Info request for E-TEC

[EJP]

My dad just bought a 285proxl with a 150 e-tec. I am a yammie guy and know nothing about these motors. This is his first boat in a long long long time. I have heard that there are many computer updates for this motor because of some problems. Not to bash but I heard alot of these motors are poping just in the 150 class? I do not know dealer and trust my dad's choice. What are some things I can tell him to make sure he will be okay. After all of my recent motor problems I just want to make sure his is ejoyable, he deserves it.

[AquaMarineNJ]

Just make sure it has the latest map updates they are for improved fuel & OIL management. I have heard but have not seen any poped ETECS personally. We have sold many ETECs with several 60 degree engines in commercial towing applications that are doing very well. I also personally have a 175 ETEC. The orginal maps did need some changes or tweeking with the new E-10 gas mostly at low speed in stratisfied mode.

When I installed the 175 on our boat it had last years gas with no ethanol. It ran great with no low speed miss. I filled up and noticed a minor low speed miss that was fixed with the new map update.

I have not seen many posts of people asking why there engines are running & performing so well. Remember we are talking to the world here and for the most part all we will see is the negative and hardly the positive.

[pioneer197]

I keep up with the small blockE-TEC V6 pretty closely on the web. I have a 150.

I know of only 5 confirmed power head failures for this block that I can find on the web. This includes the 150, 150 HO, 175 and 200.

Two of those failures were mine and two others for another poster on this forum.
While I am not happy about it, I must say that each time BRP/Evinrude took very good care of me in a very short period of time. Both of my failures occurred before the latest update to the software that changes the OIL output. I hope this was the problem with mine and hope BRP learned from the powerheads - they took both back for inspection. I would like to think that my power head failures helped to improve the product. Not sure I will ever find out.

Just make sure you have the latest updates in the motor. The frequency of updates seems to slowing down a bit - a good thing.

[gmchiryder]

I've had my 150 HO since May and it's been great. I'm up to 47 hours now and no problems at all. I've had it in twice for updates and that's it. With the updates it runs better now than when I got it.

[johnrude]

They are great motors. Be sure he uses the oil that the enigne is programed for.