ETEC 175 outboard powerhead failures

[doelake]

Okay gentlemen, here's my plight... purchased a new 2007 model E175DSLSUF serial #5160543 for my 2007 nordic bowrider. After 22:38 hours, powerhead failure due to lost compression on 3 cylinders. BRP shipped new dressed powerhead and back into the water we go. At 38:07 hours (less than 16 hours later) compression failure in two cylinders results in another dressed powerhead replacement from BRP. Now at 151:12 hours another 3 cylinders failed compression, but because I am 40 days out of warranty, BRP is passing the buck to insurance which no doubt will result in blue book payout, leaving me without a boat for the summer and little or no recourse but to consider legal action for a $20,000.00 cdn purchase that has history of failures.

Any advice would be welcome.

Anthony Rizzo

[Jim285pro]

What did they say was the reason for that many failures?

[doelake]

No reason was given for the failures, but there may have been an oiling issue, so after the first two replacements they re-mapped the engine to use XD50 instead of XD100 as when purchased. The diagnostics showed the engine always performed within proper specs, no faults were detected, meaning no operator errors in operation of the boat/motor.

[Jim285pro]

That sucks. Get what you can back and switch to Yammie or Merc I guess. Bring on the hate comments.

[Bassmeister]

The first failure of a 175 I've heard anything about.

[doelake]

It shares the same block as the 125/150, so I wondered if there were issues with the smaller hp?

[Huey]

Hi, sorry to hear of your problems but that is wrong, no such thing as a 125HP E-TEC. The 2.6L V6 150-200HP have been great for us and I guess the cause of the first failure was not repaired and caused the second and if not fixed it will cause the third and fourth powerheads and so on to fail. Are you running 3/8 fuel line, have no anti-syphon valve and if so a BRP spec one, you have a water seperating fuel filter and propped correctly. What is your WOT RPM and any codes stored on the EMM. I would get someone else to see why it failed and do the proper fuel tests on the hull if you chose to get the powerhead replaced again.

Putting that number into dealerport it shows two P/Hs back in July and August 2006 and the warranty expired on the 1st of June 2009. Do you have history reports you can post to see if soemthing sticks out?

Cheers,

Huey.

[ChampioNman]

2007 and you have a 3 year warranty? Or did you by a promo motor from a pro? If you bought the motor from a BRP dealer you should have 1 extra year warranty. Did you opt for the extended warranty?

[doelake]

Thanks Huey, you're correct, I meant to say 150-200 hp but gapped. I have the printouts for the last three powerheads. P/H #1 shows max rpm @ 5503 but averaged @3500-3999. Engine temp. maxed @ 169F stbd, 166F port. EMM temp maxd @ 129.6F, average was @ 104-121F. No faults recorded.

P/H #2 shows max rpm @ 5188, averaging between 3500-3999 most of the time. Engine temp max @ 172.6F stbd, 166.3F port. EMM temp max @ 142.2F, average was between 104-121F. No faults recorded.

P/H # 3 shows max rpm @ 6150, 13% @ 3000-3500, 8% @ 500-6000.
Engine temp profile max @ 172.4 stbd, 167.0 port. Compression in cylinders 2,4,6 were 90,60,&70 psi respectively. Compression in cylinders 1,3,5 were all at 110 psi.

If I knew how to upload these reports to you, I would be happy for the assistance.

Regards,

Anthony

[doelake]

Thank-you for your question. I purchased new June 1st, 2006 from a dealer. I received a 3 year factory warranty with extended coverage for a further 4 years expiring 06-01-2013. This extended package is provided by FPC Marine service. They have denied the claim, stating in a letter to me, that the cause of engine failure was faulty block design at the exhaust ports causing scoring of the cylinders by the piston rings, thereby causing compression loss.
Neither organization wishes to cover me for the problem, so I sit at my marina without a boat to enjoy for the remainder of the summer season.

Sucks to be me,

Anthony

[Huey]

Hi Anthony, have you been using the same prop and at same engine height because to have a WOT RPM gap of 5188 to 6150 is ALOT on the same boat. I find it hard to believe the insurance company claims and if that was so every 2.6L E-TEC would be blowing up and as I said we have not seen one P/H failure here on the 2.6L so unless they can prove that the 2.6L block has a design fault I would press them on it. As you mentioned though mate you are stuck and I feel for you, but if the insurance company does the right thing by you and replacing the powerhead you need to find a cause for three different powerheads failing otherwise you will see it happen again on your hull.

Cheers,

Huey.

[ChampioNman]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Huey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hi Anthony, have you been using the same prop and at same engine height because to have a WOT RPM gap of 5188 to 6150 is ALOT on the same boat. I find it hard to believe the insurance company claims and if that was so every 2.6L E-TEC would be blowing up and as I said we have not seen one P/H failure here on the 2.6L so unless they can prove that the 2.6L block has a design fault I would press them on it. As you mentioned though mate you are stuck and I feel for you, but if the insurance company does the right thing by you and replacing the powerhead you need to find a cause for three different powerheads failing otherwise you will see it happen again on your hull.

Cheers,

Huey.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That was my next post the dealer should have had a BRP Tech rep come onsite and inspect the motor set up and install after the second PH loss. Something just doesn't seem right about the claim being rejected.

[doelake]

Thanks Huey, I should have stated that the replacements were complete dressed heads, meaning new everything on the top end except for the engine cowling. The prop on the first two engines was a s.s. 21' 4 blade, after that we re-propped the boat with an aluminum 19' 3 blade prop to bring the rpms up to optimal operating ranges. That is why the difference in max rpm values. All service was and has been performed by licensed Evinrude techs from the date of purchase to winterizing to current. My concern is that I have had 3 new engines replaced by the manufacturer without question, with only 151 hours total on all 3, and yet after the warranty expires, thinking I had comprehensive coverage for a further 4 years, I'm left twisting in the wind. That is why I started to investigate to see if I'm the only unlucky owner, or if others have experienced similar issues.

And despite all this, I have talked 4 other boaters into purchasing ETECs this past season. They are all moored at my marina wondering if the problems will befall them too.

Regards,

Anthony

[doelake]

A BRP tech did come out for replacements 2 & 3. That is when they spoke of oiling issues and re-mapped my motor to use XD-50 instead of XD-100.

[ChampioNman]

I would think he would have checked for fuel issues instead of oiling issues and checking the rigging on your boat. Unfortunately I have no access to dealer port to look up your motor history or claims tonight but I may be able to do so later tomorrow.

[doelake]

That would be great. I would appreciate any feedback to help me resolve this.

Regards,

Anthony

[ChampioNman]

I can't promise anything as BRP makes the final decision on these deals. The area TSR for BRP should have found an issue if there was one and it appears there is with the boat. Not the motor.

[rudetech1]

I would be checking the boats fuel supply system. If there is too much vaccum on the system, the engines run lean. Faulty fuel check valves,hoses and various switching valves are usually the cause of a fuel lean out issue that can sometimes affect fuel to the cylinders. The fuel needs to flow freely with no more than 1-2 lb of hg. at w.o.t.. At 4 lbs, fuel starts to pull apart. The engines run good, but they won't run long.