Problem with 50HP Etec

[Randy2007]

Model:E50DPLSU
Serial:05180095

I'm into my 4th season with this motor after repowering my 16' Princecraft. Except for the first year, I have hada continual problem with fouling of the spark plugs with the engine stalling and won't restart. This happens after I have been trolling. I've used carbon guard and continue to use 2+4 and I've switched to XD-100. The latest episode happened after about 12 hours or so of total trolling time (about 4 outings) and the engine stalled after hesitating on acceleration. I'm pretty sure this problem is all about trolling with the etec because it seems to run fine if not trolling.

Does anyone else have a similar problem with trolling with etecs? I'm thinking that for my situation, a 4 stroke may have been a better choice.

[SEAHORSE]

An E-TEC set up correctly will troll all day and not foul plugs. Many 4-strokes have problems with extended trolling by diluting the oil with gasoline and thinning it out. Yamaha and Merc recommend more frequent oil and filter changes if you troll a lot. That can get expensive if you have priced Yamaha oil filters lately.

Your problem sounds like a classic case of the engine not coming up to normal temperature. Either the thermostat is stuck open or out of spec and/or the pressure relief valve has something holding it open. In either case the motor does not warm up and the engine computer adds more fuel to compensate.

One thing that helps those motors is gluing the pressure relief valve grommet in place using Loctite 380. That prevents it from coming loose and leaking water around it.

Make sure the plugs are the correct ones and gapped and indexed per the manual. A good decarboning of your motor should be done also because of the incomplete combustion that has been going on.

Of course the motor should be healthy, have the latest software in it, propped correctly, and the TPS calibrated with a laptop. A trained technician can take care of these things fairly quickly.

You ought to check out the http://www.etecownersgroup.com for more info plus they have a great reference library.

[Randy2007]

Thanks Seahorse. I've taken the motor back to the dealer to have it fixed. I've also passed on your comments to them to help them. I sure hope they get it right this time.

[SEAHORSE]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Randy2007 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
I've taken the motor back to the dealer to have it fixed. I've also passed on your comments to them to help them.
</td></tr></table>

If they balk or give you a hard time, ask the mechanic to call the Evinrude dealer technical hotline and talk to a factory tech. You could also talk to the Evinrude customer service dept. at 847-689-7090 if need be.