Im looking at a new legend and seriously liking the boat but dont know squat about the etec thats on it. I dont even know anyone running one. I hear they had some bad powerheads and gearcase issues but got those problems fixed. Its a 2012 model and brand new. What say Y'all???

I was looking at a z522 with a 2010 etec.....didnt squeeze the trigger on it though and was bought today around 1 oclock :-/

I have a E-Tec 250. The one thing you do want to check is which lower unit is on it. I believe they are putting the magnum on all the new ones. Some cale it SLE, M2, or Magnum. If it has an L2 on it ask the, to replace it. They probably will. The engine generates too much torque for the L2. There is a real good Evinrude owners forum where you can get excellent information on the web.

i was told that all the new ones have the beefed up lower units but ill ask to make sure on this one. Thanks for the info. Hows yours on topend. Will it run with a pro xs?

I have a 2006 Z20 with a 225 E-Tec H.O. The engine is great. It's not super fast the way it's set-up, but I don't recall Rangers being known as burners. The engine starts every time, it's super quiet, and is good on fuel. I use XD 100 oil with the engine programmed for the XD 50. No engine problems at all, and have around 400 hours on it. Have replaced the lower unit twice however. One time was due to a stump, and the other was caused by fishing line cutting rear seal. They were both the Lightning gear cases, not the magnum. My warranty company and insurance would not let me go back with the mag, even with me paying the difference. I was told the magnum gear case would cut a couple of mph from top end speed, but I would gladly sacrifice speed for durability. I would have no problem getting another E-Tec.

Make sure you have a wrench in the area to work on it. I have no expierence with a 250 but the 225s run great and are quiet compared to a Merc. I think with resale you'd be better off with another brand though.

You might check with Lake Fork Guide Tom Redington he runs a Ranger with a E-Tec 250 HO

I run an '09 250 etec HO. flawless on top end never a problem, went through 2 LU's until they finally sort a recalled them, BRP program that would let you replace the lightning with the magnum case if you choose, or wait till your lightning went out and a magnum would be put it is place all new 225's and 250 HO will have the magnum, it is a beast, tuff as a tank, little harder to prop out, and a tad slower at top end just a couple mph's. but well worth the trade off. definitely not as popular as the merc's or yammy's in this part of the world. they seem to have a better strong hold the further east you go. I know one thing BRP's customer service is 2nd to none, at least that has been my experience.

You can read a lot of unbiased info on this site:
http://www.etecownersgroup.com/

There are a couple weak areas besides underdesigned lower units that I have seen in the E-TECs design that can become issues if not watched out for, but they would not stop me from buying E-Tecs again. Many positives of the design exists over the competition.

They put the inexpensive & failure prone power handling circuits/regulators on the same very board assembly (EMM) as the sensitive and expensive signal/fuel management electronics and then didn't add very robust power supply filtering. Keep battery connections tight and good or else a simple volage regulator replacement will cost you hundreds of dollars replacing the entire EMM assembly.

The fuel injectors are not at all like automotive injectors (no springs) & have to be continuously liquid cooled or the injector coils burn up. They use fuel as a coolant (circulating through the incoming fuel inside the vapor sep) to do the cooling and so any air ( a pinhole)in the gas tank line /fuel system can partly over-fill the vapor sep with air it can't dump fast enough and cost you expensive fuel injectors at about $400-$600 each.

Lots of blown heads were in past E-TECs . The fuel flow is needed and helps cool the pistons. So injector on a single piston must not get clogged while remaining pistons run the motor, else you get burned up/blown piston.. Seems ethanol in blended fuels is actually helping keep the laquer/deposits out of the injectors and this issue largely is going away. Use fuel additives especially if you don't have ethanol fuel locally.

I have a 2010 250 Etec HO. I have had the lower unit replaced as others have said. I lost 4 MPH on my top end on my BassCat. It was frustrating. The motor is great other than that. All the new motors have the new beefed up lower unit from the Evinrude techs told me.

All motors these days have some sort of issues. The reality is they are still boats and stuff still breaks.

I travel fishing tournaments and the service trailers are always full. It is just part of it unfortunately. The more you use them, the more they breakdown.

I have a 2010 ETEC 250 HO and I would buy one again tomorrow. I had the lower unit replaced as the others but other than that, no problems. The motor is strong, super quiet, smooth and good on fluids. One thing about Evinrude, they back their stuff up almost without a question.

The new lower unit I had, the paint started fading around the exhaust manifold. I took it to the service trailer at the BASS Open at Table Rock and asked the Tech if he had ever seen it. Apparently a few of the lower units were painted at a different factory and some faded. Rather than paint the housing or replace it, Evinrude put a brand new lower unit on without questions. They also are super quick with repairs and they have a parts warehouse in Dallas so parts are available within two days.

Like Flukester said, ALL motor companies have problems. I have several friends that have had nothing but problems with their SHO's and my tournament partner just blew the power head on his Mercury Pro XS. They ALL build great motors and they ALL build turds. At the BASS Opens, you can pull up to the service trailers and they are all working on boats. You use one long enough and don't service them correctly, and any of them will give you problems.

I would not be scared of an Evinrude!

I have a 2011 Z520 w/2011 ETEC 250 and Magnum (M2) Lower unit. The engine has been flawless, has a ton of torgue and is super quiet. The only issue I had was having to get an aftermarket prop vs. the Raker II. I'm running a 4 Blade Power Tech RKR4 and get excellent hole shot and top end 1 person fully loaded at 75.1 MPH. That's FAST for a Ranger, so don't be scared away by the slower M2. Just have to watch your RPM's, this engine has so much torgue that no matter my load, you can over rev it, great thing about this motor though, max RPM is 5900-6000. Excellent engine!

Thanks fellas!! I feel a little easier about it now

I have a 2009 ETEC 250 HO, and I bought it because I was so impressed with Tom Redington's ETEC - it was the quietest outboard I had ever been around and I kept turning around looking at the motor?
My ETEC has the newer gearcase, but my lower unit has a distinct "rattle" precisely at 4000rpm when the motor is trimmed almost all the way down. Other than this "rattle" it is the best motor I have ever owned and is absolutely wonderful on fuel.
I did take Steve's Custom Prop's advice and put a Merc Fury prop on it.

Oh yeah, got my Power Tech from Steve also, he's da man!