Etec

C

Capt. John O

Well-known member
Well thinking about purchasing a new etec for my center console. 135 or 150. let's hear the good and bad. I been reading mixed opinions online. Next choice is suzuk 4 stroke
 
I have an Etec and also a Yamaha on my boats.
Both the Evinrude and Suzuki are excellent motors. I would base my purchase on the servicing dealer in your area, who is the best to deal with for after the sale service?
 
John

I run a 50 HP Etec on by Beavertail B2. Hull shot is phenomenal and with the addition of a 4 Blade prop the response is extremely tight. Service is on a 300 hour basis vs 100 for Yamaha, I do not know what the advised service period is for Suzuki.

One of the advantages of the Suzuki is that they are one of, if not the lightest motors on the market currently. I ran a Suzuki on a Southern Skimmer for about a year with no problems.

My personal opinion is that the Etec requires less maintenance which equals more time on the water.

Best of luck with the purchase!
 
Test drove a goliath with a 150. Screamed like a raped date.. Liked it. Just hoping for no issues. But like anything there's always something
 
I loved mine... Was a smaller version. FIL has a 60 that runs great... 6 or 7 years old I think? He has put a zillion hours on it trolling downriggers, long runs, stop starts drift jigging.

Mine always started less than a revolution, every time no matter what the temp.
 
I used to have a pair of 150's on a center console
and I have a 60 on my bankes

the 150's were tough on the warranty offer
seemed ever summer that I owned them two or three things
would go wrong and have to go to the dealer for service
I owned them for 5 years and the boat had to be towed by truck to the dealer 12 times, every visit was covered on warranty
the bill ranged from 800 to 3500 for the repair work
sold the boat and engines before the warranty was out
seemed to be the cost to own them, expect to pay a lot to maintain them at the dealer( from what I understand , this is the same with most larger outboards, doesn't matter the maker)

now the 60 hp has not had a problem yet , nock on wood.
all the engines were purchased in 2007
 
I've got experience with 4 E-tecs. Have used them for work. A 75hp 2007......a 115hp 2010.....a 75hp 2014.....and just recently a 90hp 2015, (to replace the 115)

The first 3 cylinder 75 engine was a beast. The most reliable outboard I've ever had the pleasure to work with. It had quirks. Blew main fuses periodically for no apparent reason. It also ate spark plugs. Can't remember which cylinder it was but it would burn a plug up quick. I just got accustom to carrying plugs around. No big deal in the grand scheme of things. Etec guy I deal with told me all of those models had that problem. It finally burned up a cylinder....pretty sure the reason it died was due to the computer malfunctioning and sending incorrect commands to the injectors etc.....these things are REALLY complicated. It was on it's second lower unit and tenth or so water pump kit and probably tenth or so prop too. Was heavily abused. Got 7 years out of it.

Next was the 2010 115.....very different experience with that engine. It was a lemon. Never worked right. The computer malfunctioned constantly. It would overheat sometimes 20 times a day. For no reason. It wasn't really overheating, (I think), if I turned the engine off and restarted it it would run fine like nothing ever happened...until it happened again. It literally did this the first day I ever used it...and the second...third.....mechanic couldn't do anything about it. It also would run system checks constantly...as if it were just starting....and it kept doing it until I got rid of it...all the time.... Just lived with it. Had tons of warranty work done to this thing over the years too. Replaced 3 of the 4 injectors???? Had to replace the flywheel and stator just this spring. Put 3 starters on it for some reason? I cannot explain why. It would blow steam out the exhaust like you wouldn't believe. Mechanic told me it was fine...but....It wasn't. It would look like I was driving a boat that was on fire. Replaced the key switch several times and the (of all things) neutral safety switch in the control box....3 times.....Weird stuff....I have never despised an inanimate object quite as much as this engine. Will NEVER even think about another 4 cylinder E-tec.

Next is the 2014 75hp. Replaced the 2007 75 with this one......This thing hasn't hiccuped yet. Runs perfect 100% of the time. Nothing has ever even come close to going wrong with it yet. Love it.

Next is the 2015 90hp...just got it...it's 3 weeks old. Replaced the 115 after the lower unit gave up. Power head is still good if anyone is looking for a deal? Anyway....jury is still out on this rig. So far it's 100% Got the 3 cylinder with a 25" lower. Kind of obscure. After consulting with my mechanic, (who I have great respect for and know very well), we determined the 3 cylinder was the way to go. He even admitted that the 3's have been great engines....better than the bigger motors. FYI The 75 and 90 are the exact same engine. Only difference being the computer program. I'm not joking. Jeff, (mechanic), told me that Evinrude was reasonable and charged LESS for the 75:) Which is true????

So, there's my experience. Probably not much help. I will say that I'd take a 3 cylinder E-tec anywhere. Wouldn't touch a 4 cylinder. Have no experience with the 6 or 8.
 
I don't have any experience with evinrude but I just came from their website and might be buying me a e-tec 40 horse 2 stroke tomorrow got to go see it at the dealer before I buy. I was surprised because I thought nobody built 2 strokes anymore. I run merc 40's suped up have been all my life but they are getting hard to find parts for down here now.
 
I have a Suzuki DF140, if you go that direction. I have had it about 8 years, it has always run great. It has around 750 hours on it at this point. I have it on an old Robalo 20", the boat weighs 2130 lbs with nothing in it. I really don't do much to it besides annual winterization and changing the water pump impeller every 2-3 years and normal fluid replacement(crank and lower unit lubes). It is easy to maintain and do minor work on(change oil, impeller, plugs, etc...) It is a straight 4 and they have made this engine for years(15-20). Has a lot of torque, not much of a hole shot, cruises nice around 42-4300, wot is 6000. Sips fuel. The Suzuki 90, 115, and 140 all use the same block and they are all good. I would have no opinion on other size Suzuki's because they are different engines. I think all of the mfr's make good engines, but some are better in certain sizes than others. You need to find a few people that have the 135 and 150 ETEC's and hear what they have to say to really find out about those engines.
 
Will I may not be getting the eyes found out not sure if it's true yet, you can't sup them up. But I did see Nissan is making big displacment 40 hours 2 strokes and I know you can sip them up and they are a lil lighter in weight then the exec lol and cheaper.
 
"Here" no commercial guys use an Etec, We all use 4 strokes, Honda, and Suzuki are both very good if you have a dealer nearby. Honda's are lighter, and easier to service. Difficulty in service? nope, just put gas in them and change the oil now and then, put some ethanol treatment in the gas, and use a water separator/filter, get the Racor, I use a Honda 40 on my skiff, this is my third one, each one has / had thousands of hours with NO breakdowns. Your Etec will never do that.
 
In our area, most of the guides including myself run Suzuki's & it's not due to serviceability (More Yama service centers in area) but reliability.

That being said, the new E-Tecs are phenomenal & the marine mech's in our area are raving about the new features such as drive-by-wire, weight & serviceability.

Most guys that have them now either love them & state it the best motor they've ever owned or hated them & have switched to Suzuki's.

In the end, all the major manufacturers have their goods & bads & I will second to go with a brand there it can be serviced locally to get you back on the water.

If time & distance doesn't matter that much, then go with a Suzuki.
 
"Here" no commercial guys use an Etec, We all use 4 strokes, Honda, and Suzuki are both very good if you have a dealer nearby. Honda's are lighter, and easier to service. Difficulty in service? nope, just put gas in them and change the oil now and then, put some ethanol treatment in the gas, and use a water separator/filter, get the Racor, I use a Honda 40 on my skiff, this is my third one, each one has / had thousands of hours with NO breakdowns. Your Etec will never do that.
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I don't know where you're from on the East coast but plenty of commercial guys run Etec's out of Freeport NY.I know of one that ran 5600 hrs with only maintenance work done on the engine .That being said Evinrude ,Yammie and Suzuki are very reliable engines.
 
Had a 2007 150hp etec with 1400 flawless hours when I sold her.. I have a 2012 25 etec on my duck boat which has been flawless also..
 
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