ETEC durability vs Yamaha/Mercury 4 Strokes

Have a buddy who has a fleet of 5 etecs, twin 150hp gen 1 etecs on a 26' Stanley aluminum and 3 v4 115-130hp engines. The twin engine stanley has been blowing motors with under a season of water taxi use and warranty has been painful this year. Going on 3 months of a wait since the blown motor was dropped at the dealer and still have no engine. He blew another one yesterday morning with 413 hours and is now without his main water taxi.

The owner is talking about switching to Yamaha or Mercury 4 strokes as replacements. Do the 150hp yamaha's or mercury's run about the same performance in twin applications as what the ETEC's do? He is very happy with the performance of the Evinrudes but blowing motors every 4-600 hours is getting old.

Most of the new motors are like no need for a fixem book.....or parts....The guy selling them is allways saying..... the best.... till 5 years pass then he is selling the best........

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Originally Posted by Dave S

Most of the new motors are like no need for a fixem book.....or parts....The guy selling them is allways saying..... the best.... till 5 years pass then he is selling the best........

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The crazy part is the two engines on the boat were brand new installs this year. The engine that blew in May is still at the dealer getting a new powerhead. He has blown 4 150hp etecs since last spring

Blown how, what let go?

Usually cylinder 1 or 2. They lose all compression. Looks like it is typically injector failure as it shows damage like detonation and the tip of the plug is full of aluminum. None have thrown an injector code but Evinrude always puts a new injector on the failed cylinder. I think there was one motor that lost cylinder 3 or 4, i cant remember which side it was on

I know a few folks locally with Yamaha and merc 150 4-strokes and they are all thrilled with them and swear they’ll never go back to 2-strokes. As compared to modern car motors, they are both very simple and reliable designs.

I've seen four-strokes burn pistons running hard on cheap res bargain fuel. Too bad though, could it be heavy loading and not enough rpm, any engine will hate that.

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Originally Posted by engineermike

I know a few folks locally with Yamaha and merc 150 4-strokes and they are all thrilled with them and swear they’ll never go back to 2-strokes. As compared to modern car motors, they are both very simple and reliable designs.

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Glad to hear. I figured they should be more dependable over the long haul. I was not sure how they compared for power. They had a 225hp yamaha 4 stroke years ago but it didnt last a season. They figured it was a fluke it blew up so quick.

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Originally Posted by FMP

I've seen four-strokes burn pistons running hard on cheap res bargain fuel. Too bad though, could it be heavy loading and not enough rpm, any engine will hate that.

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It doesnt seem to be. Theyve never had a complaint with it feeling like its lugging too hard. I have only driven the boat a handful of times but it hasnt felt that way to me either. I was running the boat empty, not with 10 people and cargo as they do.

Detonation can happen at any point in the hours running. Could have been a 190 hr melt down, funny how it goes. What's the factory saying about running temp, throttle position, rpm etc? I'm sure they had a good look. Will it turn 6+ empty, just wondering? I'd think you would want it on the rev limiter empty.

Bad gas?

91 V Shell, one less thing to worry about.

Texas Parks and Wildlife (game wardens) has the same trouble with the E-Tecs. They're switching to Yamahas. The Evinrudes work great for a recreational user but they don't like working a full shift every day!

As someone who was an OMC tech from 1981 and loves a two stroke engine, my 50 four stroke Yamaha has sold me. Going on six years old and has not missed a beat. Drove it 220 miles down the intercoastal waterway last summer and had total confidence in it.

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Originally Posted by nitro_rat

The Evinrudes work great for a recreational user but they don't like working a full shift every day!

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Sounds like a few people I know.