E-Tec!! Are they 2 good to be true
Submitted by Johnno on Sat, 2007-09-22 15:40
heya! any of you etec boys had any problems or anything to say about ur donk. they say to get them tunnened to fully sythetic oil because it uses less and runs cleaner. why do you think they compare them to 4 strokes and not 2 strokes? they sound to good to be true." but either way i just want 1"
Dean
Posts: 1943
Date Joined: 23/02/07
Had a word a mechanic who
Had a word a mechanic who has worked on all Honda, suzuki, yamaha, mercury, evinrude, johnson...
He rated the E tecs pretty highly. But his opinion was that honda 4st was the best...
bouttime
Posts: 703
Date Joined: 27/07/06
Etec
No smoke, fuel economy of a four stroke, lighter, more touque, more bottom end get up and go.
What more do you want from a outboard, oh and service every 300hrs.
I was waiting for thr 150hp ETEC to come out but waited lto long and got a 150hp evenrude DI. Am more than happy with my current motor and if the Etec is better than you can't go wrong. If you shop around you can pick them up at up th $4K cheaper than 4 Stroke.
mitch
Posts: 1285
Date Joined: 14/08/05
ive never heard a bad word
ive never heard a bad word on them .ive ask a few boat an motor dealers.they seem to rate them. ive seen a few at boat ramps etc and have always tried to ask the owner what they think.of course the owners are probably a bit biased but therve all rated the grunt and fuel econ, and yes i do think they would pull a lot harder than the same size 4 stroke easy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I WANT ONE.dont know about the 300 hrs service though .think ide be changing the spark plugs, impellor and leg oil a long time before that
always in it just the depth that varies
Andy
Posts: 522
Date Joined: 08/10/05
optimax
I have herd of a few e-tecs having injector problems, fouling spark plugs before 30 hours. Also i wouldnt leave my engine 300hrs or 3 years without it being touched even looked at by a mechanic. Have you thought about on optimax. I have a 135 hp which is a V6. Heaps of power, quiet and very good fuel economy. We usually fish 50km offshore outside the great barrier reef averaging 6 to 8 hours running using no more than 80L of fuel.
thebear
Posts: 246
Date Joined: 09/06/07
I have a 115 etec on my boat
I have a 115 etec on my boat and its great. Almost 1 year old and find it to be very good on fuel, very quiet and good grunt. I dunno about the 300 hours prior to servicing however. I believe that it is if you are using it in fresh water. Talking to some of the dealers I get 2 versions some say not required. For little cost, peace of mind goes a long way with me (ie impeller and leg etc). So annual service it is. Also with annual servicing, you get EMS software updates if available at the time.
As I have a Navman GPS I am using the fuel management with my gps as it is easier.
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Dean
Posts: 1943
Date Joined: 23/02/07
What i've heard: The etecs
What i've heard: The etecs have more low end torque which is good for skiing etc, but when it come to fuel effeciency for fishing or cruising 4st are better..."
fishoutofwater1
Posts: 71
Date Joined: 25/08/05
etecs
E-Tec!! Are they 2 good to be true We would not think twice weather we service our tow vehicles for along trip but why would you believe any different re a out board ,in salt water . No servicing for 300 hours over 3 year warranty period.Its a clever advertising's campaign to regain its lost market place for the averages apply how many do 100 hours a year ? how many would do 50 a year ?I had recently asked a owner how was the etec he responded ,great 2 years now no dramas. I asked how many hours, 30 was the answer . Just last week in Exmouth I informed a owner on the ramp that one of the engines was not lifted he replied it caught on fire so we disconnected it from the battery to stop it crosion on the starter moter terminal created the issue ,should not of happen if serviced regularly. Ask your self this question not how long we owned it but how many hours it has done in that period .re plugs and injectors that Andy has mention hes spot on with the comment. Do your home work, the optie max out performs etec and Yamaha's on all fronts as test has proven in the states .
The Bottom line treat the etec as any other out board service regularly (50 hours or yearly )and you be fine with the product after all the distributer of etec know that most will not do the hours and will get through the warranty period with out drama, after the warranty period its your issue not theres .
bouttime
Posts: 703
Date Joined: 27/07/06
I wouldn't say the Optimax
I wouldn't say the Optimax out performs the etecs. Merc are still yet to update their technology they heve been using for the last 10 years. Etecs are still quieter and as good on fuel.
I had a mate who replaced 2x 70hp 2 stroke with 2x 90 etecs on a 560 sharkcat. He is fishing the shelf over east and a full day on the water trolling and there and back only uses about 100lts total. he use to use about 150lt. His son has the same boat with twin 115 yamahas 4 stroke and for the same work he uses about 120lts fuel total. Thats prety close to the same amount of fuel to me. The etec set up is just as quiet and gets up and planes alot quicker which is the advantage of the etec.
I am using the Direct injection Evinrude and average about 200hrs a year. Did 100hrs in exmouth alone in 6 weeks. These are a good motor and the etecs are ment to be better again. Whilst trolling i am getting as good as a 150 honda in fuel economy but i do loose when travelling at around 4-4500rpm as thats where the 4 strokes have the advantage. My mate has a 150 honda on a 6mtr Stabi craft and for a boat 500kg lighter than mine with the same horsepower i outperform him for bottom end and mid range. While i am sitting on 4000rpm at 25knts he is sitting on 5000rpm doing same.
It all depends on what your doing but if i had a choice i would go a yamaha 4 stroke or etec 2 stroke.
fishoutofwater1
Posts: 71
Date Joined: 25/08/05
the facts
Here are some independented numbers for you
"bass&walleye " conducted a seriesof test on the following (test boat lowe180)
Mercury Optimax 225,200,90
Yamaha 225,200
e-tec 225,200,9o
225hp
Merc 6.2mpg
Yamaha 5.8mpg
e-tec 5.00 mpg
200hp
merc 5.8mpg
yamaha 5.5
e-tec 4.4
90hp
merc 7.7mpg
e-tec 6.7mpg
Carbon Monoxide Emissions
Merc 78.8 (g/kw/hr)
e-tec 84.9(g/kw/hr)
so despite evinrudes claims regarding emissions the numbers dont add up???
the merc and Yamaha also out performed in hole shot ,midrange and top end speed over the e-tec
also the merc 225 weight is 236kg e-tec 225 is 256kg yamaha 225 265kg
for every extra kg of weight means a nother liter of water to be displaced =more fuel .
The concept that e-tec is maintenance free as stated in owners handbook is scaree stuff for i know what happens with 3 years of running of any outboard ps the Spark plugs are not running the distance ether.
Johnno
Posts: 85
Date Joined: 13/09/07
if anyone seen last month
if anyone seen last month issue of westeren angler with the cover on exmouths marina. there was a add about the new optimax comparing it to the etec and they rekon the optimax is more fuel efficent and has a higher top speed then the etec. this has been the first time i have seen any fig on etec being compared to a 2 stroke.
fishoutofwater1
Posts: 71
Date Joined: 25/08/05
two stroke
ummmmmmmmm they both two strokes
Andy
Posts: 522
Date Joined: 08/10/05
two strokes
Ryan Thipthorp (not verified)
Posts: 23
Date Joined: 01/01/70
imo
I've done 700 hours in my Suzuki 4 stroke in 20 months, with 8 services done on it. I'm sure my donk would last the same distance as a E-tec without a service but it's asking for trouble imo.......especialy if you use your boat alot. The E-tec are powerful but how fast can you go in our WA conditions and the oil thing sucks imo so i'm a 4s man now and the economics are awesome!
JMO
Owner/Operator Oceanside Tackle and Marine
364 South Street, O'Connor, Perth WA
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