #6 piston was blown. Dad and I are not to happy because it has taken a complete total of 5 and a half months to figure this out. In conclusion, not to happy with our 99 225 Suzuki!! Alot of work to be done on it now. I just hope to have a boat before summer is over.

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

What do you guys consider the best methods for determining compression readings? 2 Strokes being a lot different from 4s, do you:

Spray some oil into each cylinder before taking test?
Test Cold, Test Hot, Test both?
Test under power?

Thanks...

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

John,

I have always tested cold and have never tested hot. Since the piston and rings expand you may get a higher number when hot. In any case, I would never test a motor while under a load.

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

John this came straight from a mechanic I work with. I tested my Merc [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] yesterday(Getting new Suzuki next week [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] ). Warm engine up then remove all spark plugs set the throttle to full open and then test one cylinder at a time. I was told if you find a cylinder that is low you can spray some oil in and try it again. If the reading goes up you have a ring problem( as the oil helps seal the rings temporarily) if it stays the same you have some other problem causing the loss (cracked piston, head gasket etc.)

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

Thanks! Any other recommendations from the peanut gallery [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

Have a leak down test done on the engine. These test are much better then a compression test.You do want to compression test the engine when it is warm. Also you want to compare the readings from bank to bank.

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

Joe, whats going on with Bombardier are they selling out? Any new changes that you might know off.Thanks

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

How do you do the leakdown test & what tool would you use?

Joe - remember what good compression readings are for a 83 235 ??

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

Spraying oil into the cylinders is an old "mechanics trick" which helps the rings seal to improve the results on a compression check. For a true reading, don't do it. Also, allowing the engine to run will help rings seal, especially on two-strokes which burn a mixture of oil and gas.

For the most accurate test, check an engine that has not been run. I have always been slightly suspicious when checking out used outboards or boats when the owner has "warmed up" the motor just prior to my arrival.

There are two types of compression tests- one should do both since they give different results. One measures the pressure that is created while the engine is cranked (compression stroke). The second test measures how well a cylinder holds pressure (leak down test). Since an engine piston utilizes a set of rings on each cylinder for sealing purposes (with different functions), both tests give a better picture of the ring and cylinder wall conditions.

FYI, these tests require two seperate testing tools...

Re: advice on suzuki outboard
 

Bombardier not sayig much about it. Everything we are being told is that the Bombardier family is going to purchase it. The family sits on the board so if they took control of the shares it would have been inside trading. This is the reason why it had to public and put up for sale. We have been told no matter what they will end up with it. As for a leak down test you can buy the tester at a auto store and you need a air compressor. Bring the piston up till the intake and exhaust ports are closed then lock the flywheel up and fill the cylinder with air and it should not drop more then 10% as it sits a few mins. A 235 can show compression anywhere from 95 to 130. As long as there is not a 15lb. difference down the bank.