*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: Fishing is not a matter of life or death.......Its much more important than that!!!!
After having two instances when my '06 ETEC 225 HO stalled at cold startup, I brought it to the dealer to get it checked out. I was told that I am not opening it up to WOT enough... only 1% of the time. As a precaution, they replaced 4 plugs. Now, before this checkup, I was only able to muster 5300 rpms and about 56 or so mph on my 21' bayboat. I wasn't happy with that... thinking I was propped wrong. After the checkup and the plug changes, today I was easily able to get her up to 5800 rpms and almost 70mph. I'm beginning to think I may have overpowered, but that's another story.
My question is this... what changed to achieve such different performance numbers? Have any of you heard of dirty plugs actually limiting the rpms of a motor? I'm just hoping it isn't something else that might come back. I'm as happy as can be with the results, but I'm also confused as to why the numbers improved so much. Anybody hear of this phenomenon after a plug change? Any ETEC owners with this experience?
Extended slow speed running wears the plugs quicker than in a motor that has an average mix of low, mid, and high speed use. The engine uses a longer spark duration at speeds below about 2000 rpm.
Since your motor was built, Champion and BRP came out with a longer lasting plug made of Irudium, the QC10WEP. It will outlast the original plugs by a wide margin. Your motor probably was misfiring slightly with the worn plugs, thus the lack of power. Why didn't they replace all 6 plugs as they would be covered under warranty?
Depending on your serial number, there was a free fix installing deflector pins which also extend sparkplug life.
I am assuming that the dealer also updated your software and checked the engine operating temps (thermostats) per service bulletins to that effect.
__________________ Home Of the Finest Rebuilt outboards
4STROKE/2STROKE REPOWERS/ REMANUFACTURED/USED
Deland Fl/West Sunbury Pa /Atlanta /Portsmouth,Va/Ft Lauderdale
call toll free 1 877 9832537
Can't ask for a better response than that. Thanks! I will certainly check into the points you mentioned about the plugs and the deflector pins. One thing the dealer did say to me was that they've had virtually no 2007 motors come back for service for any reason. I'd guess it is because of these updates. I'll ask for sure.
Thanks again for your post.
EDIT to add: Yes, they sure did update my software, including temp/thermostat adjustments. They are a great dealer... very helpful and knowlegable. I'm lucky for that.
My dad has had trouble with his etec motor and they have tried three or four different types of plugs.
So far it has not helped. He said the plugs need to be indexed just right as well, and that can cause you to go through several plugs to find one that lines up just right.
My dad has had trouble with his etec motor and they have tried three or four different types of plugs.
So far it has not helped. He said the plugs need to be indexed just right as well, and that can cause you to go through several plugs to find one that lines up just right.
I'm not sure why they only replaced four. But he did tell me that changing plugs on these things is a real pain. Probably for the reason that wrobinson posted... not sure. That's a shame, because that's going to be a real hassle bringing it in for plug changes.
The motor had just over 52 hours, and it did run slow from the get-go. But when I first got the motor, regardless of what BRP says, I didn't open it up all the way for a few trips. Just didn't feel right with a new motor. So, by the time I was comfortable opening the throttle, it probably had 10 hours on it... double oiling... never WOT... probably a bad combo for the plugs.
The new plugs last much much longer....you can usually make the 300 hour check with em...., your probably right in the assumption that they fouled during the double oil, plus you had the older software....., I've also noticed that these engines take about 60 hours to reached their maximum wot....I gained nearly 500 rpm between 0 and 65 hours...(with the same load on the boat)....sounds like you should be in great shape now...best of luck with it.
Strange.....its not hard at all to change plugs. I have done it a couple of times. I don't index them either, I just snug them in, no problems. I am able to get well over 300 hours out of a set of plugs, I just changed them after about 400 and the engines were still running perfect.
As for why the engine ran so well with 4 new plugs. It could have been as simple as one bad plug or a lose wire.
i have a 2005 with 150 hours. i had the slow speed stall out problem. software upgrade and the new defelctor pins fixed the problem. both covered under warranty and free of charge. also, the new deflector pins will extend the life of the spark plugs.
I'm glad it runs better, but I think the guages are off or something.
If your running the same prop, it is almost impossible to gain 14mph from 500 rpm.
Are you going off GPS or Speedometer?
If its a speedometer, I'd say it either had some debris in it before and they got it out, or they made the water intake larger so its reading high.
Assuming its the same prop, so it would have the same slip ratio.
If you were doing 5300 at 56mph, you would have to spin about 6500 rpm to hit 69mph.
Yeah I agree, unless you made an agressive prop change its highly unlikely that you gained 14 MPH from 500 RPMs. Something is off or you read the guages wrong. But it is possible to hit 6500 RPMs with these engines and you should get more than 5800 RPMs on a bay boat lightly loaded.
Run her again and check speed with the GPS. When I did a top speed test my speedo on the fishfinder which uses a paddle wheel said 71 MPH but the GPS said 62 MPH.
Dont know why they only changed 4 out of 6 plugs? I cannot see this making any difference in the motor unless a plug was bad from the get go. Even when you index plugs its not hard to do. Like Chris stated we have found customers that do not index there plugs even with the older DI engine's. If everything is working the way it should you could hit the service mark on plugs if they are not indexed. Ifs it running just a tad to cold, or a sensor is not reading right then a non indexed plug will not last as long as one that is indexed.
Are you sure the dealer did not switch props on you to run better and forget to tell you?
__________________ Yes im a ETEC dealer. No I am not in sales. Im not trying to sell anything. I will only comment on ETEC threads. No I do not bad mouth other outboard mfg's.
Switching props or not i have only heard of one bay boat that will hit the low 70 mph range with a 225. I think there is some gps/speedo/mph communication errors here. 500 rpms in most cases will only get you a 5mph gain. Most bass boats with more aerodynamic hulls that have a running pad and 20" transom average in the low 70's in the 21'er and 225 hp category. A shearwater 22' (which is lighter then most 21's on the market) with 250xs wont even do it. Thats a mid 60's boat.
__________________ 2006 Skeeter ZX24 Bay
2006 Yamaha 300 HPDI
2010 Ford F-150 FX4 5.4
Team: EAT-SLEEP-FISH---~ <)))))<
Trying hard to become a 1%er www.ramseydoor.com www.raynoroverheaddoor.com
ETEC back from dealer... quick question 
THT sponsor
