I've got an Evinrude 40hp Etec that is about 5 years old, and I just winterized it. After loading it on the trailer, you just do a simple throttle sequence on ingition and in about 2 minutes or so, it fogs itself and shuts down. So easy. I just top off the oil reservior every year with Evinrude XD100, of which it really sips very little. Glad I went with the XD 100 setting instead of the 50. Yeah, it is more expensive, but reduced usage is great!
This wonderful experience made me reflect on 5 wonderful years of ownership of this outboard. Evinrude should have won awards for this system. I watch friends either make a complete mess changing the oil/filter and winterizing their 4 stroke outboards, or worse, paying hundreds of dollars to have a dealer do it every year. If warm weather returns for a spell, they either have to do through the fogging again, or miss the fishing opportunity (none of them will do it, so they miss the chance, unless they go with me). With that Etec, you just go back out, fire it up, fish, then winterize it again at the boat ramp.
The only dealer maintenance required (which could be done by someone with basic mechanical ability at home, if desired) is to take it in every 3 years for a gear case oil change, spark plugs, water pump impeller, and lower unit gear oil change.
This is the lowest maintenance outboard I've owned. Funny thing is, and most people can't digest this, it has lower emissions than the 4 strokes, and better fuel economy, yet it still has the power of a 2 stroke. People can't wrap their heads around the fact a 2 stroke is the cleanest burning outboard.
Anyway, this little marvel has been 100% reliable and cheap to own. Btw, the fuel economy is pretty amazing, too. When I bought it, the boat came with a 6 gallon gas tank. I asked the dealer to add another to the deal and he told me to go fishing/boating with it before buying an additional tank. He insisted I wouldn't need it. He was right. This thing will run all day, even pulling tubes, on a 6 gallon tank. I'm still impressed with the efficiency of this thing, years later.
Anyway, if you are thinking of a new outboard, I'd highly recommend checking the Etecs out.
This wonderful experience made me reflect on 5 wonderful years of ownership of this outboard. Evinrude should have won awards for this system. I watch friends either make a complete mess changing the oil/filter and winterizing their 4 stroke outboards, or worse, paying hundreds of dollars to have a dealer do it every year. If warm weather returns for a spell, they either have to do through the fogging again, or miss the fishing opportunity (none of them will do it, so they miss the chance, unless they go with me). With that Etec, you just go back out, fire it up, fish, then winterize it again at the boat ramp.
The only dealer maintenance required (which could be done by someone with basic mechanical ability at home, if desired) is to take it in every 3 years for a gear case oil change, spark plugs, water pump impeller, and lower unit gear oil change.
This is the lowest maintenance outboard I've owned. Funny thing is, and most people can't digest this, it has lower emissions than the 4 strokes, and better fuel economy, yet it still has the power of a 2 stroke. People can't wrap their heads around the fact a 2 stroke is the cleanest burning outboard.
Anyway, this little marvel has been 100% reliable and cheap to own. Btw, the fuel economy is pretty amazing, too. When I bought it, the boat came with a 6 gallon gas tank. I asked the dealer to add another to the deal and he told me to go fishing/boating with it before buying an additional tank. He insisted I wouldn't need it. He was right. This thing will run all day, even pulling tubes, on a 6 gallon tank. I'm still impressed with the efficiency of this thing, years later.
Anyway, if you are thinking of a new outboard, I'd highly recommend checking the Etecs out.
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