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Archive for the ‘E-Tec Outboard Motor Performance’ Category
James, a good friend of mine, has decided that after years of relying on mechanics to fix every little problem on his boat, he is ready to become an expert himself. I applaud his efforts to become a more knowledgeable boat owner. Every week or so since he made his resolution, he’s come by to have a chat with me about different questions.
This week he asked me a lot of questions regarding troubleshooting an Evinrude E-Tec outboard motor. What, he asked me, should I look for when the engine won’t start. The number one culprit, I replied, is not enough oil or fuel. Take a look at both levels and refresh if necessary.
As I’ve mentioned several times before, I have family in Miami and Naples, Florida. After the windy weather passed in Seattle, where I spent the holiday, I gave my family members a call to wish them a Merry Christmas. When I told them about the wind and power outages in the Northwest, they laughed and said, “You should have come to Florida!”
My uncle told me that it was in the upper 70s. He and my aunt were still wearing shorts and flip-flops! My uncle was even contemplating going to the store to pick up some Evinrude E-Tec to take out his watercrafts for a spin. Like I wrote yesterday, next year I will definitely be in Florida for Christmas, preferably gone fishin’.
The process to index the spark plugs of an Evinrude E-Tec outboard motor is relatively simple. Start by turning a spark plug until the gap between the ground electrode and the anode is facing toward you. Make a vertical index mark on the ceramic insulator. Then, insert the spark plug into the number one spark plug bore. Tighten it with a spark plug wrench. Be sure to not the orientation of the index mark previously made.
It may be necessary to move the plug to the opposite cylinder bank if the index mark cannot be lined up. Di-electric grease should be applied to the tip of the ceramic plug. Install the plug wire and repeat the process for all cylinders on your E-Tec engine.
Four stroke engines are known for their easy start, smooth operation, and fuel economy. Two stroke engines, on the other hand, have in the past been scolded for inconsistencies, bad idling, and too much gas consumption. Evinrude decided to tackle the two stroke flaws and created the Evinrude ETEC engine.
The Evinrude ETEC engine is a direct injection two stroke outboard motor. It is able to idle at lower revolutions per minute and is far quieter than its predecessors. Plus, for the first 300 hours of use, the ETEC does not require maintenance. Once you do hit those 300 hours, be sure to change out the oil with XD1 Evinrude ETEC outboard motor oil.
Bombadier’s Evinrude E-TEC outboard motor engines are well-regarded for being low maintenance while achieving a 300 hour run time. Like all engines, low maintenance or not, E-TECs do run across problems, including the starter not operating, engine not starting, and idling. With a few troubleshooting steps, these problems can be corrected.
If the engine won’t start, shift the handle to neutral. Check the battery to see if it’s charged and also check for blown fuses (located under the engine and electronics cover). If the starter cranks, but the engine fails to start, check that the water intake screens are below the water line. You’ll also want to check for tangled fuel hoses or an empty fuel tank. For idling, clear debris from the propeller and fix bent blades or shaft.
Yesterday we discussed the fuel efficiency standards that were introduced to the outboard motor industry. Prior to that landmark moment, 2-stroke motors were simple and reliable but caused too much pollution to be viable from an economic standpoint. As we alluded to previously, it took a coordinated effort from the Environmental Protection Agency along with motor manufacturers to create any leeway.
Evinrude stepped up in a big way with its E-TEC engine, which was specifically designed to compete with dominant 4-stroke engines of the time. The E-TEC had the advantage of fuel injectors that work to remove water and vapor from the internal parts. The engine was an instant hit, and Evinrude has been touting this flagship model, along with the boat motor oil it uses sparingly, ever since.
In recent days, Evinrude announced its “Best Deal on the Water” fall promotion, offering boaters a five-year, factory-backed warranty on new E-TECs with 40 or more horsepower. The deal lasts through December 22. According to a press release from Evinrude, the E-TEC is the only marine engine on the market with no dealer-scheduled maintenance for the first three years.
It’s not an uncommon sight when the Evinrude professional anglers sweep a fishing tournament or manage to take more than half of the top spots. Evinrude professional anglers are assisted in all their fishing endeavors by the amazing Evinrude E-TEC outboard engines, which are supported by certified Evinrude mechanics and Evinrude outboard oil.
The Evinrude E-TEC engine has several benefits over the standard outboard motor. For one, the E-TEC is a great deal quieter than other outboard motors, allowing fisherman to sneak up on fish without alerting of their presence. The E-TEC engines are also cleaner engines that keep lakes, oceans, and rivers free from pollutants. The E-TEC engine is also resilient to weather and atmospheric conditions, boasting top performance in both biting cold and blazing heat. E-TEC outboard engines are often amongst the most popular used in fishing tournaments around the world, and with good reason.
While there are several reliable brands of outboard engines, without a doubt, the Evinrude E-TEC engines have drawn some of the highest marks from both critics and outboard owners. E-TEC engines represent the pinnacle of two-stroke engine technology, with more efficient engines that have low environmental impact. Evinrude is constantly innovating to improve the quality of their outboard engines. Several E-TEC models have won awards for their performance and for their clean burning technology that is the future of two-stroke engines. With two-stroke engines having an integral role in developing countries, having engines that burn cleaner will promote pollution awareness.
In addition to their E-TEC engines, Evinrude is the premier provider of all kinds of marine accessories including Evinrude oil, which is designed to work in tandem with the E-TEC engine to burn cleaner. Future E-TEC engines might even play a central role in the developing nations throughout the world as humanity progresses into the 21st century.
Since 1976, Lake Constance, which sits on the boarder between Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, did not allow two-stroke engines on the lake. Then in 2006, lake officials cleared the Evinrude E-Tec engine for use on Lake Constance. The Evinrude E-Tec is the first and only two-stroke engine to pass the multitude of standards for environmental safety on the lake. Evinrude’s Vice President of public affairs said the recognition of the Evinrude E-Tec was an outstanding achievement.
Evinrude has dedicated itself to creating the latest in two-stroke outboard technology with their high quality E-Tec engines and Evinrude outboard oil. The Evinrude E-Tec engine was also recognized in 2005 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its design. The E-Tec was presented with the Clean Air Technology Excellence award, and was the first ever outboard engine to receive the award.