Outboard Sputtering

[Cold Snack]

Have a 70hp Suzuki 4 stroke, ten years old. Has always run flawlessly until this year. Took it out for the first time this year a few weeks ago. It sputtered at all rpms, except idle, for 15 minutes. Then it ran awesome the rest of the day. Thought I had to blow something through it. Took it out again last weekend and it did the same freakin thing. The gas tank was filled last fall and had Stabil put in it. When serviced last year, the fuel filters were fine. Any ideas why this problem would come and go like that? Thanks in advance for your help!

[bluehewes]

I would say start with plugs, maybe they have some gunk on them.

Fuel water separator? It also wouldn't hurt to run some carb choke cleaner through it.

If you can it's always best to run your motor a few times a month. It's really hard on an outboard just letting it sit even if it's been properly winterized.

[ET]

Hmm..... how about thermostat or something related to it warming up.... If the thermostat is stuck open or partially open it could take a long time for it to warm up.