Does your Evinrude E-Tec sputter and idle rough after a cold start or after running on plane for a while and then quickly shifting to low RPMs? Here is what you need to do before expensive or timely diagnostics.
You may have noticed that your motor has a tendency to cough and sputter or is idling rough after a cold start. You might also notice your Evinrude E-Tec idling rough after running on plane for a while and then quickly shifting to low RPMs.
You bought a used boat that is powered by an older model of the Evinrude E-Tec engine, and you haven't been the owner of your boat for a sufficient amount of time to know what's typical and what's not. You probably have also heard that Evinrude E-Tecs are both incredible as well as can be an incredible pain in the ass.
Why Does My Evinrude E-Tec Idle Rough?
It's possible that, for instance, putting around the marina in both forward and reverse gear while waiting for your turn at the ramp might result in a few stalls. Both of these scenarios involve running the motor and an unstable idle. Aside from that, the motor operates perfectly, so you write it off as a minor nuisance; nonetheless, the relatively minor problem stays in your head for an infinite amount of time due to the fact that folks who own Evinrude E-Tecs tend to be extra cautious about their outboard and grow to know their outboards unique quirks.
All of the maintenance is current and properly up to date, you have clean or new spark plugs installed, and there are no diagnostic issues present.
Before Going To The Shop
It is time to get to the root of the matter.
Have you ever wondered what kinds of fuel were on the market back when Evinrude was at the height of its popularity? If there is one thing that is certain, it is that Evinrude E-Tecs strongly dislike ethanol. When you give your E-Tec genuine, clean, 87-octane, unleaded fuel, the engine will express its appreciation to you. You will note that the chokes and sputters are steadily improving, and if the motor is acting up at all, you can just pump the ball a few times to smooth it out.
Details Matter With Evinrude E-Tecs
There is a very rewarding aspect of boating that appears to be on the decline due to the development of modern 4-stroke engines, and Evinrude E-Tecs deliver that reward by teaching you how to properly maintain, diagnose, and perform maintenance on your own. E-Tecs can still give you rock-solid reliability for those that want to dig in to their inner-workings – that's a fair price to pay if you still have the itch for the mechanics of a 2-stroke.
Take care of your Evinrude E-Tec, and if you have ethanol in your gas, apply Star Brite Fuel Enzyme Treatment along with genuine Evinrude fuel treatments.
This will keep your engine in tip-top shape, running like the total work horse that it is designed to be.
