Honda or not to Honda – FI or carbureted

quizerone

Cadet
Joined
Feb 28, 2004
Messages
7
Honda or not to Honda – FI or carbureted

I am new to boating and seriously considering purchasing new 16’ fishing boat in the next few months.<br /><br />The question is, fuel injected or carbureted. ?<br /><br />I have talked with some that suggest purchasing a motor that’s fuel injected 4 stroke rather than carbureted. They claim I will have fewer problems with the FI version. However, when talking with the dealer, he highly recommends the Honda 60 hp., which is not fuel, injected, over the Mercury 60, which is.<br /><br /> Dealers will be dealers and will suggest or lead the buyer to whatever is best for them. I would appreciate comments from current Honda owners – good and bad. Thanks in advance for your help.
 

MajBach

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
564
Re: Honda or not to Honda – FI or carbureted

Re: Honda or not to Honda – FI or carbureted

Hmm. You're looking in the 60 hp range. My experience is with a 90hp Honda. I'm not sure at all if FI vs. carb'ed changes with the number of carbs or cylinders, i.e. if it was a 10 hp would carb'ed be preferable. <br />As much as I love my Honda 90hp, id I could change one thing, it would be to have it fuel injected. ALthough others with the same motor have stated they do not have any problems, the only frustration I have ever experienced with this motor is hard cold starting. I have now grown to understand a certain procedure to follow when starting this OB that eliminates for the most part these frustrations and I think they stem from some degree the fact that I do not have a Honda control box. On the other hand, none of this would have ever occurred with FI in the first place.<br />Don't know either which system in the long run requires more maintenance or has better longevity. I would imagine that the throttle response is tremendously better with FI too. Syncing the carbs once or twice a year is also a pain; they seem to fall out of sync so easily. Like I said, I wish my OB was FI.
 

JB

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Joined
Mar 25, 2001
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45,907
Re: Honda or not to Honda – FI or carbureted

Re: Honda or not to Honda – FI or carbureted

EFI is more reliable and more user friendly than carbed 4 strokes, Quizerone.<br /><br />Hondas are fine engines, but when carbed they are not the equal of EFI engines of the same power.<br /><br />Mercury, Johnson and Suzuki all offer 60hp EFI 4 strokes.<br /><br />Moving to General Outboard.
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: Honda or not to Honda – FI or carbureted

Re: Honda or not to Honda – FI or carbureted

Go EFI. Would you buy a carbureted car or truck?
 

BillP

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Aug 10, 2002
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3,290
Re: Honda or not to Honda – FI or carbureted

Re: Honda or not to Honda – FI or carbureted

I may be wrong but here's my ramblings...<br /><br />For every carbed ob that runs poorly you can find 1000s that run flawlessly. Same for EFI. Both systems have to be set up right. <br /><br />Enviromental issues are what drives EFI. They are more complex and get better fuel burn. Maintenance can't be done at home like carbs. Carbs require little or no maintenance...going out of sync all the time is an exception, not a rule and never been a problem on any carbed ob motor I've owned. I give long term reliabilty to carbs. <br /><br />I look at the carb vs EFI same as the 2 stroke vs 4 stroke debate. More glee about 4 strokes than reality. 8 yrs running a 4 stroke side by side with a 2 stroke gives a clue.
 

RJS

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Mar 14, 2002
Messages
211
Re: Honda or not to Honda – FI or carbureted

Re: Honda or not to Honda – FI or carbureted

BillP,<br />I must disagree. The gas mileage of EFI's and carbs are about the same. So is the emission. What makes EFI's so reliable (my definition is instant starts) is the computer controls the gas/air mixture and can compensate for different climate conditions. I would never ever go back to a carburated engine again. EFI's are bullet-prood.
 

Hawaiian

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Feb 4, 2003
Messages
111
Re: Honda or not to Honda – FI or carbureted

Re: Honda or not to Honda – FI or carbureted

Don’t get me wrong, FI is great and more efficient, but the finest FI systems in the world have ample failures of components like mass airflow sensors, pressure sensors, temp sensors, injector spray problems and high/low pressure pumps. However, carburetors are simple, easy and fast (less costly) to diagnose and repair. In the case of Honda, who has decades of multiple carburetor experience, has some of the best, trouble free and durable carburetors in the world.<br /><br />I live in Hawaii and cold starts are a simple; activate choke...turn the ignition key...crank…and the engine starts! High idle for 5-15 seconds and I'm cruising away from the ramp.<br /><br />Honestly, my carbureted BF90 has started, idled, ran and performed identical to a similar 4 stroke fuel injected motor EXCEPT with the following differences:<br /> 1. I have to lift a choke lever and hold at the desired high RPM for cold starts.<br /> 2. I've had to synchronize my carbs at the 20 hr. break-in service.<br /> 3. A carburetor adjustment CHECK is called for every 100 hours with or without possible <br /> adjustment. <br /><br />From lawn mowers to Indy cars to motorcycles, Honda is the world’s largest engine manufacturer with a deserved reputation. It seems fit that if Honda put carbs on it, it would work just fine and it does. Fuel injection is great but a motor with carbs is not as bad as some people say.
 
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