evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

whalerfreak22

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so ive been asking around and some people say the etec is better than 2 strokes and that 2 strokes are better than etecs.ive seen the etec movies that my marina gave me they sound pretty good but are they really that good?:rolleyes:
 

levi_tsk

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Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

the etec IS a two stoke first off .... its just gone high tech
it really depends on which hp etec youre talking about anything 115 and up will trounce the competition the smaller ones dont perform as well because they are HEAVY all the smog stuff and the electronics add more weight especialy when compared to an older carbed two stroke. etec fuel consumption is incredible but so are the inevitable maintence costs if something tears up .
my personal opinon is that if your going for anything less than a 50hp, go old carbed two stroke jonny rude parts are dirt cheap, initial costs are low, you can do most of the work theyll need yourself, and fuel savings wont matter as much either, you may save a few dollars per with an etec trip but youll more than make up for that in your mothly payment to BRP. JMHO

i have a 1976 mako 19 and it has a 1981 140 johnson and when or if that blows up it WILL have a 115ho etec but thats far off because shes freshly rebuilt and i figure that since i properly maintain her, shell be good for another 3995 hours give or take a few hours
 

emdsapmgr

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11,551
Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

Even though you are comparing two 2-stroke engines, they are not very similar. Bombardier quit making the old crossflows around 1998. The old crossflows burn a lot of fuel, are noisy and are not very environmentally clean at all. etecs are just the opposite. All depends on how much $ you have to spend. Bombardier wants top dollar for their ETEC engines and the competition (Yamaha and Mercury) make similar (cheaper) direct inject 2 stroke alternatives that are just as reliable. If you are considering purchasing an ETEC, I'd make sure there is a local dealer that is qualified to do warranty work on that engine.
 

whalerfreak22

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

so if you compare a 115 etec to a 115 crossflow the etec wins?ive had people tell me the crossflow has more torque.
 

SparkieBoat

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Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

there is also the Looper option..you could get a 60 degree carbbed looper motor..I have a 97 model 115 that runs like a champ. I have not had much problem with the crossflows either..they do use slightly more fuel than the loopers. you could always go 4-stroke carbbed. they are not to hard to work on..once you go EFI you get into the $1k plus per part. and you will not be able to diagnose it as well..meaning trips to the costly dealership..kinda makes me cringe. you can also get a good carrbed Yammy or Merc. they run well also and are easy to repair/maintain.
 

levi_tsk

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Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

youll never convince me that a carbed four stroke has near the pep of any two stroke ancient or ultra modern cube for cube the two stroke inherintly makes more power because it fires twice as many times the engine never free wheels and its downstroke is always making power.... JMHO
 

boobie

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Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

If want new high tech go with the E-tec as they are good mtrs but if you have probs you most likely will have to take it back to the dlr. If you're a DIY 'er and can fix things stick with the older carbed models.
 

1fishbone

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Nov 9, 2010
Messages
476
Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

etchs are the way to go, a lot of off-shore enthusiast are going for them...big money too.
More power enjoyment, better fuel economy.

But along with higher technology come higher cost and less DIY.
Grow and learn is what I like to achieve.

A lot of new outboards are fly-by-wire, all electronic controlled, gas throttle/shift/steering.

Scary, but it's happening to everything.

It's been happening in the big rigs for awhile too.
My brothers Kenworth would only idle, no throttle, sad, but I had to tell him to call the dealer, at the time I didn't have the scanner/codes to de-bug/fix his 'fly-by-wire' throttle issue!
 

HighTrim

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Jun 21, 2007
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10,486
Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

youll never convince me that a carbed four stroke has near the pep of any two stroke ancient or ultra modern cube for cube the two stroke inherintly makes more power because it fires twice as many times the engine never free wheels and its downstroke is always making power.... JMHO

Actually that is proven wrong in the case of the Yamaha Four-Stroke V6 VMAX SHO vs its 2 stroke equivalent. The 4 stroke wins in head to head drag race, rolling start, and top end speed, I have seen it. Realize we are talking Johnny/Rude here, but is an example of how the 4 strokes are improving.
 

steelespike

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Apr 26, 2002
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19,069
Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

Etec has no breakin period.No service for 3 years or 300 hours,Meet all CARB requirements
Etec is on the official boats on restricted lake Tahoe.
 

wilde1j

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5,964
Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

I actually own two 2007 175 E-Tecs and can tell you they are terrific motors. Quiet, no smoke, start in less than 1/2 a rev @ 480 RPM and stay there after you shift into gear, much lower fuel and oil consumption than the 150 HP carbed Merc's they replaced. If you're inclined to do any work yourself, it's mandatory to get the BRP diag software. I've had zero warranty problems, just a few rigging issues that were minor and the dealer's mobile tech took care of them @ NC and loaded new ECU MAP images if one was available each time he came to the boat.

The small block V6's have great low end torque (way better than the Black Maxes they replaced) and they are a lot quieter than a friend's pair of 4 stroke 225HP Yammie's at cruise. So far, these are the best, most reliable motors I've ever owned. The maintenance needs for the motors is very low ... they self winterize in a few minutes each, plugs last 300 hours or more, gear oil gets changed at three year intervals (only when using the specified BRP oil).

Like newer cars, a computer and some digital smarts are more useful than a good screw driver. There is a breakin, but it's totally transparent to the user. The ECU kicks it out of double oiling after about 10 hours run time over 2000 RPM. For my use (offshore fishing), these motors greatly extended the boat's range to the point I almost never get into the second tank any more. (Always did with the Mercs).

I've owned crossflows, a looper and these two. The E-Tecs are head and shoulders above the others in almost every way. The DI system is the best right now in the marketplace.
 

SparkieBoat

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Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

Actually that is proven wrong in the case of the Yamaha Four-Stroke V6 VMAX SHO vs its 2 stroke equivalent. The 4 stroke wins in head to head drag race, rolling start, and top end speed, I have seen it. Realize we are talking Johnny/Rude here, but is an example of how the 4 strokes are improving.

Hightrim is right..I will add that they weight the same as the e-tec and optimax motors also...but I would hate to have to troubleshoot one.....it all comes down to how much money you want to shuck out..I can purchase a good carrbed motor, maintain it well, and get the same level of depenability of the EFI motors for half the cost..and by the time you add up your fuel savings with a EFI, I will still come out spending less money if you have just one major component go out, and if you get a used one 5-10 years old, chances are you will be taking it to a dealer at least once or twice. and those trips start at $1k and go up. Wild did make a really good point and that is the increase in range with the EFI motors, if this is important to you then you would almost have to go EFI
 

levi_tsk

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Dec 26, 2010
Messages
907
Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

high trim ? isnt that SHO motor supercharged??? if so that kinda D.Q.'s it from this discussion doesnt it?

strap a blower on a two stroke and youve got a BEAST ! ive seen videos were guys with far less sense or fear of death than i have have done so and all i can say is WOW!! its only natural that forced induction makes more power as it crutches the intake and compression stroke of a four strokewhere the engine isnt making power its actually using it in the form of enertia but by forcing air and fuel into you have less parrasitic loss even though the blower eats a few ponies
ps whaler i think you probably saw it but the yam went in the drink in the tug 'o' war test against the etec im slowly leaning toward an etec but it just isnt in the budget so far my useage isnt enough to warrent it and if you dont plan on using your boat EVERY weekend youll never see real world gains buying a new motor especially when you consider ive seen DOZENS of freshly rebuilt johnny rude 115's and 140's lately for around a grand JMHO but debt at this day in age is a BAD IDEA
 

wilde1j

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Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

Hightrim is right..I will add that they weight the same as the e-tec and optimax motors also...but I would hate to have to troubleshoot one.....it all comes down to how much money you want to shuck out..I can purchase a good carrbed motor, maintain it well, and get the same level of depenability of the EFI motors for half the cost..and by the time you add up your fuel savings with a EFI, I will still come out spending less money if you have just one major component go out, and if you get a used one 5-10 years old, chances are you will be taking it to a dealer at least once or twice. and those trips start at $1k and go up. Wild did make a really good point and that is the increase in range with the EFI motors, if this is important to you then you would almost have to go EFI

No special benefits from EFI motors. The benefits come only with DI motors, a big difference. An EFI motor will get very similar economy as a carbed motor. The DI motors pump fuel directly into the cylinder, and in the case of E-Tec, aimed right at the plugs. In fact, at RPM below 2000, the charge is so lean it would fire unless aimed right at the plugs. Above 2000, the mixture is enriched for cylinder cooling. Best economy is therefor below 2000 RPM. Pretty soon you won't be able to even buy a carbed 2 stroke motor new, other than the very small ones. BRP offers only E-Tecs 15HP and up.
 

emdsapmgr

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11,551
Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

Merc has quit building carbed engines for sale in the US. Overseas only. Some dealers may still have some leftover. Wilde is right on. DFI is the only way to go. EFI poses few advantages over carbed engines (except for starting.)
 

SparkieBoat

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Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

thanks for the correction between EFI and DFI...I did not know the difference. I have been stuck in the carbbed motors..just got my first EFI yammy 4-stroke..so I am learning..all i know is EFI and DFI parts can get real pricey
 

Faztbullet

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15,936
Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

just got my first EFI yammy 4-stroke
It will still be running years from now if serviced properly!!!!
 

SparkieBoat

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Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

it has come to my attention that the Yammy 115s have been plagued with ECU problems..they are only $1K a clip..so it may be still running years from now, if i do not get tired of buying ECUs for it...LOL.
I can replace the entire electronic part of a carbed motor for less than just one ECU...I have a 1989 Johnson 200 with new PP, timer base, and rectifier, along with little parts like T-stats, impeller and spark plugs..it cranks and runs like a champ..I purchased it with a 20' well craft and trailer and brand new $200 depth finder for $800..then about $500 in new parts and maybe 8 hours of piddling with it, and wala it runs out like a banshee..I have been able to trouble shoot the motor (thanks to a lot of help from you and others in this forum) with out it having to see a dealer...we will see how the Yammy proves out..
 

HighTrim

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10,486
Re: evinrude etec vs. evinrude crossflow 2 stroke which is better?

I purchased it with a 20' well craft and trailer and brand new $200 depth finder for $800..then about $500 in new parts and maybe 8 hours of piddling with it, and wala it runs out like a banshee..I have been able to trouble shoot the motor (thanks to a lot of help from you and others in this forum) with out it having to see a dealer...we will see how the Yammy proves out..

Great deal!
 
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