Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | I have a Yamaha 115 and its been a very good motor. The 115 Opti sounds like a good motor too.
Spark plugs? I replace them every year just as routine maintenance so I don't know how long they would last.
I am not sure about the Opti, but if you get the Yamaha, make sure you have one of the ten micron gas filters installed. Its a can filter that is inserted into the gas line. They only cost $18 per filter and maybe $60 to put in if you do it yourself. (I did it last year.)
I talked to a Yamaha representative at the Minneapolis Sports show and he was telling everyone who would listen that Yamaha four-strokes need that ten micron filter or you can get plugged up fuel injectors. And its a really big deal if those fuel injectors get plugged up. I had mine plug up last year and it cost me $1156 to fix them. Yes, over a thousand dollars. Ouch!
It wasn't the motors fault. It is actually the poor quality of gas and especially the ethanol blended gas which is causing all the trouble. And its not just Yamaha motors either. All of the new motors with the high pressure fuel injected systems can be damaged by bad gas and the only way to prevent it is to filter the gas. Of course buying good gas and keeping it fresh helps, but even fresh gas can cause issues.
Yamaha is doing their best to get the word out about their ten micron filters. They want everyone who has a Yamaha to install one if they don't have one already and they want everyone who has one to replace the filter once a year to make sure it works. So moderators, please do not remove this post. Yamaha wants everyone to know about their filters and how much they are needed with the poor quality of todays gas. They don't want anyone to have gas problems with their motors.
No matter what motor I had, I would put in one of the full size ten micron gas filters. They don't cost much and it can save you so much hassle, money, and down time.
Opti, Yamaha, Suzuki, E-Tec. Don't know if you can go wrong with any of them.
My opinion. |
