Carbs vs EFI

Captain Steve · Post by **Captain Steve** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:57 pm

My wife has relented and will entertain the procurement of a new motor. The noise of the Nissan 50 was geting to be too much. My question is, why does Honda still stick with carbs when everyone else has moved to EFI. The local dealer told me the Honda 50 would do fine on the ocean, here, but if I tow to Tahoe, it will run rough.

The advantage of EFI seems evident...what am I missing?

Chip Hindes · Post by **Chip Hindes** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 6:51 am

Very simple equation:

Carbs+$$$=EFI.

If anyone tells you anything else, he's blowing more smoke than a carbureted two stroke.

gradycampbell · Post by **gradycampbell** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 6:53 am

One reason might be that carburetors are less expensive to build due to their relative simplicity, lowering the cost of the engine. Fuel injection is used on so many automobiles today in preference to carburetors to help manufacturers meet pollution and CAFE fuel economy regulations, explaining why they have gone to the added expense.
Many carbs can be retuned to optimize performance at altitude. There may not be the adjustments and/or jets available to do this on some outboard engines.

Mark Prouty · Post by **Mark Prouty** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 8:14 am

EFI adjusts to changes in weather and elevation for optimum performance. Honda is technologically behind IMHO. I'm partial to the Suzuki

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... ght=suzuki

Duane Dunn, Allegro · Post by **Duane Dunn, Allegro** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 9:11 am

I think if you actually take a look at where the motors are made you will find that the Mercury motors are being made by Yamaha, not the other way around.

If you like the Suzuki, be sure and check into the Johnson. Suziki makes it for Johnson under a OEM agreement just like the Yamaha Mercury one. It's the same motor but has a nice white case that fit's the mac better and doesn't cook like the black Suzuki case.

Don B · Post by **Don B** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 11:16 am

With Suzuki Fuel Injection you gained a loud "Buzzer Noise " on startup that will wake up your neighbors. But than you can slide silently away from them as it runs so quietly.

With the Suzuki EFI you gain the enhancement of not being able to adjust throttle position while in neutral.

I asked the mechanic how he reved my engine to test it after repair. He told me he disconnects the throttle linkage under the "Black Hood Cooker"
Then he can rev the engine while in idle.

But don't get me wrong I think EFI is better than Carbs.

-Don B

Mark Prouty · Post by **Mark Prouty** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 11:30 am

Mercury Bigfoot wrote:Dry Weight (lbs.) (Lightest Version model, excludes engine oil, rigging, hardware and propeller): 264

I wonder if Suzuki does the same.

Don B wrote:With the Suzuki EFI you gain the enhancement of not being able to adjust throttle position while in neutral.

My mechanic never told me I had to pull the handle out to get a fast idle. Someone on this site mentioned it and sure enough, pull the handle out and throttle forward = fast idle. Note: not a standard Suzuki control.

Duane Dunn, Allegro wrote: If you like the Suzuki, be sure and check into the Johnson. Suziki makes it for Johnson under a OEM agreement just like the Yamaha Mercury one. It's the same motor but has a nice white case that fit's the mac better and doesn't cook like the black Suzuki case.

Very good idea.

Bobby T.-26X #4767 · Post by **Bobby T.-26X #4767** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 11:43 am

go with the 90hp-tldi nissan/tohatsu
weighs less than the suzuki 70hp.
burns nearly as clean, just as quiet, better gas mileage.
and...now you can actually pull a skier!
http://www.tohatsu.com/outboards/90tldi.html
http://www.nissanmarine.com/products/90_tldi.html

Roy B. Highland · Post by **Roy B. Highland** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 11:47 am

Steve, just ordered and am waiting for a 60 HP Merc Big Foot 4-stroke efi. I got the 14" X 9 prop.
I went this route because of what Moe mentioned. There are 4 Mercury dealers within 50 miles of me and the only Suzuki dealer is 75 miles away.
I am happy with the sound and the efficiency of the Merc and I can use my old controls from the 50 HP Merc 2-stroke I have now.
Anybody want to buy a good used 50 HP?
Roy "Salty Dog"
(in the earthquake zone.)

Captain Steve · Post by **Captain Steve** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:14 pm

Thanks for the comments. I agree with Roy that the closeness of a dealer is a high priority. With 2 harbors (Ventura & Channel Islands) you would think we would have more than the one dealer who sells honda and yamaha....he sells tons of hondas but has not sold a yamaha in the last 4 months.

Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL · Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:59 pm

I thought the Honda 50 hp 4-strike switched to EFI from carbs.
The Evinrude and Johnson 4-stroke 50 hp are made by Suzuki.
The building where I started my business was a machine shop that did tooling for Mercury, which was also used to make gears for the Honda. At the time, the smaller Evinrudes and Johnsons ( 4 hp + / -)were made in Illinois. Then they shifted production to Europe, Belgium I believe. Then back to Illinois. The Evinrudes and Johnsons that are not foreign made are now made in Wisconsin (Sturtevant), as are the Mercurys that are not imported, in Fon Du Lac. Mercury 50 hp and below are soon going to be made in China.

Jeff Ritsema · Post by **Jeff Ritsema** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 4:34 pm

Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL wrote:I thought the Honda 50 hp 4-strike switched to EFI from carbs.
The Evinrude and Johnson 4-stroke 50 hp are made by Suzuki.
The building where I started my business was a machine shop that did tooling for Mercury, which was also used to make gears for the Honda. At the time, the smaller Evinrudes and Johnsons ( 4 hp + / -)were made in Illinois. Then they shifted production to Europe, Belgium I believe. Then back to Illinois. The Evinrudes and Johnsons that are not foreign made are now made in Wisconsin (Sturtevant), as are the Mercurys that are not imported, in Fon Du Lac. Mercury 50 hp and below are soon going to be made in China.

I have an Evinrude E-Tek, their new fuel injected 2 stroke- been very happy with it; I have the 75HP model. This motor is made by Bombardier, and is their flagship motor for the future. I was told that it is made in Canada. Besides being a low emission motor, I was particularly interested in the low profile and light weight (305#) of this motor. Additionally, the motor has a high output 75 amp alternator. How it compares regarding noise level, I cannot comment since I've been hooked into diesels on my sailboats for the last 20 years. It is also available in 90HP at the same size and weight as the 75HP.

richandlori · Post by **richandlori** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 4:49 pm

Roy Highland,

My family has a house in Pismo Beach and we go out in Avila Bay all the time. Are you in that general area?

Regards

Rich

Mark Prouty · Post by **Mark Prouty** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 5:41 pm

Jeff Ritsema wrote:I have an Evinrude E-Tek, their new fuel injected 2 stroke- been very happy with it; I have the 75HP model. This motor is made by Bombardier, and is their flagship motor for the future. I was told that it is made in Canada. Besides being a low emission motor, I was particularly interested in the low profile and light weight (305#) of this motor. Additionally, the motor has a high output 75 amp alternator. How it compares regarding noise level, I cannot comment since I've been hooked into diesels on my sailboats for the last 20 years. It is also available in 90HP at the same size and weight as the 75HP.

I glad to hear the E-Tek has worked out especially after the Ficht Disaster

Captain Steve · Post by **Captain Steve** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 3:44 pm

Does the computer that runs the EFI, come with a longer warranty?

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

Carbs vs EFI

Carbs vs EFI

Re: Carbs vs EFI

60 hp Merc 4-stroke.