Review: Twin Suzuki DF140A Outboard Motors

We tested a pair of Suzuki DF140A outboard motors on the back of a Caribbean 2400 Hardtop at our most recent annual Australia’s Greatest Boats comparison.

Twin Suzuki DF140A outboard motors

Out of all the marine engines at the event, the Suzuki DF140A outboard  probably had the hardest job of all. The super-sharp 24-degree deadrise of a Caribbean 2400 Hardtop is paired with a wide 2.7m beam and a hefty 1700kg dry weight – around 2500kg on water –  giving the combined 280hp a lot to do.

The Suzuki DF140A outboard motor is an extension of the popular Suzuki DF115A, a high-tech marine engine featuring double overhead camshafts, high-ratio gearbox and, of course, Suzuki’s famous Lean Burn that leans out the air/fuel mixture for the best economy possible.

Engine weight is low, a full 49kg lighter than the Suzuki DF150 outboard motor which, when you double it to account for twin boat engines, is a huge weight saving on the transom. The gear ratio is high at 2.59:1 meaning the leg can swing bigger propellers that give more bite at low speeds and grip in turns.

With its double overhead cam design, the Suzuki DF140A outboard likes to rev but it still surprised us how high in the rev range we found optimal cruise. Between 5000 and 5500rpm, this Suzuki marine engine produced its best economy of about 0.48 nautical miles (0.88km) per litre. It could be down to the boat engines having to work hard to get up to speed, yet at best cruise we running at a touch under 30 knots. At wide-open throttle we squeezed about 33 knots out of the hull while the engines consumed a combined 85 litres per hour.

Twin Suzuki DF140A outboard motors specs

TYPE Four-stroke inline four-cylinder outboard motors

RATED HP 140 (each)

DISPLACEMENT 2044cc

WEIGHT 184kg

GEAR RATIO 2.59:1

PROPELLER Stainless steel three-blade propeller