After Break-in, Did your etec pick up power - speed?

[buzzjet]

After putting 10 - 20 hours on your etec, did it pick up power or speed? I have a 225 HO with just a few hours on it and I am wondering if it is going to loosen up and get stronger.

[RGK]

I have heard it both ways, but most say they gain some umph. AB stated he gained 200 R's at about 20-30 hours or so as well........ I am hoping for the same as well.

[AB]

Mine, when I picked it up, would turn 5600rpm all day, but nothing I did could get her any higher. Around the 30hr mark I went out on a Saturday and she turned 5600 heading back to the ramp. Went home, back to the same lake the next day, didn't change a thing. First run 5800, all day long 5800. Had a noticeable increase in power (to the point that the only thing going through my mind was they run best right before they blow!), better holeshot, better midrange, and higher top end. It now has abut 150hrs on it, so I don't think it was something failing...

[RGK]

Mechanic at the dealership today told me at 30 hour mark the ETEC will stop injecting extra oil and lean out the mixture to compensate for less oil. If what he told me is true, might explain the extra power/rpm's at your 30 hour mark. Hooked computer up to mine, has 25 hours on it, getting close to your majic 30 hour mark. Should happen next week during my week of vaca on Table Rock...

[Bassmeister]

I don't know if driver ability has improved but my 03 225 DI is running faster than ever before but I have just over 100 hrs on her.

[jamesshannon]

Z21ROD your answer matches my experience and now I have a plausible theory. My first three XD50 oil refills came really quickly on my 90Etec and I could not reconcile the consumption with the promises of the Etec technology. I figured all the marketing performance specs where based on 100:1 not 50:1 like my motor is setup. Then, seemingly overnight, my engine seemed faster. I needed data so I emptied the boat, grabbed a gps unit and headed for open water. Sure enough top speed was 3 mph faster than the first weeks of ownership. What I could not measure was hole shot or mid rpm responsiveness, all felt better particularly loaded with people and stuff. However, without measurements to prove it, I am reluctant to claim improvements. What is even more interesting is the noticable drop in oil consumption, again, I did not measure it so I am reluctant to say more than it seemed noticable. Also, at the same time the engine developed a miss at my cruising rpms of 4500-5000. The measured increase in speed, the noticeable drop in oil consumption, and the high rpm miss all point to a change in engine management around 30 hours. My dealer can't recreate the miss in the tank hooked up to the computer so no fix has been proffered. That is another story.

Jim

[TexaBamaBass]

Funny, I noticed yesterday when I made my first run on the lake, something seemed different ( like someone said"runs good before it blows" went through my mind also) Seemed like I had to run it at a different trim also. Scared me at first but as I played with it it seemd to be fine if not better. I just put in my second refill of XD100, so maybe it is "breaking in" and getting better!