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Posts: 91
| The boat I'm looking at has an 2007 Evinrude E-Tec 225 H.O.
There is no warranty and I was wondering if there are any known issues with this engine?? The motor has less than 50 hours on it.
Thanks again
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Posts: 91
| Any help here guys? I have read that these engines could have problems with the powerheads. I'm not here to bash Evinrude or any other brand but I'm trying to get information before I lay out more than 30,000 for a boat & motor with no warranty
Thnaks
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Posts: 91
| Thank you for your input TJ
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Posts: 34
Location: madison chain | check out the motor forums on bassboatcentral.com. |
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| i would not buy one of those motors without a warranty. i've had two and they both blew up. one at 300 hrs and the other at 120 hrs. When they run they are really good motors. like the other poster stated - mostly pros use these motors and they get new boats/motors every year and have the evinrude fix it trailer at their disposal at the tournaments. Like i said really good motors but i would not buy another unless it has a warranty. |
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Posts: 102
Location: Bowling Green, KY | I have always been a lover of Johnson and Evinrude motors, as a matter of fact my 97 Lowe 170 has a Johnson 60 on it that runs great, but that is from the OMC days. I have heard too many horror stories about BRP era E-tec (Ficht) motors to be confident in purchasing one without a warranty. A fellow in a local bass club won one through FLW Fantasy fishing and it too has blown up twice and lost a lower unit once. All was covered by warranty, and, in the end, the motor was free, but my time off is precious and I'd hate to think my boat had to be tied up in the shop for two or three weeks ( or months) during prime fishing time. I personally feel that Ficht fuel injection sunk OMC and is one reason BRP chose to change the name to E-tec to get away from the stigma associated with the ficht name.
Edited by Performance_Tuned 4/9/2010 9:28 AM
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | I wouldn't unless it was priced at a discount. To be honest after my experience with my Opti I'd be hesitant to buy ANY DFI motor used. 4 strokes just seem to have a longer lifespan the DFI's and if you're going to keep the rig for a while or run up the hours you're probably going to be money ahead going with a 4stroke.
My $.02 |
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| I bought an 06' 620 w/ a 06' E-Tec HO with 08' Powerhead. I've been lucky to have a warranty for another 3 yrs but I was so nervous about making the purchase. So far it's been perfect and not one issue at all. At this point I'd buy another one. Personally, I wouldnt buy any outboard without a warranty. I've heard horror stories with all brands but so far I love the E-Tec. Surprisingly, I kinda feel a little better knowing my outboard blew it's original powerhead and when I bought my Ranger the 08' powerhead had less than 60 hours on it. I'm betting on they corrected the issue and the later models 08' and up seem to be pretty decent. I think Merc, Yamaha and Evinrude are all good motors but with that kind of investment your making I wouldnt even consider buying any of them without a warranty. |
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Posts: 299
| Have the seller take it to dealer for a scan. This might give you a heads up on any past or present issues. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | I'd be leary of any HO or Pro XS without warranty...those 2 motors are wound pretty tight to get the HP out of them they do... buying used motors is def taking a big risk w/ out warranty...even with a scan from the dealer you never know....25 hours into running it, it could blow... |
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Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | As could a Suzuki. How does one 'wind a motor tight' to get horsepower? The Opti Pro XS and HO models don't have any more problems in the field than the same horsepower 'standard' models that I've seen...and I've seen a TON of both in severe use.
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Posts: 1460
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | I haven't owned alot of motors, so I can't compare, but I the powerhead on my EVIE H.O. blew 1 month after the 3 year warranty expired when I went drove her hard to a spot 2 miles away. Fortunately, after the computer scan indicated I'd taken good care of her, they replaced it under a 'good faith' warranty extension. Whew! No probs since, but I DO baby her now...no more wide open runs for me. |
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Posts: 193
Location: Mayer, MN | sworrall - 4/9/2010 4:13 PM
As could a Suzuki. How does one 'wind a motor tight' to get horsepower? The Opti Pro XS and HO models don't have any more problems in the field than the same horsepower 'standard' models that I've seen...and I've seen a TON of both in severe use.
Higher compression is what I am guessing was meant by 'wind a motor tight'. Tighter tolerances possibly. |
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| Stay AWAY WITH NO WARRANTY!!! Mine blew with 118 hrs on it out of warranty, BRP wouldn't do anything. Had to junk it. Ouch!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | as a former 2-stroke sled owner, racer ... we ran most all technology from the bpm, yami, kawi, suzi and kohler 2-strokers both free-air and liquid-cooled. when you go to performance 2-strokers you are in a place that "most" others don't operate and the resulting torque, rpm and hp doesn't come by some freak of nature. it comes from the design, compression and explosions inside those cylinders that aren't happening in the other motors plain and simple. there are a number of places fuel, exhaust, manifold porting, ring-design and fuel/oil combinations that make it happen.
a fair question is this ... would it be different to own a high-performance two-stroker as a professional or someone who breaks it in and runs it for a year or two vs. someone who would own it for a lifetime?
any of my race sleds were fast as can be on the track on the weekend, but i'd never use em everyday to go trail riding or to get the groceries.
if you buy a motor you need to know what you intend to do with it and then select what fits you or be prepared to pay for what you chose to own/maintain.
and that right there is the truth.
best to go talk to someone who knows a little about a 2-stroker and get their opinion ...
nelson fortunately or unfortunately is dead-nuts on correcto-mundo.
if you buy something out of warranty ... best to get a phat-running 2 or a 4-stroker and not one of the hot-rods. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | well it's funny to me that every one that had an HO chiming in on this thread blew theirs up... and even said in another thread I think that the only guys he see's running H.O's with any consistency are the guys that turn them in after 1 yr .... so a regular opti has X # of HP, and a Pro XS same engine size has more right? same w/ the HO's...to me anytime you try to crank out more HP out of any given 2 stroke size motor, whether it's in a snowmobile, motocross bike, etc you are asking for trouble..and I've tinkered and blown up enough 2 stroke motors since 1986 to think that is true...but maybe not... but I wouldn't buy an HO w/ out a warranty!
again, I will say I don't know as much as I could but I also haven't heard of a guy who hasn't blown his HO! ; )
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| i wonder what the reliability will be on the new sho yami
4stroker with 4.2l reportedly with 2 stroke performance.
it could be a game changer for the industry.
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Posts: 299
| Hoffy,
I'm curious on what your decision is on the E-Tec purchase w/o warranty? |
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Posts: 91
| With the information received from this forum I have concluded that if I buy a used H.O. I will make sure that there is an extended warranty with it.
Thanks everyone |
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Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | 'well it's funny to me that every one that had an HO chiming in on this thread blew theirs up... and even Merckid said in another thread I think that the only guys he see's running H.O's with any consistency are the guys that turn them in after 1 yr .... so a regular opti has X # of HP, and a Pro XS same engine size has more right? same w/ the HO's...to me anytime you try to crank out more HP out of any given 2 stroke size motor, whether it's in a snowmobile, motocross bike, etc you are asking for trouble..and I've tinkered and blown up enough 2 stroke motors since 1986 to think that is true...but maybe not... but I wouldn't buy an HO w/ out a warranty! '
The 'build' on the HO and Pro XS are completely different than the standard models. They are not taking a standard 225 and trying to boost the HP by running them 'hotter'. Up until the Pro XS models, the XS models were Mercury Racing motors and were built on a completely different line, and assembled by hand. The Pro XS models are now built as a standard production motor to Merc Racing specs; and sled, that line is well known to produce the most durable motors one might buy. Been to both factories several times, and I've watched those motors in the processes of being built. These ain't special build racing sleds and the actual output isn't THAT much higher than the 225 Opti or Rude. These are production outboards that have to be warrantied for a long period of time, and the durability under normal to severe use has to be there. You are a business savvy guy, would it make sense to build a popular, well selling 225 that would require multiple warranty visits? Both Bombardier and Merc know how to build an engine. Tell me, how much does the USCG/NMMA allow over the actual prop shaft horsepower on the cowl for the 'performance' engines? That's why the 200 Merc Opti wasn't originally available as an XS...it already was there.
MANY of the FLW/AIM Tour Pros run their motors two years, and some more than that. The number of hours they run is roughly equal to three times normal use and much more abusive because of the waters they fish and number of days they spend on the water. At one event last year, the average distance traveled every day, including prefish, was over 130 miles. If a motor is going to fail regularly, it will be there, and I'm at the service trailers several times an event talking to the tech folks. Both brands had bugs to work out of a couple engines first year out, and both did so to the point where those models now are extremely reliable engines.
The idea all the HO models are 'bad' is just plain incorrect.
When you get the chance to see as many V6 Outboards in extreme use as we do on the Walleye Trails, your perspective might be a little different.
There's a huge number of HO Evinrudes running out there with no issues at all or Bombardier/Evinrude would be in trouble; and it's obvious they are not. I'm on the ground at the AIM. FLW, and MWC events and see these engines in severe use regularly, and I can tell you the incidence of warranty of the HO and Pro XS (especially the Pro XS) is actually about average compared to all the engines built by both manufacturers according to the technical folks from both companies.
I've seen as many Suzuki outboards down by ratio as Evinrude...does that make Suzi a bad choice?
Of course not. |
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Posts: 299
| Very informative Steve! I've got to say that so far I love my HO. I bought the E-Tec knowing the 06' powerhead blew after 2.5 yrs and was replaced with a brand new 08' and got it with less than 60hrs on it. It took me a long time to make this decision after hearing so many horror stories but I really dug deeper and became confident on buying an E-Tec with practically a new powerhead. I've ran her hard down in Cave Run recently for 3 days straight right out of storage and she ran flawless. The prevous owner had taken such good care of the engine and followed all warranty guidelines. I also ease up on her and make sure if I notice anything out of the ordinary, she's going to the dealer. As of now, I'm under the impression that sometime long down the road I'd be completely open to purchasing another E-Tec. Thanks for providing such good information! All these outboards out today are great and I'd have no problem owning anyone of them as long as I had some sort of warranty. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | if i'm a manufacturer selling a 2-stroke with a long warranty i'd jet em phat which is pretty much what they do, outboards, sleds, atv's you name it. takes some performance away for the gear-heads but certainly not for john q public and allows for the underwriters to insure the warranties for the manufacturers.
the guy was asking about buying a used big-block outboard without warranty, right? ... 2-stroke vs. a comparable displacement 4-stroke, i pick the 4-stroke. it's just a safer gamble if you are going to take it on an expensive late-model outside of warranty.
so, if they de-tuned the race motor and it runs like an opti ... what's the benefit of the proxs?
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/outboards/optimax/proxs_featur... |
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Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I didn't say they 'de-tuned' the XS, I think they run about 500 RPM higher, allowing for more top end through prop selection. The actual prop shaft horsepower is within the percentage variance allowed.
Both 225 models are Opti Max engines.
Curious, sled, why the 4 stroke if the warranty is up? I hear the opposite from some dealers and consumers. Of course, there's no option for a 4 stroke in a Rude V6 so the point is moot for this question. |
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| i've had pretty good luck with 200hp Optis over the past couple years, and i love the performance that the motor offers.
and while the ProXS models have a certain appeal, i've wondered some of the same exact thoughts as people are raising here: "what's the cost of the added performance from running at those higher rpms?" i think it's pretty normal to wonder, and like with many products you see the highest rate of problems when a new model first comes out - give it a few years and most responsible companies do a good job of getting the kinks worked out. of course, i prefer to let others be the "field testers"...
http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/outboards/optimax/proxs_features.php
Consumer Reports just issued a "do not buy" recommendation on the Lexus GX460 SUV, something that retails at over $50k.
oddly, the Lexus website only has good things to say about the vehicle, even pointing out the features of the electronic braking/stability control features which are actually the thing that causes the vehicle to roll over.
just because a company says it, doesn't make it so.
Edited by lambeau 4/13/2010 10:09 PM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | 4-strokes by virtue of the combustion and method of lubrication, the compression ratios, the rpm's they run etc...
that-is unless you give me the diesel option then i'd pick that for similar reasons.
for me it's longevity and i'll sacrifice some performance to get the reliability. others some gear-heads like the performance over reliability and that's why they sell sports cars and minivans too.
performance, hole-shots and top-end speed are not free ...
Edited by jonnysled 4/13/2010 10:12 PM
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | lambeau - 4/13/2010 10:05 PM
http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/outboards/optimax/proxs_features.php
Consumer Reports just issued a "do not buy" recommendation on the Lexus GX460 SUV, something that retails at over $50k.
oddly, the Lexus website only has good things to say about the vehicle, even pointing out the features of the electronic braking/stability control features which are actually the thing that causes the vehicle to roll over.
just because a company says it, doesn't make it so.
I'm sure the Lexus website says that, but my reason for providing the link wasn't to direct people there to read why Mercury says it's the best. The link provides the differences of the Optimax and the Optimax Pro XS, since some were wondering. |
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Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | 'i think it's pretty normal to wonder, and like with many products you see the highest rate of problems when a new model first comes out - give it a few years and most responsible companies do a good job of getting the kinks worked out. of course, i prefer to let others be the "field testers"...'
I ran my first 250 XS in 2002. The Opti Merc racing blocks have been available for quite some time. Testing was done years in advance of release, I saw my first 250 XS at Mercabo ( Mercury test Facility they have since sold, was in Florida) years before that...on a test boat. I'll never forget asking what the heck that thing was...and not getting an answer.
The computer testing on my 175 Pro XS showed less than 10% WOT after a year. Most of my higher RPM operation was in the 5200-5400 range, which with that engine and prop would be about the same performance/speed as a standard 175 Opti WOT.
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Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | sled,
I see some brands of diesel outboards are built over seas...but all small bore. Is that because of the sheer size and weight of the diesel engine technology? |
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| the biggest maker i saw over there is Tohatsu. the mekong delta is filled with diesel boat motors.
in that comparisson ... the "wound-tight" er "loose" really applies.
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