Optimax & E-Tec Outboards

[Geoff-]

Thanks everyone for your feedback its much appreciated, we've decided on the Optimax 150

Enjoy mate.. we bought an opti 90 back in october and have already put 100 hours on it, fantastic motor. if i had a bigger boat and trolling/cruising was my main priority i would go a 4st but we have been very happy with the opti. economical on fuel and goes like stink.

[wrxhoon]

Actually you can get a pump to pressurize fuel much higher then 700psi...
All these new Common Rail turbo diesel motors run between 20'000psi and 40'000psi through the fuel line...

The D40 Navara run at 25'000psi... Hence why a fuel filter cost $180 and needs to be calibrated by Nissan for an extra $90...

Don't go feeling around for a diesel leak with your hands, you may end up loosing your fingers

I'm well aware of diesels running very high pressures, they always have done ( not as high though) because you have to force fuel in the cyl with a static compression of 17 to one +turbo boost but they have a mechanical pump worth many thousands of $$$.
Petrol engines run electric pumps and I don't know any that will run such pressures .

[wrxhoon]

Mate - for my money (and again everyone is different about their needs) I would want to get WAY over 1000 hours before my engine was likely (and I know you are not saying likely - your comment applies no doubt to a small percentage) to go like a grenade. Optis themselves, sans a compressor failure, should see about 4,000 hours without dramas. They do on net boats in only 2-3 years without incident in moreton bay. Perhaps age not just hours is a factor. I know that 1000 hours take years and years for most people to rack up, but for my money I want a motor that is likely to last for 15-20 years without major incident....perhaps when I eventually re-power my Vag when the 115 V4 Yam carb has had enough (and its now 17 years old) I should grab a Yam V6 Carb before they stop making them!!!! Arrgh!!! I was pretty much sold on the Yam 4 stroke or Optimax, but I do worry about out of warranty matters with all these engines....I know many of you might say just buy it and dont worry because its rare etc, but I just cannot justify spending thousands (and if a motor goes pop $15 THOUSAND say) over even 10 years on out of warranty repairs on top of normal servicing costs.

Cheers


Cheers

The example I gave was to demonstrate problems that I'm aware of with Optis .
This was on early models that some compressors gave up .
I know 1000 hours is not a lot but I have seen some with 3-4000 hours without anything major going wrong with them. If you are going to keep an engine for anything like 20 years with say 50-100 hours per year corrosion will be your biggest problem.
Don't forget any brand could give you premature problems .

I don't think you want to buy a carby engine now mate ( old tech use to much fuel ) You don't see carby engines in cars any more and will be the same with boats very soon . Already in USA you can't buy a carby outboard ( only small 4 strokes) , you can't even buy an old school fuel injected 2 stroke . In a lot of lakes you can't even use your boat unless she has a 4 stroke or a DI 2 stroke .
I'm sure the same thing will happen here in the years to come .

[ozscott]

Thanks WRX - good to know they were the older models that had compressor problems. I have to say that the guy who has always serviced my motors both black and other colours at Wondall Rd Marine tells me that the Opti's are sound as the pound and the odd problems with the early ones have been well ironed out...the Optis are over 10 years old from memory too which has seen heaps of refinement. The only down side (apart from water issues as with any injected engine) with the Opti ( and apart from the extra noise when up and running - that is not really a drama to most though) is the need for charged batteries to start. I wonder though if other di and 4 strokes need a certain voltage to start or whether they allow rope starting. I have never had insufficient charge to start - dual batteries with dual switch, well maintained and low voltage alert. However it is nice to know that the Yamm V4 can be roped with battey connected....I know that most petrol fuel injected cars are set up so the computer will not allow cranking if the battery voltage is considered too low.

Cheers

[STUIE63]

you can rope start an etec with no battery charge at all
Stuie