Outboard motor carb

[Cat nap2]

I'm looking for opinions as to wether it's better to leave gas(treated with extender) in the carbs (for about 6mo) or wether it's better to run the carbs dry ? Thanks Nick

[GILow]

I always run dry, two stroke or four. Makes starting so much easier.


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[Crew of Turning]

Gasoline blended with ethanol should be avoided if possible due to the ethanol phase out properties which will just cause problems. Shell is one refiner that produces a high octane gasoline that does not contain ethanol. I run my engine dry after shutting down the fuel feed if it will be on standby for a week or longer. There are additives that can help and I believe they are naptha based. These will not reverse the phase out but may prevent it in storage, I just avoid ethanol in any small engine. FYI current engines that I have are a 2003 Nissan O/B a 1978 Tecumseh 8hp snow blower and a 2009 Honda 216 lawn mower and they all run fine. My boat diesel is nearing its 40th birthday (Yanmar 2QM20).

[Cat nap2]

Unfortunately ethanol is a fact of life in the USA.
I'll look into She'll hi test. I don't know if hi test is recommended for my motor.
The motor is a Honda 25hp w/3 carbs about 10yrs old.

[sy_gilana]

Absolutely not.

Its got to be dry as a bone when you pack it away, especially 4 strokes.

[Crew of Turning]

I am sure you can get ethanol free gasoline at most marinas that sell fuel in the USA. Most all newer marine engines in recreational boats like mercruiser/volvo/ run ethanol free fuel or will be failing in a short peroid of run time. Good wishes on the solution.

[sartorst]

Do both! treat your fuel and then drain Don't forget to drain the bowl

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Crew of Turning

I am sure you can get ethanol free gasoline at most marinas that sell fuel in the USA.

Wrong.

-Chris

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by GILow

I always run dry, two stroke or four. Makes starting so much easier.
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Dry...

Originally Posted by sy_gilana

Absolutely not.

Its got to be dry as a bone when you pack it away, especially 4 strokes.

Dry...

&
DRY...

[NewMoon]

To find ethanol-free gas, one might try pure-gas.org

Lots of land-based station info, but not so much on marinas. If your marina sells ethanol-free and it's not on this list, you can add it.

[FSMike]

[QUOTE=Cat nap2;1962484 -----
I'll look into She'll hi test. I don't know if hi test is recommended for my motor.
------[/QUOTE]

Hi test won't hurt anything but your wallet.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by NewMoon

To find ethanol-free gas, one might try pure-gas.org

Lots of land-based station info, but not so much on marinas. If your marina sells ethanol-free and it's not on this list, you can add it.

Yep, been there, done that. At the time, the "nearest available" entry was no longer even a gas station.

Next nearest available about 75 miles away, on the coast...


I'm told there's a place about 50 miles away, land-locked, useless...

-Chris

[jimbunyard]

Originally Posted by Cat nap2

I'm looking for opinions as to wether it's better to leave gas(treated with extender) in the carbs (for about 6mo) or wether it's better to run the carbs dry ? Thanks Nick

If the engine's gonna sit long enough (a week or three?) for the gas to evaporate from the bowl, run it dry.

[four winds]

Ethanol free at every marina I have visited in Florida and Alabama. Many cities inland have at least one maybe two stations with it.

Ask a landscaper in town as they prefer it for thier small engines.

Ethanol free must be refined outside the US. Try Citco stations and the off brands. Cheap e-free is better than name brand e gas.

[tenchiki]

My mechanic said to always run it dry if it is not going to get run again for more than a day or so.