The story with HPDI's

Cricket Too

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 14, 2003
Messages
1,732
I've been looking at a lot of boats lately that have Yami's on them, I see them more and more, and have also been hearing/reading some things about the HPDI's, seems there were some issues with them and people have been saying to stay away from them.

I tend not to trust what random people say, as most of it is hear say and mostly from people who know nothing about engines. I have heard so many incorrect things tossed around over the years about OMC FICHT's and gotten into so many discussions/arguments with people who know absolutely nothing about what they are saying about them, so I don't want to listen to random people about the HPDI issues.

So there's no better place to come than this for the truth, so exactly what were the issues with the HPDI? Was it limited to certain HP's or blocks? Was it software issues?

Just looking to hear it from the experts.

This may belong in the Non-Repair forum, mods feel free to move it, but I just figured I'd get a better answer from the forum where Yami experts hang out.

Thanks.
 

maxhp

Cadet
Joined
Mar 1, 2006
Messages
18
Re: The story with HPDI's

The smaller HPDI's have an excellent reputation and are very good 2 stroke engines. The bigger block 3.3L HPDI's of 250HP and 300HP has some issues, but many were resolved over the course of getting them updated post release.

I ran a pair of twin 250HP HPDIs which have a bad "internet rep." The motors were 2003's and over the course of 4 years I put just about 3,000 hours on them prior to repowering with 250 four strokes.
 

Cricket Too

Lieutenant Commander
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Re: The story with HPDI's

So were there ever really any issues with the HPDI system or was it mostly a bad "internet reputation", as you stated? Which by the way is a great term, there are way too many "internet experts" spreading exagerations around.
 

Cricket Too

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Re: The story with HPDI's

Nobody here has any info on what the issues with HPDI were, how severe they were, what the main fixes were????
 

Gary H NC

Fleet Admiral
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Dec 1, 2005
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Re: The story with HPDI's

We have a few really smart Yammie techs on here..

Just hang in there..;)
 

cousinabe

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Nov 13, 2001
Messages
765
Re: The story with HPDI's

Rodbolt's the one you want to hear from on this...

However, the question may have already been answered in other posts in this forum. Use the search function and search for HPDI.

You might have to be a little more specific on what exact HPDI motor you are talking about as they are different from each other; ie some have O2 sensors, some had oil pump updates, injector driver and certain recalls based on the serial number.

with the HPDI's, they run the ragged edge of lean, so you have to really keep up on all the preventative maintenance, otherwise you run the risk of popping a piston.
 

maxhp

Cadet
Joined
Mar 1, 2006
Messages
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Re: The story with HPDI's

Big blocks had plug fouling issues, water ingestion issues, and powerhead issues. The updates seemed to take care of a lot of it. Like I said, I had a pair of '03's which were internet notorious and they ran pretty damn good for me for nearly 3000 hours.
 

Cricket Too

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 14, 2003
Messages
1,732
Re: The story with HPDI's

Trust me, I have tried Searching for HPDI issues, you get about a million things. Anything that ever had the letters HPDI in it comes up.

I just wanted to find the truth out about the supposed issues. I still find it hard to believe that Yami put out anything all that bad, so I figured I would find out for myself from the experts, rather than read through 7 million posts trying to find bits and pieces of what may be rumors, or "internet truths".

Thanks.
 

rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: The story with HPDI's

dunno.
my 175 E-TEC chunked #4 rod through the block at 15 hours, does that mean e-tecs are bad?
the HPDI, like most all other DFI engines, are fairly complex and REQUIRE maint done by actual trained techs that actually understand whats going on.
they also dont tolerate fuel quality issues or debris.
the early 250 motors had some issues with oil consumption the fix was an ECU,oil link rod and pump replacement. the Z 300, the one with the supposed water injestion problem, was NOT a yamaha problem but the design of certain hulls and rough water.
the design of certain very popular offshore go fast fishing boats had the baitwell in the aft center portion of the hull with the engine or engines mounted on a bracket,
if rough water at 40 plus MPH the water tended to slosh out and rain on the engine cowl as a saltwater mist.
folks this 300 HP engine not only burns fuel but it MUST have adequate AIR.
so at 4800 RPM we are sucking all the air through a very small opening at the rear of the engine cowl and having to not only keep it cool but get it to the front. thats when the water issues start.
not all Z300 motors got updated with the intrusion kit just those showing salt tracks or signs of burning saltwater.
its funny the bass boat HPDI guys never had much issues with spark plugs, however its rare to see a bass boat troll for 6 hours or more below 1000 RPM then throttle up to 4800 for the 3 hour return trip.
we wont even disscuss the early FICT or OPTI-MAX stuff.
 
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