New E-TEC questions

[wi_yooper]

Hey Guys,

I've been hanging out for a while absorbing all the good information and advice available from this site, and now I've got a question for you.

I've got a 200 E-TEC HO on order and was wondering if there is any advice pertaining to the inital 10 hours on the motor and the oil used. Is there a preference to run xd50 oil for the first 10 hours since the lubrication amount is greater and then cut over to xd100? I realize there might be a cost benefit, but I am really looking to make sure I just do this right! You could also do something like run xd100 oil with the motor programmed for XD50 to get extra lubrication, although this might just be a stupid thought.

Along the same line, I live in Wisconsin, so we can run in some pretty cold weather, even into mid-May. I have heard that you can get false oil warnings running in temps below 40 degrees with xd50. For that reason I am leaning to getting the inital programming set to the xd100 setting, but wanted to make sure that the gurus felt that there were no downsides to this approach.

Let me know that you think.
Thanks a lot.

[johnrude]

Have it programmed for the XD100 from the get go. THis way it does not have to go back to the dealer to be reprogramed. I believe the 10 hours has been cut down to 5 hours on the big V-6's. Like you state since you still have cold weather you will prevent the no oil light. You will be very happy with your 200 HO. They are awsome outboards.

[santee bass]

I think it might be 3 hours on the 06 model.

[200xp]

Welcome to BBC....I own a 225HO ETEC. I have had it almost a year. I did nothing special in the first 10 hours. BRP states no break in required and I took their word. I had the motor programmed for xd100 and have run it WOT since the day I first turned it on. I have run mine in 20 degree weather without any problems and I have had zero problems since the purchase. You are going to love your etec, they are one awesome motor.

[RUSTY63]

Welcome to the BBC.

As posted, have the motor programed for the XD-100 from the start and run the motor any way you want to.

By the way, the "extra oil period" is only two hours.

[wi_yooper]

Thanks guys. The info is much appreciated.

Now I just have to wait a few more weeks. The only thing saving my sanity at this point is that the water is still hard here!

I'm sure looking forward to this new rig. I've been running an '85 xp150 for 15yrs now and have had really good luck with it. I got the chance to run a 200 HO FICHT a couple of years back and was really impresssed with that motor as well, but the timing just wasn't right to pull the trigger. Now based on everything I have been following, I am glad I waited.

Thanks again.

[smitty3115]

I just recieved my new 2006 Stratos Pro200 with a 225 E-Tec HO. I was very surprised to remove the engine cowling and find a sticker on the starboard side of the air box stating "This engine has been programed at the factory to run XD-100 oil. Use of any other oil may damage your engine". I am some what distraught as I know my dealer filled up the oil reservoir with XD-50 and then gave me two more gallons of XD-50 to use. Moreover, he advised me to run through most of the XD-50 oil before bringing the engine back to him to have the engine "re-programed" for the XD-100. I noticed that there is hardly any buildup of the black carbon residue common to double oiling that is building up on the inside of the prop.
My question is twofold: With over two hours on the engine, am I harming it by not running the XD-100? Will it hurt to continue to run the XD-50?

Smitty

[John from IL]

Smitty,

I have seen a couple of occassions where the wrong oil programming sticker got put on at the factory. In 2 hours of running, there is no concern for harming anything.

I would stop by the dealers, show them the XD-100 sticker on the air box and ask them to verify what oil the EMM is programmed for. It should be (and probably is) in TCW-3/XD-50 mode. There's no problem in continuing to run the XD-50, but as some of the others have said its perfectly ok to run the XD-100 from day 1.

I believe there are 2 schools of thought out there, as far as why some dealers insist on running several gallons of XD-50 before switching to XD-100.

First, if the owner runs hard and fast, the engine will drink lots of oil during the initial 2 hour double oil mode, this has 1 benefit: It keeps your oil expenses down.

And second, there is still the "never break-in anything on synthetic oil" mentality. While that may be true on a 4-stroke outboard, it is absolutely unnecessary with an E-TEC.

Good Luck with the new rig Master Guns!

-John

[stan]

Isn't XD 100 a semi-synthetic oil?

[Bassmeister]

Nope, xd-50 is...... The xd-100 is full syn!!

[smitty3115]

Thanks for the "Straight Skinny" Chief. My dealer is over 400 miles away. So I'll continue the TCW III XD 50 for a while before I "drop in" for a visit. LOL
And while I represent both schools of thought, my Marine Corps mentality (Hardheaded) definitely leads me to the second!

Smitty

[rudetech1]

Dude!!! BUY IT, RUN IT, DON"T WORRY BOUT" IT. Once you get passed break in , you'll be wondering if it's using it!!! I does, but sips it compared to the old smokers.

[bass buster]

BBC wi _yooper its a great site.
Run it like you stole it .
I had a 90 Etec put on my pontoon last spring and the whole summer didn't use but a 1/2 gallon of xd 100 oil and it gets used a lot and I picked up a new 225HO ETec last fall and they are great
run the xd 100 from the get go i and hang on

[johnrude]

This sticker belongs on the oil tank and not under the cover. Under the cover should be a yellow tag oil line that states use XD100 oil, or a blue tag that says use XD50 oil. Thank god you took your motor cover off and saw this. At this point you should not of damaged anything. Even set to XD100 you can use XD50 in a bind without damage. I would have it reprogrammed or change the oil in the tank. I for one do not let any ETEC's go out the door without being set to xd100. Your dealer should of noticed the sticker in the wrong place and ordered in a new sticker to install on the oil tank if its was programmed for XD100. Dealers need to pay more attention with these outboards when performing dealer prep. I would call the dealer and make them aware of it so they take the time on the next rig and check it.