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re: How bad is ethanol for outboard motors?
Posted on 3/28/13 at 9:36 pm to Hammertime
Posted on 3/28/13 at 9:36 pm to Hammertime
Biggest mistake people do is not treat their fuel.My boat and all my lawn equipment for my biz have Seafoam\Stabil in them at all times,have had no problems what so ever and for me it's a waste of time to drive around looking for E-free gas.
1
Posted on 3/28/13 at 9:58 pm to FISH N TIGER
Where do you live? I'd be willing to bet there is at least one ethanol free station around you
Posted on 3/28/13 at 10:04 pm to The Mick
The thing about ethanol is that it is a powerful solvent and hygro/hydrophilic, meaning it absorbs moisture. So, not only does it turn your lines and gaskets to goo, it will also pull the moisture out of the air and deposit it in your fuel. I'm a certified Stihl technician and 90% of all of our small engine issues are attributable to ethanol.
Posted on 3/29/13 at 12:41 am to Lpmann3
quote:Our bayboat had a Mercury Optimax 150 outboard, and a 60 gallon fuel cell in the floor behind the console. We just yanked that bad boy out and poured it into the truck when we were done fishing to get home.
If your boat has an outboard, isn't the gas tank removable?
Posted on 3/29/13 at 2:07 am to Fishhead
Kayakdontcare 
Posted on 3/29/13 at 3:41 am to xenon16
quote:
xenon16
If you are having idle trouble, check the level of the float bowl or the needle valve. With the carb off, holding it upside down(bowl cover off), the float should be level. If you look real close were the needle valve is, there is a tab that you bend to level out the float. Be very careful doing this. Even remove the float each time you adjust it so you don't damage the needle valve seat.
If that doesn't get you right, check the timing. Also the motor valves could be your problem. The intake valve might not be seating or is finished/burn't out.
On a side note. Last week my MIL gave me FIL's boat. 14' alweld with a 1994 9.9 suszuki. Had to change out all fuel fitting due to being plastic. Ethanol screwed them up big time. The motor hasn't been ran in a few years and of course the carb was gumed up big time. It was so bad the the float was stuck to the bottom of the float bowl. More then a 1/4" build up. This motor might have only 20 running hours on it and is like new. Been running the shite out of it the last few days running trotlines and runs like a champ. Pushes the boat around 20 mph loaded.
The bad is that I have to buy a new prop. Busted that sucker hitting a log yesterday. 
This post was edited on 3/29/13 at 3:48 am
Posted on 3/29/13 at 6:09 am to The Mick
I run it in mine more often than not, but I use my boat weekly-ish. If I let it sit a while I will throw some stabil or enzyme treatment in the tank. Fwiw, it's a 2000 75 hp yammy, never had a problem with it. I do break down the carbs and clean them up when I winterize though.
Posted on 3/29/13 at 7:15 am to Hammertime
quote:
Where do you live? I'd be willing to bet there is at least one ethanol free station around you
My business is mostly in BR area and really not one on my route.I try and buy my fuel from the same stations and it's usually twice a week.Now let me be clear i will and have bought E-free but my point of the orig post is that using Seafoam\Stabil in my fuel i have had no,zero,notta,problems.For most people having problems IMO are the ones that let it sit in their tanks for too long and don't ever treat their fuel.
Posted on 3/29/13 at 7:39 am to The Mick
My boss is head of our corporation's fuel team, and he won't run any flavor of ethanol fuel in his boat. I follow his lead with both my big outboard and my small one. On the other hand, my go-fast boat has an old big block Chevy (454)engine that I think would gobble up anything that will combust. I think it would burn french fry oil without modification as fast as it goes through fuel.
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