I’m developing a bad reputation around the Spinfuel Vape offices. Because it seems like every new rebuildable tank atomizer (RTA) that comes through our doors becomes my “new favorite.” But I can’t help it, 2018 has been a tremendous year for the format, and the all-new OBS Engine II RTA might be the best one yet.

But notice I said “might.” I love this thing, to be sure. But there is one quirk that places the Engine II behind my current favorites, the Uwell Fancier (reviewed here) and Geek Vape Zeus (reviewed here) – and that’s gurgling. No matter how I wick and build this deck, I can’t stop the slight gurgle that comes with deeper draws, regardless of how I set the top airflow control.

Speaking of which, like its predecessors, the original Engine and Engine Nano, the Engine II is designed to eliminate leaking problems, by its top-mounted airflow and innovative sliding fill port. And this setup works particularly well, with absolutely zero leakage and condensation problems. It’s a proven format that I’m glad to see here, since the OBS Crius II  (reviewed here) took some liberties with RTA design.

In fact, most of the Engine II harkens back to the original, choosing to streamline and fine-tune, rather than toss out a working format just for the sake of change. It’s a little wider… and a little more capacious, but it’s immediately recognizable as an OBS Engine product.

So, why bother making another Engine if it’s going to be more of the same? Well, there’s one tremendous difference.

OBS wants to turn your building world upside down. Okay, that was a little hyperbolic, but in an effort to bring something original to the table, the OBS Engine II has an entirely new build deck that asks users to install coils in an inverted manner, so they “hang” below the deck, closer to the bottom airflow inputs.

At first, this format is pretty obtuse, but once I got the hang of building this way, I saw the brilliance of it. Not only does this create a more concentrated flow of air, for stronger flavor intensity, but it also makes it much easier to position the coils and trim excess leads. Position, snip, done.

Because of this new design, wicking needs to be a little more precise than the usual “cram it in the gap” game plan. Like most RTAs the OBS Engine II RTA can be a little finicky when it comes to proper wick lengths and cotton consistency. Too much cotton will block the juice flow. Too-dense cotton will create clogs and dry hits. Too loose or too little? And you’ll have spitback and flooding.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not high science. But it’s something you’ll need to get used to with the Engine II’s new deck construction.

My first observation right from the outset is how potent the flavor is from this new layout. On stronger draws, you can feel the air flowing intensely through the bottom of the deck and up through the mouthpiece. It’s rare for an atomizer to give off such a sensation, but I truly enjoyed “feeling” the vapor working its way through the tank and up the narrowing chimney.

But this activity might also be part of the problem. Even with the best possible wick job, I found that deeper, higher-wattage draws produced very audible noises. Some were airy, while others gurgled, but all were noticeable. It wasn’t enough to become a nuisance, but after experiencing truly quiet, measured draws on other RTAs (like the afore-mentioned Zeus) it was a little disconcerting to hear the Engine II every time I pressed the button.

One thing OBS can be trusted with is build quality. Like all of the tanks and RTAs I’ve tested (and loved) from the company, the OBS Engine II RTA is machined pristinely. There are no rough threads, no overly tight sections and nothing that isn’t a pleasure to move or adjust. Everything works as intended, right out of the box, with no machining oil smell to be found.

(Just to be safe, you should still thoroughly wash any vape atomizer before using it – it’s the smart thing to do.)

As a 5mL capacity RTA, the Engine II isn’t the biggest tank on the market, but it IS one of the more-frugal atomizers of its kind. Even using the included Clapton coils (reading at just 0.2 ohms) and vaping the Engine II at high wattages, the juice consumption was slow and measured.

And because the top-fill port is a breeze to use, refilling the Engine II doesn’t have to be a three-handed, cumbersome process. Just have a good unicorn bottle handy and enjoy the simplicity.

Though it’s not really designed for mouth-to-lung use, I was able to coax a respectably restricted draw from the Engine II, with a satisfying mouth feel and concentration of flavor. With so many new dedicated MTL devices on the market, I’m not sure the OBS Engine II will be a go-to device for these purposes. But those who like to mix things up will enjoy the versatility offered here.

Finally, I should mention how the Engine II’s design draws heat away from the exterior of the tank sections, meaning it’s generally a “cooler” vape than most of today’s heat seekers. But it’s also a more comfortable vape, with none of the excess heat reaching the resin mouthpiece. I know some vapers like to feel the heat radiating from their 150+-watt draws, but I’ll take a more reserved mouth feel every time.

I’ll say it again – I genuinely love the OBS Engine II RTA. It offers a tremendous balance of concentrated flavor, ample vapor and ease of use. It worked beautifully with every mod I tested it on, and never had any issues with misfires or dry hits. The updated deck format is a revelation – one I hope they continue to build upon for years to come.

But man, alive is it loud. No matter how I wicked the Engine II, the same airy gurgles surfaced, leading to some uncomfortably loud moments outside the bar. Again, this is a nitpicky complaint about an atomizer that does SO many things right, but I also know that RTAs aren’t nearly as popular as sub-ohm tanks with prebuilt coil heads, and noise is one of the reasons why. So, I have to knock a small tick off the final score, but let’s be clear – RTA and build enthusiasts should strongly consider the OBS Engine II for their collections.

Score: A-