Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

[boater1234]

I have a question?I have been trying to figure this out for so long and i just can't.Why can an etec go hard right from the box but a 4stroke can't?I understand to the fullest that a 4stroke has more moving parts,i get that but an etec still has rings that need to be seated like the 4stroke.Is this etec no breakin a marketing thing for real or is it that a 4stroke can be run hard but all the manufactures want you to take it easy in the first 10hrs just in case something were to happen that they can catch it before major failure would happen?

I'm just trying to understand here,isn't the etec internals as well as a 4stroke made out of the same materials?I'm trying to understand this because most marine engines are built on the car engine concept,yes i know that a car engine doesn't run at 6000 rpms all the time,etc but we never ever breakin a car engine which most if not all the internals of a 4stroke is based on.They have belts,cams,pistons,lifters,rings,etc....just like a car,in fact i just bought a suzuki 20hp and it says most of the engine is based on how they build their car engines.

So can someone just shed light on this.Does a 4stroke outboard have to be broken in to run at it's true power and at it's best with no issues or is it just really a manufactures using precaution?I'm just asking this in general,this is not asking if i should break my engine in or not as i already have so i want to know why one can be run like a wild ape out of the box and the other needs a long breakin?

I have been looking at a 2strokes and a 4strokes breakin schedule and someone in another forum brought up a great point.How can the breakin schedule for a 2stroke be exactly the same as a 4stroke when their 2 totally seperate animals?That is another thing that makes no sense.The manual you get with every engine is exactly the same,how can it be for a 2stroke and a 4stroke?Something just doesn't fit there.

If anyone can shed some true facts here or even some strong opinions that would be awesome.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

The biggest reason for no breakin is the piston material and the special cylinderwall honing. The engine computer also automatically flows extra oil above 2000 rpm for the first 2 or 5 hours depending on the model.


The E-TEC Evinrude motors use cast iron sleeves like most other outboards and they can be bored oversize if needed.

The boron-nitride honing, also known as a Nagel Hone, is the type of material of the hone itself and a special process that delivers a better finish to the cylinder walls that does not need break in like other engines do. Combined with the NASA alloy pistons, they are pretty reliable.

I recently saw a 2000 hour E-TEC piston and it looked almost new, except for a little bit of carbon on its crown.

This is from Evinrude:
" E-TEC features a new cylinder honing process based on the Nagel Hone that improves cylinder wall geometry, making the cylinder bore more true to design specification. The resulting hone pattern dramatically improves lubrication as well as piston to cylinder wall interface for improved lubrication, cooler piston temperatures and longer engine life."

 

[steelespike]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

I haven't read my Subaru owners manual carefully but I could swear that with a new car they suggest not to exceed a certain rpm or drive continually at one rpm during blank number of hours/miles of break in.
I haven't bothered with break in instructions as our driving is somewhat subdued yet quite varied.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

Ok good point,so basically all you need to due is vary your rpms as you would normally driving.So what's all the stink about breakin then with a new 4stroke.I don't see how you can hurt anything buy driving it normally out of the box as an etec,no matter what we always vary out rpms on our outboards all the time.From all that i gather a 4stroke needs more pressure to seat the rings as with a 2stroke not as much,is this true,if yes the the manual kind of contradicts itself by saying take it easy in the beginning.That is what i don't understand.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

I understand the question, but don't get why you'd quibble over whether or not to follow the manufacturer's break-in procedure?

Whether or not you and I 'get it', I think they do. Given the price of a new motor you can bet your a** I'd be doing everything they said to do.

My .02

 

[V153]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

An Etec CANNOT go hard right from the box. In regards to the bigger motors at least. The computer won't let it.

edit. Normal operating procedure for me is wot. I wouldn't ask or expect any new motor to do that without following some kinda break-in protocal?

 

[boater1234]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

One of the big issues i see with todays outboards is the manuals,They make no sense.As for following the manufacture,i get that but the darn manuals haven't changed in like 25yrs but technology has.2nd how can a 2stroke and a 4stroke have exactly the same breakin schedule,they are 2 totally different machines.My opinion is the old manuals work for people to follow and it's been the same forever so why change it now.Here is my theory,you might all say i'm dumb and know nothing,follow the book,etc..... and that may be true,that is just why it's just an opinion.

If they would look into actually changing the formula to breaking in an outboard that means they would have to do more research on new technology which would cost probably millions of dollars on which i believe they don't want to spend.Just my opinion,i think the manuals are bogus and need to be updated and outboards need to be researched again.There is no possible way technology from 25yrs ago is the same as today,but the manual is.You can argue all you want or till your blue in the face,lol but the facts are the facts.It's a proven fact most people never follow the manual to a T and never have issues,is that luck,i doubt it considering the amount of outboards that are sold every yr.Most people can't help themselves with wanting to wot and they do.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

An Etec CANNOT go hard right from the box. In regards to the bigger motors at least. The computer won't let it.

edit. Normal operating procedure for me is wot. I wouldn't ask or expect any new motor to do that without following some kinda break-in protocal?

Why do they advertise no breakin then,plus they advertise you can go all out from minute one in their dvd i have gotten from them,that makes no sense.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

An Etec CANNOT go hard right from the box. In regards to the bigger motors at least. The computer won't let it.

That is NOT true. An E-TEC is advertised as needing no break in by the customer and it can be run at full throttle right out of the box. They are also run that way during testing of each motor at the factory before they are boxed up for shipment.

The computer does not limit the motor in any way. It automatically provides extra oiling for the first few hours - depending on model - when the engines exceed 2000 rpm.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

+1. Bolt it on and hit WOT. That's one of the major advantages the ETECs still have. I think 4-strokes are definitely the way of the future as they get lighter and cheaper, but the old 2-strokes still have a few things going for them. Also, they come in white, which is nice. Why is that btw? It seems like more manufacturers would make white motors to go with all the various white boats out there.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

One of the big issues i see with todays outboards is the manuals,They make no sense.As for following the manufacture,i get that but the darn manuals haven't changed in like 25yrs but technology has.2nd how can a 2stroke and a 4stroke have exactly the same breakin schedule,they are 2 totally different machines.My opinion is the old manuals work for people to follow and it's been the same forever so why change it now.Here is my theory,you might all say i'm dumb and know nothing,follow the book,etc..... and that may be true,that is just why it's just an opinion.

If they would look into actually changing the formula to breaking in an outboard that means they would have to do more research on new technology which would cost probably millions of dollars on which i believe they don't want to spend.Just my opinion,i think the manuals are bogus and need to be updated and outboards need to be researched again.There is no possible way technology from 25yrs ago is the same as today,but the manual is.You can argue all you want or till your blue in the face,lol but the facts are the facts.It's a proven fact most people never follow the manual to a T and never have issues,is that luck,i doubt it considering the amount of outboards that are sold every yr.Most people can't help themselves with wanting to wot and they do.

Actually, the manuals make perfect sense. They tell you exactly what to do. Could it be that the reason they haven't changed the procedure is because the engineers that designed them haven't changed the recommendations? Oh, those pesky engineers - what do they know....LOL.

I think the explanations above also made perfect sense - in fact I learned something new. An E-tec is in my future.

My suggestion for anyone breaking in a new motor is to use the cheapest gas and oil you can find, and then run it WOT right out of the box. Then call us in 5 years and tell us how you made out. BTW a former acquaintence of mine did just that with a Merc 150. He had only 2 speeds - off and wot. He still has the boat and motor too....the trade-in value was below what he wanted when he bought his next rig..

 

[82rude]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

I bought a 2011 60hp etec in 2011.right out of the dealers mouth and right out of the book .run it as you are going to use it .zero break in procedures by me .the dealer installed full syn for the break in which was backed up by brp when I questioned them on that.came with a 6 year warranty which was nice and the dealer did the rigging ,threw in a prop,extra xd-100 oil ,and after a few hrs I brought it back and they adjusted the idle to my liking all at no charge to me.when I bought it I pumped the fuel line and have never done it since ,whether I run out of gas or take the tank in the garage for the year it doesn't matter.bump the key and she fires up instantly with no smoke and is also very quite.since ive had it ive never smelled smoke ever no seen it unless its cool outside and that's just temp diff steam in reality.all in all im so far extremely pleased with the motor and would put it up against any fourstroke for fuel economy,emmissions and noise and power.in short I don't think I could of done better.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

One of the big issues i see with todays outboards is the manuals,They make no sense.As for following the manufacture,i get that but the darn manuals haven't changed in like 25yrs but technology has.

2nd how can a 2stroke and a 4stroke have exactly the same breakin schedule,they are 2 totally different machines.

My take - first, except for the addition of electronics, the technology hasn't changed that much. Metallurgy and manufacturing techniques have, with better materials and closer manufacturing tolerances... so you may have a point there.

As to your second point, the break-in period allows all the reciprocating parts, piston rings and cylinder walls, to wear in gradually and evenly. In that context, there is NO difference between a 2-stroke and a 4-stroke, except that the 4-stroke has even more moving parts to wear in than the 2-stroke has.

Maybe you know more than the manufacturers do, and maybe the manufacturers are just being lazy about updating procedures... but maybe you don't and maybe they aren't. If I'm spending big bucks on a new boat motor or a new car, I'll listen to the guys who built it. That's my choice.

My .02

 

[boobie]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

I'll still stick with the two strokes. Less moving parts to break and easier to service. JMHO.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

I understand all your points.The thing i hear most on all forums is that a 4strokes rings are much harder to wear in and they need more lbs of pressure to wear them in right and you only get one shot at that.So if that is true then how again can a 2 and 4stroke have exactly the same breakin procedure.I'm only asking if this statement is true that a 4stroke needs more pressure then a 2stroke to wear in?If they are exactly the same as far as how much pressure it takes to seat the rings then i guess the breakin is the same for every outboard out here except the etec.

 

[clanton]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

E-Tec has roller and needle bearing crank, need no for break in. The piston was made from a material that came from NASA. Piston material may have changed the past few years. The four strokes have plain bearing crank, cam lobes, cam followers, rocker arms, valves that have a plain bearing guide, some gears.

 

[aerobat]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

i guess - but thats only a guess - evinrude runs the engine on the test stand a little bit longer before delivering and this as well the mentioned fact a 2 stroke does not develop that high combustion pressures like a 4 stroke leads to the conclusion the engine is fully ready for every running condition when delivered to the customer. the rings will still break in - but no attention is needed from the customer.

and evinrude uses this for a marketing that you may use it permanent full power out of a box and calls it "no break in" .

 

[theoldwizard1]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

"Break in" "seats" the piston rings to the cylinder bore for both 2 stroke and 4 stroke. Roller/needle bearings (2 stroke) do not require any break in. Standard engine bearings (4 stroke) require no break in because metal does not touch metal (the connecting rod rides on a thin film of high pressure oil between it and the crank). Piston material has little to do with break in (it does affect long term life of the piston).

As said multiple times, ETECs are delivered with BRP 100% synthetic oil and the computer automatically adds more than normal during the break in.

 

[boater1234]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

Ok i get what you say,but how come you hear don't breakin a motor with synthetic because the oil is to slippery?You know how many times i have heard that.But yet a evinrude etec has that,that is so contradicting in todays world.Then they say never breakin a 4stroke with synthetic oil but a lot or car manufactures are having their cars come out with straight synthetic oil i mean from the get go.You watch in time this crap of not breaking in a 4stroke with synthetic will be over turned and all outboards and cars,etc...will say the best way to do it is with synthetic oil.It's a no win situation anymore.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Evinrude etec vs 4stroke for break in

I disagree - if you read the freakin manual it can only be a win win win situation.

The problem is we tend to believe what we hear. "I have heard" and "Someone told me" are phrases that raise the hair on the back of my head.

In recent years I have bought several brand new cars, boats and motors that came from the factory with syn. OTOH I bought a supercharged jetski that said to NEVER use syn.

What's so hard about simply doing what the owner's manual says. Doesn't require second guessing. The 9 vehicles and 4 lawn / garden engines in my garage all use different oils. Carrying 13 different quarts of oil in my cabinet is no big deal.