? corrosion problems with 2004, 200hp 4-stroke

[captainstraulsin]

I am looking at a used boat with a 2004, 200 hp 4-stroke. I have read articles on major corrosion problems with the 2000-2004, 225 hp 4-stroke Yamas. I would appreciate any comments you many have on these 2004, 200 hp engines. Thank you.

[fairdeal]

well, it IS normal - for a pre-2006 F225 operated in saltwater.

Your engine is being eaten away by the corrosive effects of the exhaust.

It will run fine - until you start getting overheat alarms.

Or cooling water gets into the oil pan.

Then it will seize.

[bajakeith]

bad design

You must remove the lwr end (gear case) and a small scope helps find the early signs....looking from the outside will never show NOTHING !! I now have a small 5.5 MM scope that will just about go any where....LOL

[boscoe99]

Certainly the exhaust system should be scoped when the lower unit is removed.

The problem is that you cannot inspect other critical areas via this inspection method only. The power plant needs to be removed to inspect from the top of the mid-section downward. Also, to inspect the base of the block for corrosion.

And finally, the thermostats should be removed so that the bore into which the thermostats reside can be inspected.

On a boat which has an 2004 F200/F225 installed I would buy the package for the value of the trailer and the boat only. Then run the motor until something bad happens.

https://www.google.com/search?q=yama...cb_sWxG1ZBM%3A

[99yam40]

Guys the OP asked for info on if a 2004 F200 had the same corrosion problems as the 225s.

No one has addressed his question yet

[rodbolt17]

yes we did,
other than the ECU its about the same motor.

as BIA standards allow 15%, I aint so sure about the ECU.

[99yam40]

So the answer he was looking for is yes the 2004 F200 had the same corrosion problems as the F225 in that year range.

[boscoe99]

My comments applied/apply to the F200.

He asked for comments about his F200. That is what I replied to.

Those comments, by the way, are one and the same as those for the F225 since these are sister motors.

[ttles714]

fixed ?????

I assume that in 2006 ???? or 07 ???? ... WHEN ??? the problem was corrected???? What did Yamaha do ??... Was it only the pre 2006 200-225's or did the other motors suffer the same problem ??? Thanks

[boscoe99]

Yamaha changed mid-section parts over a period of time. There was no one motor that had all suspect parts with the next motor having all updated parts. The exact change is unknown to most of those outside of Japan. Could be different alloys were used, different processes used to make the parts or different coatings were used. Early F250's used certain mid-section parts that have since been updated as well.

Did the updated parts fix all problems for all times? Time will tell but I don't think so.

[Nautical]

Would this corrosion issue be prevalent on the F150 model engine as well?or just the 200/225 engine models ?

[boscoe99]

Would this corrosion issue be prevalent on the F150 model engine as well?or just the 200/225 engine models ?

Which/what corrosion are you talking about?

All motors are subject to corrosion. Starts when they are born and ends when they are remelted or put in the scrap heap.

This post is believed to be about the F200/F225/F225 mid-section corrosion issue.

There is also the matter of thermostat cavity corrosion on F200/F225's.

Other Yamaha (and Mercury/Honda/Suzuki/BRP) models have other known "hot spot" corrosion issues.

Corrosion is an interesting topic. Put an aluminum jet air liner into service that operates only in the air (lots of time at high dry altitudes) and it is placed under a corrosion control watch/correction program from the day it is born and continues until it is scrapped. Put an aluminum outboard motor in saltwater and most folks don't do a damn thing to it. Oh, they will bitch when it corrodes.

[fairdeal]

good points -

but the F2xx exhaust corrosion is particularly interesting / disturbing because it affects a "dry" area.

Although, yes, purely on anecdotal reporting, "freshwater use only" engines seem to be less affected.

Perhaps "breathing salt air" is the cause ?

Its too bad Yamaha sees it in their best interest to remain mute on the subject.

I'm sure their engineers must have learned something by now about it's etiology

[Captn Dave]

Which/what corrosion are you talking about?

All motors are subject to corrosion. Starts when they are born and ends when they are remelted or put in the scrap heap.

This post is believed to be about the F200/F225/F225 mid-section corrosion issue.

There is also the matter of thermostat cavity corrosion on F200/F225's.

Other Yamaha (and Mercury/Honda/Suzuki/BRP) models have other known "hot spot" corrosion issues.

Corrosion is an interesting topic. Put an aluminum jet air liner into service that operates only in the air (lots of time at high dry altitudes) and it is placed under a corrosion control watch/correction program from the day it is born and continues until it is scrapped. Put an aluminum outboard motor in saltwater and most folks don't do a damn thing to it. Oh, they will bitch when it corrodes.

Obviously he was referring to the corrosion issue the OP was concerned about.
And yes, we know that aluminum corrodes in saltwater.
Should we pull the powerhead of every outboard make and model and inspect?

[boscoe99]

good points -

but the F2xx exhaust corrosion is particularly interesting / disturbing because it affects a "dry" area.

Although, yes, purely on anecdotal reporting, "freshwater use only" engines seem to be less affected.

Perhaps "breathing salt air" is the cause ?

Its too bad Yamaha sees it in their best interest to remain mute on the subject.

I'm sure their engineers must have learned something by now about it's etiology

I don't see Yamaha as being mute at all.

They have redesigned the parts to hopefully eliminate the problem.

They have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in out of warranty repairs on a good will basis.

They have reduced the price of the parts so that all can benefit.

Did they do everything for all people? No. It is impossible for a company to do so. And stay in business anyway. Would it have been better for Yamaha to have done more if that caused them to go out of business? Some will say yes. Some might say no.