*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Hey guys I need your advice on what I should do with my 2004 250 hpdi. You see im going on my 3rd power head with this motor (1st with 100 hrs and the 2nd with less than 20 hrs). It should be covered under the warranty but what scares me is that the warranty expires in 11/05. I know that Yamaha is having problems specifically with the pistons overheating in the 250's. My question to those of you in the know is are there any legal avenues that I can pursue to make Yamaha give me a knew 2005 or take my design flawed motor and reimburse me for it ? I also am curious as to whether the warranty restarts for the part that is repaired such as a new power head. I obviously could sell the boat to someone but I would feel terrible if the motor blew on them outside of the warranty coverage. I eagerly await all of your advice.
To contender66, I beleive the first time it was #4 or what ever one is on the top left. Im in the process of scheduling an appointment for this blown head. I was advised by a regional tec guy from Vermont that the cause for failure was due to the head not being oiled manually during the break in period. When he and the mechanic who I brought it to replaced the head they conducted a 2 hour break in where they manually oiled the open block as they drove it for 2 hours. This time around it went with less than 20 hours on the replaced block which I rarely would go WOT out of fear of a meltdown, it went at 4000 rpms in 45 degree water temps.
Obviously something outside the powerhead is causing the failure. Normally air not bled from the oil lines. You need to find a dealer that knows what they are doing. Pistons do not just fail normailly. They fail due to heat from lack of oil or some other external issue. Until the dealer can tell you what caused the first two failures don't let him put a 3rd powerhead on !!!!
Obviously something outside the powerhead is causing the failure. Normally air not bled from the oil lines. You need to find a dealer that knows what they are doing. Pistons do not just fail normailly. They fail due to heat from lack of oil or some other external issue. Until the dealer can tell you what caused the first two failures don't let him put a 3rd powerhead on !!!!
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
1270 Chastain Road Northwest Kennesaw, GA 30144
Sales, marketing and distribution of Outboard Motors, WaveRunners and Boats. Outboard Customer Relations Exclusively for Outboards.
(866) 894-1626
Explain your situation. Ask what they can do to restore your confidence. Best of luck.
Friend of mine just got rid of his 250 hpdi after 3 power heads. He put his foot down and got a f250 with some cash changing hands. I did not ask how much the difference was but he has zero faith in the hpdi and took the hit for some peace of mind as well as he would like to use the boat more than a few weeks at a time.
To iron banks, My e-mail address is flatfoot@comcast.net could you ask your friend to shoot me an e-mail so that I can get his # and call him to find out how he got Yamaha to agree to swapping engines.
i to would now try & make the move to the 250 4 stroke even if i had to give them a little change.it does seem as though the tech workin on your engine may not be up to snuff.good luck
David,
My 250 hpdi blew the #2 piston just days after the 2 year warranty expired. It had just 74 total hours. Luckily, since I spent much of the warranty time in Iraq, the Yamaha folks agreed to replace the powerhead free of charge. They also told me that since the original warranty had expired, there would be no warranty on the new powerhead.
I have since managed to convince the Yamaha folks to sell me an extended warranty at the "in warranty" price. The price I'll have to pay will be the same as if I bought the extended warranty while the original warranty was still in effect. Believe me, there is a big difference in buying a service contract for an in warranty motor versus one that is out of warranty. The extended warranty may be your best option as well. I just don't think Yamaha will be open to exchanging motors...even with money changing hands.
Like you, and several other 250 hpdi owners, I feel trapped with nothing but bad options to choose from. Although I can't complain about the way Yamaha has treated me, the evidence continues to mount against the 250 hpdi. I will continue to monitor these posts and keep my fingers crossed that Yamaha will do something to keep loyal customers like me loyal. Good luck...I'm with you.
Wetsu, Im in the process now of finding a repair shop that can get to my motor in a reasonable time frame. Im wondering how much did Yamaha charge you for the extended warranty, how long is the coverage, and what does the coverage entail?
David, theboatguy2 has a point "They fail due to heat from lack of oil or some other external issue." What kind of boat do you have? Bass boats regularly experience overheating often because the motor is jacked too high and the motor doesn't get enough cooling water at high speed and then you get theboatguy2's "other external issue."
You are going on your third power head, so there must be something causing the pistons to overheat. Carbon deposits can cause the compression to increase in the cylinder, and this can cause detonation in the cylinder. The carbon deposits can also cause a problem with heat transfer. QUESTION : ---- Are you using a carbon control additive in the fuel on a regular basis? ------Are you using the correct oil? ----- Are you using the correct grade of fuel? ---- Is the engine properly "set up"? ---- Is the air / fuel ratio correct throughout the operating range? ----- Is the spark timing correct? ----Is the cooling system operational? ----- Detonation can cause piston, bearing, head and head gasket problems. Carbon deposits can "lock" the rings in the lands / grooves of the pistons. This can allow "blow by". ----- Are you operating with a "lean mixture"? This creates more heat in the cylinder.
David,
I don't know yet. The Yamaha folks will not provide the warranty until my motor is repaired and the dealer certifies to them that it's good to go. The motor has been in the shop over a month now.
Out of warranty the service contract would run $2,300. for only one year. In warranty the same money will get 3 years of coverage. Enter "Yamaha Outboard Warranty" into your browser. That will get you the warranty document itself and also provide you with a link to the Yamaha Extended Service (YES) site. If your motor is still under warranty, it looks like the YES warranty covers you just like a new one. Good luck. I'll let you know how my situation turns out.
WETSU
Here's my two cents. Some dealers do not do a good job in actually diagnosing the entire problem. They fix the symptom and not the root cause. Why is your engine running lean, I suspect the stuff they pulled off and rebolted could be the cause! It would not surprise me the actual problem is following a part that has been common on your original engine. It is time to talk to Yamaha! Explain that the number of power heads seems excessive, and that you feel there may be more to the problem then just swapping out powerheads, and your warranty is comming to an end soon. You have lost hope in any reliabiluty.
Thank all of you for your advice / expertise in responding to my problem! My boat dealer who is not a certified Yamaha mechanic tried to use his contacts at Yamaha to find a service center in the north east where I could get my boat squared away in a reasonable time frame. I am struggling tournament bass angler whos amatuer season already started and Yamaha did not go out of their way to get me on the water! Yamaha did however approve a new powerhead that my dealer will install. Im torn on how I feel about Yamaha's customer service because the first powerhead blew while practicing for a tournament on Champlain and Yamaha overnighted a new head to a Vermont Yamaha mechanic after I explained my needs to them. This time however was different in that Yamaha did not address my issue with the level of urgency that I think should be given to a problem motor customer. I would like to credit Mare Marine in Thurmont Maryland for treating me fairly and attempting to salvage my season. I would also like to thank and acknowledge Marine Collections in Burlington Vermont for their excellent customer service when my engine went down last September. I hope that this doesnt sound like a Yamaha bash for I worked hard and sacraficed alot for this boat and motor and only expect the best treatment for the price.
dave, where do you live, if we can touch base i could help you out, its hard to make contact here as wiley has booted me off for trying to help people in the past, he wants me to be in a dealer section of this site. e-mail at,
I booted you off because you are another %#$@% spammer who continues to violate the forum guidelines. Only 2 out of every 5 of your posts is a weak attempt at "helping someone out" while the rest is trying to sell products.
Hey guys I need your advice on what I should do with my 2004 250 hpdi. You see im going on my 3rd power head with this motor (1st with 100 hrs and the 2nd with less than 20 hrs). It should be covered under the warranty but what scares me is that the warranty expires in 11/05. I know that Yamaha is having problems specifically with the pistons overheating in the 250's. My question to those of you in the know is are there any legal avenues that I can pursue to make Yamaha give me a knew 2005 or take my design flawed motor and reimburse me for it ? I also am curious as to whether the warranty restarts for the part that is repaired such as a new power head. I obviously could sell the boat to someone but I would feel terrible if the motor blew on them outside of the warranty coverage. I eagerly await all of your advice.
I need Yamaha 250 hpdi advice please!!!!! 
THT sponsor
