Ed455

As a decades long OMC outboard fans from back in the old carburetes 2-stroke days, I'm curious about E-Tec.

I've been running Yammy 4 strokes for awhile and I'm generally pleased with them. I work on my own stuff and since I was a Mitsubishi automotive line tech back in the 80's and early 90's, I finds the Yammies to be relatively easy to work on and understand. That said, I'm ready to repower my Proline from a F225 up to a 250. I have a tight budget and don't do debt, so used outboards are my market. F250's with reasonable hours command top dollar in the current market. But I'm seeing some good deals on low-hour E-Tec 250's (500-900 hours), generally commanding 33%-50% less money and seem to always include rigging.

I like their simplicity and it's been said that they perform better than similarly rated 4 strokes. However now that BRP is no more, I'm a bit concerned about future parts availability.

I never thought I would consider going back to a 2-stroke even though my old OX-66 was a fantastic (albeit thirsty) motor. But the savings is enough for me to actually give it a consideration.

The savings on the front end might end up going away on the back end when I sell one day, of that I'm relatively certain. But my present day situation means that a balance of cost and reliability is king at the moment. We go out about 25 miles and I don't want something that is highly likely to strand me. Does an E-Tec put me in that position?

I'm not asking for a brand bashing festival. I'm asking for REAL reasonable considerations.

datlhookYa

Any brand will strand you. That being said my etecs have never stranded us, twin 200HO. When we bought the motors they had a "bad rap" and people said stay away. We had zero shop time over 900 hours when we sold them to get our current boat. Our current boat with twin 350 suzukis has stranded us many times with a shop time approaching 7 months out of 2.5 years ownership. So I would not stay away from 2 strokes based on what you read here. Parts should be there for etecs over the next 10 years at minimum

Get a good survey on whatever motor you pick, don't skip that. If I saw a good 250 etec with a clean survey and good mechanical history, I would not hesitate

pgkeating

Agree with datl. Parts should be around for a long time. apples to apples would be 2S oil and noise vs. 4S......

Clinker

I owned a smaller Etec (90) for 7 years after buying it new in 2005, then sold it to a guy just 100 yards away (the boat, not the guys home) so was able to keep tabs on it - in 15 years, it has never needed anything other routine servicing and never even failed to start first turn of the key.
As you have a technical background, do a bit of googling into how they work - aside from a power stroke every other stroke (so technically a 2 stroke) they are nothing like the traditional two strokes - once you get how they work it’s a lot easier to understand all the advantages.
If you’re looking at a G2 model rather than a G1, then there are even more pros to the idea.
But - I’ve just upgraded on my present boat - I always thought it would come down to a G2 v a Merc V6 - like you I had reservations on a brand that was out of production - had I been able to find a good used one, I may have gone for the G2, but I wasn’t prepared to buy a new one even with the local dealer telling me he could do a great deal ( didn’t get to find out what it was) so the V6 it was.

alloyboy

"I like their simplicity and it's been said that they perform better than similarly rated 4 strokes."

Simplicity and Etec don't belong in the same sentence together.

"I never thought I would consider going back to a 2-stroke..."

Initial thoughts are oft times the wisest.

"The savings on the front end might end up going away on the back end when I sell one day"

That they will.

chad.sfds

Good chance you'll be getting to put those mechanic skills to use.....constantly.....If you search on this forum there's dozens of threads on here (me included) about people blowing up 250-300 hp, frying computers, and a plethora of other consistent and costly issues.

FlyingTexan

you alway a run your mouth but what’s it based on?

I have twin G1 175s and I consider them better engines than my yammy 225 SHO. Things sip so little fuel at idle it’s crazy.

considering you can easily find parts for a 30yr old Johnson you’ll be fine on parts.

I don’t buy any engine looking at resale. My yammy 150hpdi had 16 years of hard use before going to the 225sho. An old engine is an old engine and you won’t get much if you plan on using it.

Realdeep

I owned an 08 200H.O Etec for about 400 hours and besides the EMM going bad it was a great engine. Btw Evinrude paid half the cost of the computer even though it was almost two years out of warranty.

Clinker

?? no valves, no camshafts, no timing belt/chain - i forget how many less moving parts they have now, but it’s a lot. So what do you base your statement on?

boat user

I've owned 4 so far ... and I'm really comfortable with them ... the pair of 300's had some warranty issues covered 100% by Evinrude and cost me 3 days ... there's no argument they run like scalded dogs and when I look to buy a new or new to me boat I'm first looking for etecs because they have treated me so well ...

vandlor

Your car or truck has valves, at least one camshaft and a timing belt or chain. What is your point? It’s obvious that the manufacturer has lost faith in the design.

alloyboy

Exhaust valves, integrated water cooled EMM/regulator-rectifier, EMM's that cannot be simply swapped from motor to motor, fuel injectors that cannot be simply swapped from cylinder to cylinder, 55 volt electrical system, directed oil injection... Stuff like that.

The Etec is a great motor. Simple, with respect to a simple carburetted two stroke of old, it is not.

Comparing an Etec to a simple two stroke would be like comparing the Yamaha XF425 direct injection, five fuel pumps, four thermostats, exhaust gas reversing, God only knows whatever else, to a simple single carburetted four stroke.

LouC

mechanically they are definitely simpler but the EFI system + oil injection system are by necessity quite complex. Expensive ECMs, fuel injectors and fuel pumps. That said I wish they were still made and that people would not be so quick to avoid 2 strokes.
Based on my experience with OMC parts I think they will be around at least 10 years....

alloyboy

I have always wondered about adding up all of the roller bearings that are used per rod big end. Sealing rings between the cylinders. That is a lot of moving parts.

Thunder road

Trip 250s on my last boat running 80-120 miles offshore NJ to canyons. 900+ hrs and not once stranded. Preventative maintenance and paying attention to the motors was key. Blew counter lower and some cooling issues from rubbing at sand bar were my only complaints in 10 yrs.

noelm

I just love people who have a motor (any brand) and say how fabulous it is, because it's only had a new lower unit, several injectors, blew a power head once, replaced the EMM/ECU, had issues covered by warranty, but other than that.......just like an old axe, it's only had 4 new handles and 3 new heads, but its lasted 20 years.

Jeepman

FICHT part deux,

Clinker

both my cars have two camshafts and 4 valves per cylinder and my outboard has 4 camshafts and 24 valves - my point was to answer another poster who was disputing the OP’s thought that an Etec was not a simpler engine.

datlhookYa

I have to say, so many lovers of brands. Etec is gone, let it be. 4 strokes is what the market picked.I love my current etec Bec it's reliable. It's care free. It's always started. It's always ready to go. I can't say that for my current Suzuki's. They break down every other trip. I thought 4 strokes are reliable? I thought suzuki is so great? Long story short, all companies have turds, and I own two suzuki turds, actually that's a compliment to them given how they have affected my free time and business. Not once has etec made me miss anything. Oddly enough a local charter got rid of his zukes due to constant break downs. My other local friend with twin 200 zukes always in the shop. If there is a new crap brand, it's zuke. Etec in my experience is vastly more reliable over a zuke

Find a nice used etec and you will have years of good service like we had.

Classic25

Well, then you've come to the wrong forum.

I've run mine 80+ miles offshore a few times, and wouldn't hesitate to do it more when Mother Nature allows.
Bought a boat with G1 200 HO's planning on repowering with 4 strokes. After a couple of years of running them I eventually repowered... With G2's. They've been (all 4 of them) great motors. 1,000 + hours combined.
When you do your research on THT (not advisable if you are looking for info on Etec's) pay close attention to the usernames posting in those threads... A certainYamaha mechanic, and a Suzuki fan boy are attracted to Etec threads like a duck on a June bug.