Seadoo 4tec engines - How long do they last?

lakeskater · Faceplant Joined: 25 Aug 2012 Posts: 23 City: Tampa

My 2003 GTX 155 hp (without super charger) has 670 hours and still runs like new.
I can't decide whether or not to trade it in while it's still running or just keep using it until it dies. Unlike 2 stroke engines that need to be rebuilt often, the
4 stroke Seadoo engines seem to be indestuctible if maintained properly and not abused.
Anybody else here have a Seadoo with high hours? What, if any problems have you had?

bwake · Posted: Sep 15, 2012 11:34 am Post subject:

I have a 2006 Wake Edition 155 with 240 hrs and still running like a champ. No problems yet. I was thinking my hours were high and thinking the same as you, but after reading your thread I'm impressed and stoked that I have a few years left on mine for sure! I'm not sure anybody would want to give you a fair price on a ski with that many hours, so it might be more beneficial to keep it until it dies and purchase a newer used one (they are pretty reasonable).

lakeskater · Faceplant Joined: 25 Aug 2012 Posts: 23 City: Tampa

bwake, Glad to hear that your "Wake" has been trouble free as mine has been.
The only thing I had to repair was the wear ring in the pump, due to sand, pebbles, ect. getting scooped up into the intake grate. Since then I have always anchored it a few feet offshore to keep it from getting beached onshore. An ounce of prevention has more than paid off in that respect. The current wear ring has about 400 hours and does not caviitate at all. Just a tip that I always pass on to other PWC owners.

bwake · Posted: Sep 15, 2012 3:06 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the tip. How did you know the wear ring was bad? Did the ski run funny? I only look at it when it's out of the water and can see a hairline of a gap. It hasn't increased in size so I think it's still good, but for future reference I would like to know as to not ruin my prop.

Brett Leadley · Posted: Sep 15, 2012 3:58 pm Post subject:

I have an 05 wake edition with 800+ hours on it. It still runs like new! The single best investment I ever made. Hardly any maintenance at all, besides changing the oil every 100 hrs. I recently replaced the wear ring because it became sluggish on deep water starts.

lakeskater · Faceplant Joined: 25 Aug 2012 Posts: 23 City: Tampa

Have you ever had weeds clog your intake? A damaged wear ring will produce the same symptoms. Loss of power, vibration, horrific noise, feels like the drive shaft is broken. Soft weeds can sometimes be pulverized by the impeller and pass through with no damage but harder debris can chip the wear ring as they pass through the gap. The wear ring is made of softer material than the impeller and is designed to absorb the damage as to not damage the impeller which is more expensive to repair, hence the word WEAR ring. Wear rings can also be damaged from jumping wakes which will make the pump assembly flex upon landing and the impeller cuts a groove in the ring.

Here's a link to a forum that has been very helpful to me. It's hosted by a Seadoo dealership that actually helps people diagnose problems online and supports "do it yourself" repairs.
http://www.sea-doo.net/board/bboard.asp?Age=15

lakeskater · Faceplant Joined: 25 Aug 2012 Posts: 23 City: Tampa

bwake · Posted: Sep 16, 2012 7:01 pm Post subject:

Awesome, Thanks. I can't believe 800+ hrs, that's nice to hear these machines actually will run that long with just regular services. I feel my investment has already paid off.

sprocket america · Posted: Sep 17, 2012 7:54 am Post subject:

these engine's are great...they are also in there snowmobile line up and if they will hold up to Alaska's harshness they will for sure hold up with proper care to any thing in the water...Our 2008 wake 215 has about 400 hours on it and beside's the super charger rebuild that is required ever 100hr's (which if you get the up dated shaft kit you will only need to replace the washers ever 100hrs with proper shaft inspection ) will run like a beast for a long time....200lbs of ballast ,driver,filmer and 2 riders with deep water starts like its nothing .....best engine for the job hand's down.... BEAST for sure.....

LakeLife · Posted: Sep 17, 2012 8:15 am Post subject:

I've got an 2003 Wake with 600 hrs., change the oil every 60 to 80 hours. I am putting a new impellar and wear ring in this week after 4 years of heavy usage and shallow waters. That's been my only maintenance since I've had it, runs like a champ.

puckhead · Pop Shuvit Joined: 03 Sep 2011 Posts: 115 City: Austin

ride412 · Posted: Sep 29, 2012 12:18 am Post subject:

I just sold my 2008 seadoo wake155 and I put 936hrs on it and never had any problems at all!! Smile