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Whew! That was a lot of stuff to cover. Now that it's over, let's try to answer
the question:
Should you buy an E-TEC?
As always, "It depends".
If you don't have a certified E-TEC mechanic within a reasonable distance,
and / or you don't have a place to get spare parts, don't buy an E-TEC.
It's not worth the hassle, no matter how much you want an E-TEC.
If you are really, really concerned about long-term longevity of the motor,
don't buy an E-TEC now. Why? Because there is simply no long-term
data on E-TECs. The first engines (90 HPs and smaller) are only now approaching
their 3-year birthdays, and the big motors (200 and larger) are only about 18
months old.
There are a lot of people pulling a bunch of hours on E-TECs who have not
experienced any problems. This is a VERY strong indicator that the engines
will perform as advertised over the long haul.
It was sufficient evidence to convince us to buy one...but if
you're really, really risk adverse, save yourself some mental anguish and buy
something else.
Otherwise...you should seriously consider the E-TECs. This is especially true
if:
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You want the most low-end torque possible
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You need the lightest motor
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You want the one of the overall cleanest motors available
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You already have a 2000 or later OMC outboard installed. In this situation, you
will not need to buy new controls and gauges, unless you want to take advantage
of BRPs new hi-tech networked gauges. And if you are buying a motor about the
same size as your current OMC motor, you will probably not have to buy new
props,
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BRP seems to be providing excellent customer service on the E-TECs, and stands
behind their warranty. They have an excellent track record on their other
products, and have the financial staying power that OMC lacked.
In our situation, we think the E-TEC 90 was the best balance of power, weight,
fuel economy, service and installation costs for our situation. We've been very
happy with the motor, once we got past our fuel/water problems.
In Conclusion...
We hope this article has helped you sort through the hype and irrational
comments that surround Evinrude's E-TEC engines.
From our viewpoint, they are a robust engine, with performance on par with any
4-stroke or 2-stroke (a little better in some areas, not quite as good in
others). The issues that traditionally dogged 2-stroke motors are now passe'.
The only questions that still remain to be answered are the ones related to long
term durability, but there is a lot of evidence that that they will perform as
advertised.
We expect total cost of operation to be comparable to, or better than a 4-stroke
if a total cost picture is used (including not just the cost of oil, but also
recommended dealer service).
We're sure all of the motor manufacturers are preparing a response of some sort
to the E-TECs, whether it be improved mileage, reduced weight, or modified
service schedules. Who knows? You may discover that the new motors are even
better than the E-TEC. Of course, we dont think BRP is resting on its laurels,
either.
Only time will tell, and in the end, the consumer is the one that benefits
the most.
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