Safe Rpm's

J

joepal

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Location
West Harrision NY
Model
Overnighter
I have a '90 Overnighter with a 2006 Yamaha F-150 633 hours. What id recommend as a "Safe for the engine" running RPM's? I don't want to push it.
 
To a great extent, rpms are related to speed. So a better question is what speeds are recommended for the many possible conditions.
 
If you have a real time readout on miles per gallon, or gallons per hour, I believe that peak efficiency is also an indication of lower stress on the motor, assuming that occurs on plane at a cruising speed.
 
Your WOT throttle per the owner's manual is going to be between 5,000 - 6,000 rpm. So, you can safely go up to 6,000 rpm, though I do believe that your outboard will have a rev limiter on it as well to keep it from going over that. I personally would keep it at less than 4k rpm if you're trying to "baby" it or prolong the life of the motor. Depending on your location, the kind of fishing that you do and how fast you want to go... you might even be able to go less than 3,500 rpm and still manage to go 20-25 mph or so, which is what I typically do to save on fuel costs.

User manual Yamaha F150 (English - 82 pages)

Manual Yamaha F150. View the Yamaha F150 manual for free or ask your question to other Yamaha F150 owners.
www.manua.ls www.manua.ls
 
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do what feels comfortable too you.
 
I try to give the motor some good exercise every outing. Not for extended periods but 5500+ rpm for a few minutes.
The 4.2l motors, I read on the internet:cool:, can “make oil”. The “fix” for that issue is high rpm runs for extended periods.
 
i would say pushing it would be constantly running full throttle - Do to most ocean water conditions I generally run 33-48 RPMs and then an occasional wide open for the need for speed itch.
 
Motors are designed to be run. Don't be afraid to run them. All the Yamahas that I have had will cruise best between 4600-4900 rpm. I will pick up a little better fuel economy and loose speed between 4-4500 rpm, but I feel that they just run better at higher rpms. My friend who is also a yamaha master mechanic agrees with me, and always tell me don't be afraid to run them. He says that he sees more problems in engines that have most of their hours under 4000rpms. He also tells me that the newer yamahas are designed to run at 5000rpms. Its also good to open them up every once in a while and go full or close to full throttle. That being said I have only run 3.3. and 4.2L V6's in Twin applications and have a fishing buddies who runs 350's. The smaller 150's maybe different, but maybe not.
 
Most modern outboards have over rev protection . That's a good thing especially if you are prone to prop ventilation as your out of control over powered boat flies through the air:)

I will often run wide open for a short time to help scrub the hull and no so much to work the motor.
 
They're meant to run - don't be shy or timid about letting them do that. As noted, it has a built-in "safe operation" limit. Truthfully, it can run higher - but no manufacturer would put the limiter RIGHT at the edge.
 
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