Just bought a 2010 fx with a 250 sho, motor has 5 hours on a new power head. I have never owned a four stroke so I�m wondering what�s the normal maintenance on it? Fuel filter? Fuel additives?

Strongly urge you to get the new powerhead broken in before you do anything else. Have you been instructed to run double oil for the first 10 hours and then another 10 hours, all at varying rpms? Congratulations on the new ride.

What do you mean double oil?

I wish I could help you but I don't remember all the specifics but yes you have to spend 20 house breaking the unit in. An oil change is required after this 20 hours and then you go on a 100 hour or 1 year service schedule. I just don't remember how often to change the water pump impeller but that may be yearly. You use Yamaha Rig Free Plus 1 ounce per 10 gallons of gas. You also use a fuel stabilizer for 10% ethanol gasoline. You can get this information online. Use at least 92 octane gasoline. I use ethanol free gasoline.

You don't double oil a SHO for break in. Per the manual you run 1st hour 2000rpm or less, 2nd hour 3000rpm(planing speed0 or less and then for another 8hrs you can run it all through the RPM ranges but no extended runs at WOT for more than 5 minutes.

Just found out who rebuilt it and call them.

Always put the ethanol treatment in before the gas. That stuff will eat the gas tank filler line. It must be flushed into the tank. Get those first 2 hours in as Mr. Perry recommends; then run it like you stole it for 5 minutes on and off. All treatments are not created equal. Read and make sure it takes care of Ethanol and not just water stabilizer. Change the water separator once a year and all the other water filter ever 3 years. There is on inside that motor that is hard to get to. Many mechanics will over look it. If there is any surging at top end speed that is the one which causes that.

I've never owned a four stroke so the rules are different for two strokes. Some people can't afford the finer things in life. Red gave me an old, but she is purring pretty well 'bout right now. I had to double oil first 10 hours and then straight gas for the next 10 hours. Now all I gotta do is to get him to come out with his pink pants, sandals, and tank top....oh, that attire is only for the dead of winter....

For your next 5 hrs. Vary your speeds. Only keep it floored for about 10 to 15 seconds. I run mine about 3/4 speed and just keep it all around.
Once you get to 10 hrs. Get it serviced for the 10 hr. Then drive it like you stole it.

On gas. Always use ethanol free. I�ve never put anything in my gas and never had an issue.

If you don't break it in right you will have problems, google "SHO making oil".

Okie, it�s a 4 stroke

In the nicest way possible, the road to hell was paved with good intentions, talk to your normal service shop or dealer, they will happily point you in the right direction on how to take care of your motor. A mis worded question or answer by someone who doesn�t quite know about a particular motor can lead to disaster and I see many of my customers damage their equipment because they did something they read online.

I wouldn�t let some of the people on here change oil in a lawn mower after reading some of the advice given.

Or even take their advice as to the firing order on a chainsaw.