Your Evinrude E-Tech experience

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by bigshrimpin

I've been on 2 different boats where 250 Fichts went down hard (rod through the block in both cases). Etec design isn't too much different from those 2003/4 bombardier fichts . . . I rather have a simple carb 2 stroke than a DI motor. New plugs every 70 - 80 hours and expensive oil $40/gallon eats up most of the fuel savings.

The 2003/4 engines weren't that bad. Those were still FICHT engines, but had the bugs worked out by BRP. BRp didn't call them FICHTS though, but instead FICHT RAMS or DFI's. ETEC was simply a redesign of the FICHT technology. It was the 97-00 150/175 that had the most issues. The 200+ had lower unit problems until around late 01 or 02 when they came out with the new lower unit(when they upped the displacement in 01, it made it MUCH worse and neccesetated the need for the improved lowers). Personally I don't think all the FICHTS were bad, but until 01 they had quite a few quality control issues. Still today the best milage from a 2 stroke was from the early FICHTS(and yes, they were MUCh better than the ETECS that replaced them, and eeked out the OPTIMAX in MPG as well). Unfortunately they never could overcome the bad stigma that the 97-00 150/175's gave the FICHT never could be overcome. So BRP had the foresight to rename them ETECS to get beyond the FICHT stigma.

With all that said, I still would not own one. I can buy ALOT of gas for what an EMM costs.

[bgreene]

Therm's got it in more detail.....

I've had Evinrude carb, DFI, and ETEC so reasonably qualified to comment.

Those OMC ficht's had some serious issues, and from what I've read, nearly ended the company.
Bombardier cleaned it up, and it's been good from there. My DFI was an 04' 200 hp and good till I sold it with the Mako boat. Now the Etec is even more refined.

Loyalty among outboard brands runs strong. Now Merc, Yami, and Evinrude offer very good engines. Each of these companies had some DOGS - early Merc Opti's, Yami corrosion.

[tartuffe]

When I sit on my *** watching boats go by my patio in the Florida Keys, a high number of boats have E-Tecs. I would say those boats are in the harshest environment in the U.S. and I would think with year-round boating more hours than anywhere else.

I think it boils down to this when it comes to market share, people want 4-strokes because that's what the masses want. They simply don't know that 2-strokes today are just as quiet, more fuel efficient, better low-end torque, far less scheduled maintenance, and weigh less.

[bigshrimpin]

I just tore down an 01 200 ficht (same displacement block as 225,250). Other than the injectors it is very very similar to the ETEC. I like the Ficht/ETEC injector design vs. the optimax air compressor . . . Just seems simpler, but I'd take a carb motor any day over these complicated DI designs. They might burn more fuel, but they don't have to live on the edge like these new motors.

[bgreene]

Originally Posted by bigshrimpin

I just tore down an 01 200 ficht (same displacement block as 225,250). Other than the injectors it is very very similar to the ETEC. I like the Ficht/ETEC injector design vs. the optimax air compressor . . . Just seems simpler, but I'd take a carb motor any day over these complicated DI designs. They might burn more fuel, but they don't have to live on the edge like these new motors.

Once you go DFI, you never go back ! My Etec's an 05......first year out, and so far, ten years later, performs as new.
Besides the fuel economy....it's how the etec starts that I appreciate over my previous carb motors. No risk of flooding, no cold start challenges, no smokey warm up. Just a very, very brief crank and it's running, much as a car. Especially good at crowded ramps too.

[tartuffe]

Originally Posted by bgreene

Once you go DFI, you never go back ! My Etec's an 05......first year out, and so far, ten years later, performs as new.
Besides the fuel economy....it's how the etec starts that I appreciate over my previous carb motors. No risk of flooding, no cold start challenges, no smokey warm up. Just a very, very brief crank and it's running, much as a car. Especially good at crowded ramps too.

I can't wait for the day I don't have to give my motor a bulb pumping/choking hand job every time I take the cold start challenge! I have zero doubt she will go, its just a matter of how many times it'll cough/gag/spit until its built up enough heat to purr.

[randlemanboater]

Originally Posted by bgreene

No risk of flooding, no cold start challenges, no smokey warm up. Just a very, very brief crank and it's running, much as a car. Especially good at crowded ramps too.

Sounds familiar.