E-Tec owners - any major problems?

[brew]

I purchased a pair of 225's in July 2005. Have run them with little tweaks but not any major problems. Since having the plugs changed, I've been pretty happy with my purchase.

With less than 300 hours on them, I now have a major issue with my port engine. Running in this past Sunday at almost 40 mph, the port engine just shuts off. Limp home on one engine not knowing what happened and being extra cautious after checking things out and can't figure what just happened.

Mechanic takes a look at it yesterday and tells me it's either the powerhead or the gear case. He couldn't tell with the boat in the water because it's totally locked up and wouldn't start. WTF?!?!?!?!?!? He said it was the first time he's heard of this happening to an E-Tec.

Has anyone else had or heard of this happening to E-Tec engines?? Not the old Ficht's or any other Evinrude model. These are the new E-Tec's.

thanks for any info.

[johnseafood]

We put a 250 on my boat and I have had no problems with it at all. Amazing motor and power, quiet as all. Sorry I couldn't help you out we stil haven't had a problem

[striper101]

Last Feb, we put trip 250's on the boat! The only thing that was done so far is the plugs getting changed out. So, No! Not anything major at all. I guess I should add that we rarely take it over 400 rpm's. Most of the time we run them at 3800. That still puts us at a cruise of 25 to 32 kts.

[matey8941]

if u own a boat with twin 225s it cant be too big...and if you were doing 40 MPH did u ever think u were running them a little too hard.....if your running them engines at 5000 RPM things are going to want to come apart.....i may be wrong but just my .02

[Going Deep]

I've got a pair of 225's with right at 300 hours...other than plugs and the update no issues at all.

[barnacle bills marine]

In the 2005 model year we have about 30 3.3 liter ETEC's running around. The 2005 model year was a hard engine to get. Large backorders that took months to fill. We received some of the first ones off the line. Out of these engines we had 2 one a 250 and he other a 200 that seized up solid without any warning. Both enignes had under 10 hours on them. Both were some of the first batchs. After that that is all the powerhead failures we have seen. We did have a 2006 225 that blew up but the customer was running with cheap West Marine TCW3 oil when the ETEC was set up to run XD100 oil. It lasted 80 hours on this oil. If yours were delivered in July then that was a later batch. Our model year change over is in July so the 2006 were right around the courner.

The tech should of pulled the spark plugs out. It would be a sure sign if it was in the gearcase or powerhead.
There are a few things that I would look at if it is the powerhead. First is the oil tank. Is the right oil being used and is there any water in the system? The second is the running and temps profile to see if everything has been running at the correct ranges. Is the enigne sitting on a bracket? If so take a good look at the temps and see where its been running. I also like to install the high flow water pickups on all bracket boats. This is a very cheap and easy to install kit. I think its under $20.00 This will allow more water to be pulled into the engine. I would ask if the boat is propped out right. The 225 should be turning between 5150 to 5500 rpms. Im guessing the tech had a laptop with him to check for any codes. Did he find any and if so what were they?

As you can see there are many items that will need to be looked at. Who is doing the service?

[brew]

if u own a boat with twin 225s it cant be too big...and if you were doing 40 MPH did u ever think u were running them a little too hard.....if your running them engines at 5000 RPM things are going to want to come apart.....i may be wrong but just my .02

The boat is a 2796 Hydra Sports CC Vector. The twin 225's push it just fine. If running the engines at 4400 - 4600 rpms / 34 - 35 knots on a glass, lake-like day is too much then there are other issues at hand. The max rpm's for the engines is well beyond what I run them at.

[brew]

In the 2005 model year we have about 30 3.3 liter ETEC's running around. The 2005 model year was a hard engine to get. Large backorders that took months to fill. We received some of the first ones off the line. Out of these engines we had 2 one a 250 and he other a 200 that seized up solid without any warning. Both enignes had under 10 hours on them. Both were some of the first batchs. After that that is all the powerhead failures we have seen. We did have a 2006 225 that blew up but the customer was running with cheap West Marine TCW3 oil when the ETEC was set up to run XD100 oil. It lasted 80 hours on this oil. If yours were delivered in July then that was a later batch. Our model year change over is in July so the 2006 were right around the courner.

The tech should of pulled the spark plugs out. It would be a sure sign if it was in the gearcase or powerhead.
There are a few things that I would look at if it is the powerhead. First is the oil tank. Is the right oil being used and is there any water in the system? The second is the running and temps profile to see if everything has been running at the correct ranges. Is the enigne sitting on a bracket? If so take a good look at the temps and see where its been running. I also like to install the high flow water pickups on all bracket boats. This is a very cheap and easy to install kit. I think its under $20.00 This will allow more water to be pulled into the engine. I would ask if the boat is propped out right. The 225 should be turning between 5150 to 5500 rpms. Im guessing the tech had a laptop with him to check for any codes. Did he find any and if so what were they?

As you can see there are many items that will need to be looked at. Who is doing the service?

I believe the engines I got were actually '06's. My order was back-logged for over a month before delivery. The engines are set for the XD100 and that was the only oil I've ever put in them. I've seen no signs of water or moisture in the tanks. I'm not sure if the guy put them on the laptop or not. He didn't mention any codes.
I bought them at Art Merrill's in Absecon and will be taking the boat to them this weekend for the service.
Thanks for the reply and info. We'll see what happens. But they told me whatever the problem is that BRP replaces the entire component and doesn't send just parts to be rebuilt, which sounds like a good thing.

[barnacle bills marine]

Yes BRP will send if what ever went bad. If the powerhead did blow then a complete powerhead will be sent in. It will have everything new from the EMM to the Fuel Injectors. If the gearcase went bad then a whole new gearcase will be sent.

If you ever have any problems feel free to give us a call or feel free to drop the boat off at any time for service.

[johnseafood]

I run mine at 4200 all the time and its pushes my boat a 23 grady to 28kts pin it and it brings us to 37kts. My boat is heavy as all and is 9'3 wide. I just wish we put twin 175 etecs on it but watch out for next year. Over the winter we might just do it or we'll have a 28 carolina classic