Re: johnson 88 special
i have had several of these motors over the years. great powerplant, huge torque. they are Premix Fuel motors, you have to add oil to the fuel. they difference, is the did not have the bells and whistles. just the overheat alarm, the other were not needed, due to the premix fuel. in the later years they were available with trim and tilt. they are easy to work on.
All of the SPL motors were basically designed to be commercial, work motors. then the recreational boater found them, when the unreliable VRO fuel pumps were introduced.
i would not hesitate to buy another, that passes the prepurchase inspection.