tohatsu tldi , any good vs etec,optimax, hpdi

[lembo]

hey guys
how do you rate the tohatsu tldi motors ?
how do they hold up against the competition, I do like the the plain old tohatsu 2 strokes and think they are tough old beasts . but not sure of there high tec 2 strokes ? I don't like the etec, see so many of them wrecking. is the oil used with the tohatsu cheaper ? I know that etec stuff is liquid gold. and what do u guys recon the best of the high tec 2 strokes are?

[Noelm]

Why are you so set on a high tech 2 stroke??

[davo]

I was very interested but the lack of dealers steered me to a Suzuki.

[lembo]

im not noelm,
was just reading about the tohatsu range and have heard some good things about them.there 4 stroke range is the same as Honda, identical motors, not sure about every model but at least a few. but I have heard horror stories of etecs, optimax, and hdpi. but nothing really on the tohatsu 2 stroke and was thinking they might be better then others or still crap but you just don't hear about it as there less common. im considering whole new boat or repower my kevlacat with 90s.
just chasing info.

[Moonlighter]

The TLDI's are just as good as the non-EFI Tohatsu 2 strokes. Tough, simple design and runs fine on the recommended Valvoline 2 stroke oil, which is cheap as chips.

I had a TLDI 90 for 6 years on my last boat and it was 100% reliable, efficient and smooth. Great engines. Got better fuel economy than the Honda 4 strokes around at the time.

You do need a service dealer that knows them though. They use the platinum plugs that are expensive as hell, but do last twice as long as normal plugs.

i wouldn't hesitate to have one again.

oh one thing, the standard alloy props they come with are hopeless. Get a Merc Vengeance SS prop or something similar, it made a huge difference on my boat.

[Noelm]

I think they are just as good as anything else, the lack of a big dealer network, and a lack of motors you see at the ramp is the only downside, because no one knows them, resale can be low, I personally think even DFI/HPDI outboard days are numbered, not saying whether they are good or bad, I just think the writing is on the wall for them, most of the manufacturers have or are dropping them from their line up, small carby models with persist for a while yet, but bigger 2 strokes are in the minority now as far as sales go.

[Coontakinta]

Sorry to drag up an old post but in the interests of informed information I will confirm everything that moonlighter has said. If it werent for thw weight penalty of the 75tldi against the f70 yamaha I probably would have gone with another tldi on my renagade.
Noelm is right about dealers too i found this to be very important.
My 2004 90 was faultless smooth reliable and fuel misely.
I have also had experience with the optimax, a 2006 75hp. Whilst it had a tonne of go, i found it a bit noisier than the tldi. Exhaust fumes were a common nuisance, controls were constantly getting stiff. Being a detuned 115 size and weight are a real pain. Despite the motor being reliable it was replaced with another last year. The new motor has not been right from the get go with it running rough. Computer failure and a fly wheel being replaced. Once the warranty runs out i would say its curtains for this motor and any connection we will have with a merc.