Anyone with the new Suzuki DF15A or DF20A Outboard?

[colemj]

These are new 15hp and 20hp 4-stroke engines released by Suzuki earlier this year. They are fuel injection and very light (for a 4-stroke). The price seems very good also, as Suzuki seems intent on capturing market share in this size range from Yamaha and Honda.

I wondered if anyone has any experience with them (I know, the pioneers are the ones with arrows in their backs).

Mark

[colemj]

OK, after a year of trying and failing to find an actual existing example of this engine, I finally found one and bought it.

I will let you know my first impressions in a couple of months, since I am having it shipped to another country and that will take 4-6 weeks.

They really do look impressive - 20hp 4-stroke weighing 97lbs with best fuel economy in class. Hopefully this doesn't turn into an expensive lesson...

Mark (preparing for arrows in back)

[ranger58sb]

I'll appreciate seeing your eventual review, Mark. I've been planning to upgrade our dink outboard, and Suzuki's relatively new DF15A looks a good candidate on paper.

-Chris

[colemj]

The DF15A is just the de-rated DF20A - same weight, size, etc. I was going to get the 15, but for just $200 more, I went with the 20hp.

Mark

[ranger58sb]

Yep, that's why I reckon your experience will be useful. I need to stay at 15 to comply with my dinghy's HP rating.

It happens most 15/20-HP 4-strokes do (barely) make our dinghy's motor weight rating, but the DF15/20As offer better weight margin.

-Chris

[colemj]

Can't you just not turn the throttle as much and have the extra 5hp in reserve for large loads?

Mark

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by colemj

Can't you just not turn the throttle as much and have the extra 5hp in reserve for large loads?

Mark

Not while remaining strictly within the limits printed on the boat's capacity plate. It's a big honkin' sticker with "15 HP (max 120 LBS)" prominently plastered for all to see... even from about 10 paces away...

-Chris

[Dave852]

Mark,

Your going to love that motor. I did mount a small racor to give the EFI some extra protection. Be sure to order the little oil filter right away as it must be changed after the break-in (20 hours).

[capttman]

I have a 25 HP best dingy engine I've ever had. Bit heavy but it is a 4 stroke after all. Enjoy

[colemj]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

Not while remaining strictly within the limits printed on the boat's capacity plate. It's a big honkin' sticker with "15 HP (max 120 LBS)" prominently plastered for all to see... even from about 10 paces away...

-Chris

Sounds like you have a problem with your sticker!

Mark

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Dave852

Mark,

Your going to love that motor. I did mount a small racor to give the EFI some extra protection. Be sure to order the little oil filter right away as it must be changed after the break-in (20 hours).

Yeah, I ordered 2 filters with it. Already have an external fuel/water filter.

Funny about the 15/20hp thing - reading the detailed specs and description from the OEM service manual indicates that the only difference between the two is that the 15hp revs at 6000rpm and the 20hp at 6300rpm.

The only "part" difference on the two is the electronic controller box, which controls the fuel injection and rev limiter.

So it looks like if one bought the 15hp and decided at a later time to go to 20hp, one only needs to swap the ECB.

The 20hp costs $200 more than the 15hp. I wonder what the ECB costs?

I will say this about these engines, they have less physical things to go wrong, but could be more difficult to repair. Since everything is controlled by the ECB, if the ECB goes bad, the engine is dead. If anything else goes bad, the engine goes into a de-rated mode (adjusting all fuel and timing parameters to compensate for the problem and running at 2-3,000rpm max) and still works until the problem is fixed. So in that manner, it is better than traditional engines. And because the ECB requires so many sensor inputs, the engine has built-in troubleshooting using light outputs - it tells you what is wrong with it. And even tells you when it is time to change the oil, etc.

We committed, so will see how it works in routine cruising applications.

Mark

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by colemj

Sounds like you have a problem with your sticker!

Mark

That pesky thing...



-Chris

[colemj]

Turns out the ECB costs $750, so it is cheaper to buy the 20hp version up front. If you wanted to turn the 15 into a 20 later on, that $750 ECB seems to be the only difference between the two engines.

The ECB controls the fuel injection, timing and rpm range.

Mark

[colemj]

OK, 3 weeks and about 8-10 running hours into it and everything is good. This is a very torquey motor and very quiet also - you can't hear it at idle. It starts instantly every time, even when it hasn't been run in days. It is a bit less smooth than our old Honda 15hp was back in its better days, but it doesn't rattle or vibrate or jump about - it is just that the Honda was the smoothest running engine I have used.

With me in the dinghy, the package weight is ~500lbs. The engine puts it on plane at 1/4 throttle and does 14kts there. At WOT, it does 20kts.

With another 500lbs in the dinghy (4 people, total weight 1,000lbs), it gets on plane at 2/3-3/4 throttle and does 15kts.

Mark

[ranger58sb]

Thanks, Mark. I'm about convinced I'll get the DF15A once my wallet allows.

FWIW, my current 5-hp 2-stroke outboard is branded Johnson but built by Suzuki, and I've had reasonable service from it (excepting ethanol-related issues, not the motor's fault).

-Chris