Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

[boatkpny]

To all you potential buyers of outboards

I own a DT 200 1999 Suzuki. I maintain this engine right to spec and store it inside a heated garage for the winter.

Yesterday, I raised the engine after use and water came out through the electrical/fuel line opening in the cowl. Upon further examination, I found a rot hole in the left block at the bottom. This engine has been fresh water flushed its entire life. One would think with all the advance chemistry of aluminum, that Suzuki would know how to stop this but obviously not. Been on the forum and did see someone write in with the exact problem.

Contacted my dealer, who tried to tell me that after 14 years I should not be surprised. His explanation was to me, "how many 14 year old cars are still running"? Well, not many 14 year old cars get used 3 months a year and stored in a heated garage? Ridiculous answer....

Contacted Suzuki customer service who claims the will look into it. Gave them pictures of the rot hole. Told me I should have an authorized Suzuki dealer look at it - like why? It?s obvious what has happened. I don't need to pay someone to tell me I have corrosion in the block.

I am now going to wait to see what Suzuki does. It is not promising since the customer service individual said 8 times that the engine is 14 years old and out of warranty. Nice planned obsolescence- really makes me want to go out and buy another Suzuki.

Stand by and I will update this thread with all new developments. Meantime, searching for a good aluminum welder

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

When I bought my Suzuki back in 06' there was a promotion for an extended warranty. The salesman (thankfully) told me to forget the warranty and take the cash equivalency (a couple hundred bucks). It seems Suzuki deems any corrosion due to use in salt water as not covered (I boat at the coast once or twice a year).

That was for the 5 year warranty. I wouldn't hold my breath for 14, but it cant hurt to ask.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

A little more on this subject.

Gamefishin.com Forums

 

[dingbat]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

A 14 years old saltwater engine with corrosion issues? Nothing new. Expected actually. I would be more surprised if you told me it didn't have corrosion problems. I just replaced a 15 year old Evinrude because saltwater ate a cast iron block.

Some additional information. Seems to be a known problem in a couple of model years. Yamaha had similar issues for a couple of model years

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

'05 Suzi 140 oil pan rotted through last fall..... this spring the twin did the same. Not the 1st done by my mechanic either. No help from Suzie.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

The problems referenced in Ondvar and Dingbat's linkes are for the 4 stroke (DF) models, not the DT.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

The problems referenced in Ondvar and Dingbat's linkes are for the 4 stroke (DF) models, not the DT.

The common theme is they are corroded Suzuki’s that are newer than the one discussed and there was no help or concern for the issue shown by Suzuki, so he shouldn’t expect any either. Whether it's a 2 or 4 stroke makes little difference. I’ve had much older motors that lived in saltwater and had very few issues, I’ve had others that had problems after just a couple of years.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

14 years for a salt water engine, and you expect the manufacturer to do something?

 

[ThrottleBack]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

I'm not sure where Suzuki is failing here. While the car analogy was dumb on his part (many 20+ year old cars still go strong) the fact remains you have been using the motor for 14 years. 14 years. Why in the world are you surprised and why would you expect Suzuki to do something about it?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

"This engine has been fresh water flushed its entire life."

goes to show, flushing doesn't cure all ills.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

I am aware of oil pan problems in some Suzi 4 strokes which may be limited to '04 - '05 but a little early to tell. Rot through the block is a little more of a surprise. Are some of these parts going into 'rude 4 strokes now? I'd not expect Suzi to do much. Mostly this is info anyone considering buying used should consider.

 

[Pony]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

I'm not sure where Suzuki is failing here. While the car analogy was dumb on his part (many 20+ year old cars still go strong) the fact remains you have been using the motor for 14 years. 14 years. Why in the world are you surprised and why would you expect Suzuki to do something about it?

I couldn't agree more. Stop blaming Suzuki, they have done nothing wrong, nor should they do anything for you. Suck it up and fix it or buy something else. Boats are expensive........its part of owning one.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

Gee, I agree that Suzuki has no liability to do anything. However, the block should last lots longer than that, even without flushing. . How many Johnnyrude '59-'64 Big Twins are still running?
There are tons of motors from the 70s, 80s and early 90s still running strong. You never hear of that issue with them.
IMO 14 years of saltwater should not cause that issue. I for one will now not consider a Suzuki purchase. Other brands are as good and last longer....

 

[chimmike]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

Aluminum vs. cast iron, etc.

OP: If Suzuki wants you to have a dealer look at it, and you expect Zuk to do something about it, NOT taking it to a dealer is not going to land you any favor. You call Chevy and tell them your motor blew, they ask you to bring it to the dealer to have it looked at and you say "no", you expect them to say "OK, we'll send you a new motor and a mechanic to your home to install it" ?

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

Are some of these parts going into 'rude 4 strokes now?

NO. The smaller Evinrudes that are 4-strokes are Tohatsus in disguise.

 

[Silverton34c]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

NO. The smaller Evinrudes that are 4-strokes are Tohatsus in disguise.

I freshwater flush after every use does NOT get rid of all the salt....It gets rid of MOST of it....Pull the heads off any older outboard used in salt and you will still see dried salt even after flushing...My twin 1991 225 Yamahas lasted until this spring before salt ate through the cylinder wall and blew the motor up.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

crap, put Yamaha on the bad list too. They should also not rot out in that timeframe.....

 

[ThrottleBack]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

Gee, I agree that Suzuki has no liability to do anything. However, the block should last lots longer than that, even without flushing. . How many Johnnyrude '59-'64 Big Twins are still running?
There are tons of motors from the 70s, 80s and early 90s still running strong. You never hear of that issue with them.
IMO 14 years of saltwater should not cause that issue. I for one will now not consider a Suzuki purchase. Other brands are as good and last longer....

materials and processes change, budget lines get tight, it's not the old days

 

[boatkpny]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

I'm not sure where Suzuki is failing here. While the car analogy was dumb on his part (many 20+ year old cars still go strong) the fact remains you have been using the motor for 14 years. 14 years. Why in the world are you surprised and why would you expect Suzuki to do something about it?

Okay, so if I follow your logic, if I am operating a Boeing 737 in the South Pacific Region and the aircraft aluminum becomes corroded and the top half of the fuselage comes off in flight, we as passengers should not hold Boeing accountable because the aircraft is 14 years old and we should expect that and accept the consequences?

The example is real and the consequences were catastrophic.

My point is Suzuki knows the engine operates in salt water. The chemistry of the aluminum should make salt water corrosion nonexistent. Manufacturers can do this. Remember the cars from the 70's their quarter panels eaten away by salt on the road? Do you see that today? No and why, auto makers have come up with better coatings to prevent the metal from being affected.

So I do not buy the argument that a 14 year old engine used 3 months a year, flushed to Suzuki procedures and stored in a heated garage and rots out should be "accepted as part of its normal operating cycle"

 

[Silverton34c]

Re: Suzuki thinks that a hole in the block caused by salt water is just normal wear

is it salt water corrosion or electrolysis? When was the last time you replace the zinc anodes in the motor?