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If you cannot understand the marketing aspect of a 300 hour gear oil change then I have no reply. Keep drinking the Koolaid. And when your gearcase fails in 800 hours and the ones changed every 100 hours are still going at 1500 hours just maybe you'll see the light. Maybe not.
Anyone has an UOA to prove this? I would love to see the UOA.
300 hours change interval is kinda fishy - unless you are idling all 300 hours.
The truth of the matter is - even if you never ever change the fluid. chances are the lu will last beyond the average original ownership (3 to 5yrs). It is the guy who buys the motor / lu used that got it coming.
If you cannot understand the marketing aspect of a 300 hour gear oil change then I have no reply. Keep drinking the Koolaid. And when your gearcase fails in 800 hours and the ones changed every 100 hours are still going at 1500 hours just maybe you'll see the light. Maybe not.
Thanks for your answer. Any other gearcase durability experts have a good answer? Did they not get their metallurgy right on the gears, is the formulation of the oil wrong? Come on, exactly what is it that makes them unable to go 3 year or 300 hours? Let's hear some specifics.
Thanks for your answer. Any other gearcase durability experts have a good answer? Did they not get their metallurgy right on the gears, is the formulation of the oil wrong? Come on, exactly what is it that makes them unable to go 3 year or 300 hours? Let's hear some specifics.
Being in the marine service industry a considerable amount of my business is from lack of maintenance. A considerable amount is preventative. Pay me now or pay me later. The difference a lot of times is the hassle of being towed.
I went from a suzuki 4 stroke to an etec. It just so happened that the boat I liked was repowered with a 200 etec. although that suzuki was hard to beat, so far, I have not regretted it. I burn xd 100 and the rate of burn is about 80-1. so for an 80 gallon gas tank, I burn about one gallon of oil. 80 gallons of gas lasts a good long time in my boat, so, i'm happy. the torque is great and it is the best starting outboard I have ever owned. Winterizing it took all of one minute - no help necessary, just follow the instructions in the manual - it's pushbutton. I hope I'm this happy in 5 years.
__________________ I'm not a boater, but I play one on THT.
I went from a suzuki 4 stroke to an etec. It just so happened that the boat I liked was repowered with a 200 etec. although that suzuki was hard to beat, so far, I have not regretted it. I burn xd 100 and the rate of burn is about 80-1. so for an 80 gallon gas tank, I burn about one gallon of oil. 80 gallons of gas lasts a good long time in my boat, so, i'm happy. the torque is great and it is the best starting outboard I have ever owned. Winterizing it took all of one minute - no help necessary, just follow the instructions in the manual - it's pushbutton. I hope I'm this happy in 5 years.
Your lucky to have had two of the best....zukes build a great 4 stroke, and the etec is by far the most refined of the 2 strokes......
I have never seen an outboard motor that has such a wide variation of comments on the reliability.
Some dealers swear that this is the best motor to ever come down the pike.
Others say that it is the worst motor on the market and there is not much in between. They either love it or hate it.
Has anyone out there have an experience that they would like to share??
Yo Wayno (if that's your real name),
I have a pair of 300's; two of the first 300's built and they are FLAWLESS. Now back to YOU; 6th post -- hmmm. I have been searching all boards and I only know of two complaints with 300's -- and neither were very critical.
I can tell you that I have yet to read anything from any dealer that says "it is the worst motor on the market."
Where are YOU coming from? Please cite facts or crawl back in your hole.
__________________
The Mean Kitty
2008 Hydra Sports 33CC
Twin 2008 300 HP E-Tecs
Your lucky to have had two of the best....zukes build a great 4 stroke, and the etec is by far the most refined of the 2 strokes......
FloridaRob
30 Grady Marlin
250 ETECS
The zuk was more efficient at high RPMs, the etec is more efficient at low RPMs. The zuk needed oil changes, the etec burns oil (very clean - no smoke). Both have excellent high temp safety features built in - the motors will either run at 1k to get you home or shut themselves down before they melt. The zuk was heavier, but the etec requires an oil tank, etc. etc. etc. It's all trade-offs. Where you see a lot of etecs is on older hulls in good shape that need repowers - the etec provides an excellent weight to HP ratio. One other thing about etecs - I know a fellow who had his boat sink at the slip. he had a 200 hp H.O. etec. He saved the motor - no problem. It was fresh water, but that's still impressive - there are a few advantages to having oil in the cylinder.
One thing I would not do is buy an engine that didn't have good local support.
__________________ I'm not a boater, but I play one on THT.
Being in the marine service industry a considerable amount of my business is from lack of maintenance. A considerable amount is preventative. Pay me now or pay me later. The difference a lot of times is the hassle of being towed.
The specified service interval for the gearcase lube as specified from the manufacturer is 300 hours or 3 years. Under your theory, anybody who lets their crankcase oil change interval go the full 100 hours as specified by the manufacturer is not doing preventative maintenance. What should they do, change their crankcase oil and filter every 25 hours (four times within a service interval)?
If you are in the marine service industry, I can understand why you don't like when a manufacturer lengthens the service interval.
I have a brother-in-law that has owned two. He loves them. I am a 2 stoke Yamaha man, but he is has a great argument. His first had 550 hrs never touched and no. two has 240 hrs never touched. They are good engines. I just hope my yamaha keeps on running, we are on about 300hrs. When I said never touched I meant the engines, all have had water pumps replaced.
The specified service interval for the gearcase lube as specified from the manufacturer is 300 hours or 3 years. Under your theory, anybody who lets their crankcase oil change interval go the full 100 hours as specified by the manufacturer is not doing preventative maintenance. What should they do, change their crankcase oil and filter every 25 hours (four times within a service interval)?
If you are in the marine service industry, I can understand why you don't like when a manufacturer lengthens the service interval.
I love it when the Etec Koolaid drinking crowd gets their panties in a wad. I never said anything about reliability and yet they get all defensive. My "theory" as you call it is for you to service your motor as you want. Now my personal recommendation is to do gear oils and crankcase oils every hundred hours, impellers every other time. I don't care what you do with yours but I have a large clientele of happy customers who trust my 25 years of experience.
The zuk was more efficient at high RPMs, the etec is more efficient at low RPMs. The zuk needed oil changes, the etec burns oil (very clean - no smoke). Both have excellent high temp safety features built in - the motors will either run at 1k to get you home or shut themselves down before they melt. The zuk was heavier, but the etec requires an oil tank, etc. etc. etc. It's all trade-offs. Where you see a lot of etecs is on older hulls in good shape that need repowers - the etec provides an excellent weight to HP ratio. One other thing about etecs - I know a fellow who had his boat sink at the slip. he had a 200 hp H.O. etec. He saved the motor - no problem. It was fresh water, but that's still impressive - there are a few advantages to having oil in the cylinder.
One thing I would not do is buy an engine that didn't have good local support.
All of my posts say that....good local support....enjoy your etec.....
The specified service interval for the gearcase lube as specified from the manufacturer is 300 hours or 3 years. Under your theory, anybody who lets their crankcase oil change interval go the full 100 hours as specified by the manufacturer is not doing preventative maintenance. What should they do, change their crankcase oil and filter every 25 hours (four times within a service interval)?
If you are in the marine service industry, I can understand why you don't like when a manufacturer lengthens the service interval.
I have no dog in this fight but I have been around outboards for 30+ years (usually doing most maintenance myself). I personally would not let lower unit oil go 300 hours. The 100 hour change makes you look for leaks and line under the prop etc. Most of your boaters wont check for that stuff unless its part of changing the oil. Just my .02 I would have no problem owning an Etec as far a reliability issues. I think that 35 bucks for a gallon of xd-100 oil is a little steep thou.
__________________ "I'm suing the THT and the guy that made it."
I have a 150; local dealer sells xd100 for 20/gal if you bring your own gallon. :D
Great motor. Slightly noisier than a yamahammer, zuke or honder at idle, quieter than most 4 strokes once you light the candle. Buying oil sucks but not having to change motor oil is nice. Tq is outstanding.
Went with a honder on my skiff b/c I was after max stealth and fuel burn numbers for range.
Everyone/many on here says any modern outboard is good and you can't lose.
What year do you consider the birth of a modern outboard?
For instance, my 2000 Johnson ocean pro 150 is the biggest piece of crap in the world. Because of it I will never touch a envinrude.
If I had a little more money, this engine would have been tossed in the garbage 5 years ago. I hope to repower next year and hopefully lose a close friend, Sea-Tow
Everyone/many on here says any modern outboard is good and you can't lose.
What year do you consider the birth of a modern outboard?
For instance, my 2000 Johnson ocean pro 150 is the biggest piece of crap in the world. Because of it I will never touch a envinrude.
If I had a little more money, this engine would have been tossed in the garbage 5 years ago. I hope to repower next year and hopefully lose a close friend, Sea-Tow
it started in 2005...IMO - everything since then has been pretty good: the Verado/opti, The F series Yams, The Zuke DF series and the Etec.
Well my problem with the 300hr oil change doesn't come from the lube oil or the internal steel used inside the Evinrude gearcases. My problem is with the ability of the gearcase itself and the seals to keep oil in and/or water out. I think 100hrs is too long on any make engine.
I still think anyone on a trailer who doesn't crack the lower drain plug on a gearcase before or after it comes out of the water is foolish. This will also give you an idea of the condition of the gear lube. Same as you should pull the dip stick one any with a crankcase be it a 4 stroke outboard, gas or diesel inboard.
When you start seeing gear lube run black out of your gearcase you've waited too long between changes. Dirty gearcase lube oil has metal filings/grit in it and that's what wears the internals. 99% of the time it's the weight of the boat and how hard the gearcase is being worked that controls how long you can run your lube oil. I've seen work boats with 25hr old gear oil run black as coal.. Rarely do I ever let my gearcase lube more than 50hrs without a change. Mine always comes out looking just like it went in.
Don't the bad comments start with My friend's.. or my cousin's husband's uncles friend had....
You need to cull through the comments and head for the ones that actually own the beast and show a picture of their boat with the motors on it. Otherwise it' all Chaff..
When did the Etec have a crankcase full of oil? Am I missing something? There's a crancase dipstick on an Etec?
You are correct, 99% of the negetive comments and bashing come from people that dont even own the engine or have never even been on a boat rigged with one for that matter. Of course you will always have a few unhappy customers, just like in every industry, which includes every outboard brand.
These folks are most likely turned off by the agressive advertising videos that imply 4 strokes are no good. Its just advertising! Just like the Verado commercial where you see the Verado boat cruising over a pile of Evinudes sunk at the bottom.
And no....there is no dip stick or crankcase oil on an E-Tec. Only gear oil to change.
Any other gearcase durability experts have a good answer? Did they not get their metallurgy right on the gears, is the formulation of the oil wrong? Come on, exactly what is it that makes them unable to go 3 year or 300 hours? Let's hear some specifics. 
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