2003 F225 Corrosion Fact or Fiction

[moccq]

This topic may be old and rehashed but I have to bring it and ask for replies.

Found a 2003 Seafarer with a 2003 Yamaha F225 - 300 hrs. Looked good..called a local dealer contact to review the boat and was told about the F225 corrision issues..mentioned to me the "secret is out" and to be careful, also commented to search the blogs etc..so I did and sure enough there are some interesting issues folks are having with F225's, 2002-2004. However at the same time there are postings that indicate F225's without issues..

I also called a GW dealer in the location of the boat I was looking at and they were not familiar with the F225 issues, the boat owner also mentioned not hearing about the issue and felt the F225 was in great shape and had never seen any problems over a 3 yr period

This all sems very strange..on one hand there are clear examples of corrosion issues.on the other hand owners have F225's without any problems..what gives

My guess, the issue has something to do with the owners treatment of the boat/motor and annual maintenance / launch routines...perhaps, or am I missing something that more seasoned boaters understand..

Thanks for any and all replies..

 

[bc282]

not really that difficult to check for corrosion.
when doing the mechanical part of the survey by a yamaha mechanic, ask him to do the extra of pulling off the lower end and then looking up the leg with a illuminated scope. I believe you will be able to see any possible corrosion issue by doing this.
I'm planning to do this for my pair of 2002 F225's next month when i go to change the impellers/water pumps.
good luck

 

[antaris]

Just a report from the salty waters of the Mediterranean. I recently bought a 2000 GW with an F225A from 2003. The boat has been in the water most of these years, but, due to proper maintenance I found no rust issues whatsoever in my engine. Took the bottom end off and all looks good. I dunno if European models were any different...

 

[bayrat]

bc282 gave you good advice. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason why some engines develop the corrosion and others don't. Have a Yamaha tech check it out ,otherwise you are really just rolling the dice. Good luck.

 

[alanford]

Sorry, I'm buying from Italy Meryland a Grady White 265 in 2002 with Yamaha 225 four stroke.
Are you saying that there are problems of corrosion?
Where in the engine?
and visible to the eye?

 

[alanford]

Sorry, I'm buying from Italy Meryland a Grady White 265 in 2002 with Yamaha 225 four stroke.
Are you saying that there are problems of corrosion?
Where in the engine?
and visible to the eye?

 

[Doc Stressor]

If you drop the lower unit and look up the exhaust tube, this is what the corrosion looks like:

If you go up the tube with a lighted bore scope, the pitting and corrosion usually gets worse.

The problem seems to be related to a casting or coating material problem on some engines. They do not all have the problem.

If you want to learn more about the issue, read this:

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/292467-f225-corrosion-fact-check-5.html

But be aware that these guys make it sound like the issue is more common than it actually is. My neighbor is a Yamaha tech and he tells me that while he has seen the problem, it only affects a few percent of the engines made prior to 2007.

 

[BobP]

I was going to refer to the THT site the same.

It's real, nothing to do with owner cause, material of parts was defective as delivered from Yamaha, as I too kit.
Material self destructed and destroyed motors, total loss.

Not so with F250

 

[alanford]

I'm buying a grady 2002 with yamaha 225 four stroke, today made ​​the compression test on all cilindried and 'found a good 185 to 205.
If there is a corrosion can be seen from compression?
What should I check him to the mechanic to see if there is a corrosion?
Unfortunately I'm in Italy and I can not move otherwise, I ask you help, thank you, the boat and this:

Tournament Yacht Sales (Fenwick Island, DE)


http://it.yachtworld.com/barche/2002/Gr ... ted-States

 

[Doc Stressor]

Compression won't tell you anything about the presence of corrosion issues unless the powerhead is already starting to fail.

You need to have the mechanic drop the lower unit as if the water pump was going to be replaced. Then have him look up inside of the exhaust tube with a scope.

 

[alanford]

So, what do I say to the mechanic, 'cause see if the boat has this problem?
I had to anticipate a deposit after the compression test, but I blocked the account for this problem, I will not buy a boat and spend a lot of money for repair.
the problem and that the boat and 'far from the sea and do a sea trial, it becomes too expensive, so I thought that with a compression test to resolve the problem, but I was wrong.
you think what can 'cost a mechanic to check this problem?
I regret not buying it, the boat and beautiful
give me advice
thanks

 

[chub2000]

my tech says that it is not "corrosion" it is "errosion" and it is not from lack of flushing or salt water. the exhaust will errode on all of the F225's around 1000hrs. that is the bad news...the good news is that it can be fixed for around $3000. that may seem like a lot of money, but it really isnt too bad to have to spend $3000 after 1000hrs.

 

[Doc Stressor]

I would make the deal contingent upon the engines passing a visual inspection of the exhaust tube. The inspection should not cost more than 2 hr of labor (~$200). Personally, I would hire a marine surveyor to do the inspection if I could not be present myself.

 

[bc282]

as i understand it, this problem needs to be fixed prior to failure or compromise in the exhaust.
if corrosion in the exhaust is left too long and compromised, the fix is NOT $3k, but you'll need a new powerhead too.

if i was again buying a F225 from manufactured date of late 2001 to 2004, i'd have the lower end pulled and inspected prior to sale.
IMO, its not if the F225 needs fixing, but WHEN. I'd factor in the repair cost into your buying consideration.

 

[Bill_N]

my tech says that it is not "corrosion" it is "errosion" and it is not from lack of flushing or salt water. the exhaust will errode on all of the F225's around 1000hrs. that is the bad news...the good news is that it can be fixed for around $3000. that may seem like a lot of money, but it really isnt too bad to have to spend $3000 after 1000hrs.

I have heard that only a small percentage of F225's are affected and that seems to be the consensus from all I've read about this. I have 2 friends approaching 2000 hrs on their F225's with nothing other than plugs and oil changes.

 

[Doc Stressor]

It's a materials problem that seems to only affect certain model years. The earliest models don't seem to have the problem. Nor do engines manufactured after late 2007. It has nothing to do with maintenance or saltwater use.

They don't all go at 1000 hr. Many never show the problem and others end up with blown powerheads from overheating after only a few hindered hr.

The solution is to have the engine(s) inspected. They will either show the problem or they won't.

 

[drbatts]

I have experienced corrosion in both of my 02 225s. both engines have about 900hrs on them. I read all the stuff on THT and other sites but until I actually saw the parts I couldn't imagine metal could be eaten away like this. I caught mine early before any catastrophic damage was done. Yamaha acknowledged the problem but said "your engines are too old and way out of warranty" so your screwed. My engines are the first model year of yamaha four strokes, as time goes on we will watch more and more of these engines corrode. The new parts have a coating so hopefully this solves the problem. Corrosion is time dependent, so hours on the engine shouldn't matter. Boats that sit all year long in salt water in florida were the first affected, now engines like mine that sit in saltwater in the northeast for 6-8 months out of the year are starting to corrode. This is a silent killer, my engines ran great before and still run great now. Most of the corrosion was over the upper end of the exhaust, a few of the seals only had pieces remaining. I had no warning other then a lot of bubbling around the lower unit, and a slightly different sound to the exhaust. The only way to know the extent of the problem is to take the mid section apart. there is no way you can see this with a flash light when you drop the lower unit, if you see corrosion this way you have a big problem. A technician with a long scope can probably get a fair idea of what is going on higher up in the exhaust. As far as Im concerned if i was looking at a boat with pre 2006 F225s I would consider the cost of replacing the exhaust in the deal.

Chub, I wish it was just as easy to replace the exhaust system at 1000hrs and thats it. Also consider at that the timing belt will need to be changed at this time. Its also about the life expectancy for trim seals.

 

[Doc Stressor]

You would think that the manufactures would stand behind parts that are known to have inherent vice even after the warranties expire. Honda does the same as Yamaha. The end result is that folks who have a problem will never again buy that brand of engine again. And the tell their friends and post stuff on the web about the problem. So they loose lots of customers. They should at a minimum provide the replacement part at no cost just for good will.

Since all of the manufactures behave the same way, maybe it doesn't matter.

 

[moccq]

Great discussions here...thanks to all for the replies..