save money on petrol?

timboli · 19 June 2006, 18:58

Anyone got any views on this....

http://www.pipelinecard.org/
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SDGANDER · 19 June 2006, 19:16

I registered several months ago and get the odd newsletter but nothing has really happened.

SDG

Nick Hearne · 19 June 2006, 19:23

I have registered too, but nothing yet!

Nos4r2 · 19 June 2006, 19:45

Ditto

Tim M · 20 June 2006, 00:29

Same

codprawn · 20 June 2006, 13:20

Talking of which...

This may sound really crazy BUT - it should be possible to run your outboard on red diesel or kerosene. Not neat of course!!!

In some countries petrol station have been caught mixing diesel or kerosene with the petrol - as high as 60%. Often people don't notice!!!
Kerosene would prob be better as it is thinner. I don't think it would be illegal as you can use red diesel in a boat anyway.

During the war petrol engined tractors would run on petrol first - switch to parrafin all day - then back to petrol before shutting down. Also EP Barrus and Evinrude have developed outboards to run on neat aviation fuel /kerosene.

I was thinking maybe a 60% petrol/40% kerosene mix wouldn't be too bad??? Any ideas - would save a fortune!!!

Matt · 20 June 2006, 13:45

Let me know how your engine runs on it.

ian parkes · 20 June 2006, 22:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Talking of which...

This may sound really crazy BUT - it should be possible to run your outboard on red diesel or kerosene. Not neat of course!!!

In some countries petrol station have been caught mixing diesel or kerosene with the petrol - as high as 60%. Often people don't notice!!!
Kerosene would prob be better as it is thinner. I don't think it would be illegal as you can use red diesel in a boat anyway.

During the war petrol engined tractors would run on petrol first - switch to parrafin all day - then back to petrol before shutting down. Also EP Barrus and Evinrude have developed outboards to run on neat aviation fuel /kerosene.

I was thinking maybe a 60% petrol/40% kerosene mix wouldn't be too bad??? Any ideas - would save a fortune!!!

I must remember never to buy an out board from you .
Those old tractors used to have a special manifold that heated the Parafin (TBO) so it would burn ok . They also used to burn valves and need a de coke rugular . A modern engine will die very quick if you try to run it on crap fuel

hasn't anyone done an LPG conversion yet for an outboard . its got to happen especilly with the demise of 2 strokes

Matt · 20 June 2006, 22:42

Is that the "demise" where a 'rude 200 etec is more fuel efficient than a verado?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian parkes

it's got tohappen especilly with the demise of 2 strokes

ian parkes · 20 June 2006, 23:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMat

Is that the "demise" where a 'rude 200 etec is more fuel efficient than a verado?

I dunno whats best , just that 2 strokes are being slowly outlawed and with 4 stroke becoming the norm Iam surprised that I haven't heard of any gas conversions . Having said that its not easy to get new vehicles as a gas burner .

Hugh Jardon · 20 June 2006, 23:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadMat

Is that the "demise" where a 'rude 200 etec is more fuel efficient than a verado?

i think the modern two strokes have a good bit of life left in them yet, the merc opti usually beats the etecs on economy in the usa tests and i have noticed mercury slightly changing their tac in looking to promote the optis more...

i love the look of the verado but that economy....my oh my

some of the 4 stroke outboards sound like thrashed 4 cyl car engines that sound horrible at high revs, i find the opti and etec just sound better and better the more you rev them.........odd really as i am not a two stroke bike engine fan

Hugh Jardon · 20 June 2006, 23:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian parkes

I dunno whats best , just that 2 strokes are being slowly outlawed and with 4 stroke becoming the norm Iam surprised that I haven't heard of any gas conversions . Having said that its not easy to get new vehicles as a gas burner .

on your next boat dont be concerned in choosing a large opti, etec or hpdi engine. they are all fab, but try to steer clear of the old style two strokers if you can as resale on them is far lower. dont be fooled into thinking that 4 strokes is the only way to go as this is not the case at all.

ian parkes · 21 June 2006, 00:50

Thats the problem with finding a boat , if the boat is right it has an old 2 stroke on the back , or if the engine is good it has an old boat hanging off it .

I don't know much about the modern 2 strokes and certainly haven't seen any about on the boats I have been looking at .
Fact is I know 4 strokes and can fix them , but 2 strokes are prone to so many problems in my experience I ould be scared to go to sea with an old one . If I owned a 2 stroke from new then OK but they are so open to user error / ignorance

At most slipways on a Sunday there is usually someone with the cover off an old Merc Johnson Or Evinrude wasting a decent day off. At lest you don't see Cryslers anymore

timboli · 21 June 2006, 06:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian parkes

I dunno whats best , just that 2 strokes are being slowly outlawed and with 4 stroke becoming the norm Iam surprised that I haven't heard of any gas conversions . Having said that its not easy to get new vehicles as a gas burner .

I saw two honda outboards running at the Southampton boat show quite a few years ago in tanks,one was lpg,the other petrol and it was demonstrating no oily residue with lpg.
The hondas were 50hp I think.
The company(cant remember who) were developing a system and I registered for further information but never recieved anything.

Nasher · 21 June 2006, 08:33

Ian

An old carb'd two stroke is about as simple as it gets, and should be the easiest thing in the world to keep going. Much better than a four stroke developed from a car engine turned on end with its additional moving parts etc.
The reason you see so many old ones broken down is the owners fault more often than not, because they don't maintain them.
Sadly most who try to go boating on the cheap spent more of their limited cash on this years sunglasses than putting a new set of plugs in the engine, or changing the fuel filter.
Recently of course the 2 and 4 stroke engines are both covered in equaly complex electrical systems that take a bit more time to understand.
My vote will always be with a two stroke.

If you put some effort in you can pick up the right boat, remove the old spec two stroke, and drop on a newer one, for less than the cost of buying a boat with a newer engine on in the first place.

Nasher.

Hugh Jardon · 21 June 2006, 09:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian parkes

At most slipways on a Sunday there is usually someone with the cover off an old Merc Johnson Or Evinrude wasting a decent day off. At lest you don't see Cryslers anymore

thats cos the 2 stroke was almost the only choice so there are 1000's of em kicking around that are 20-30 plus years old

Searider · 21 June 2006, 09:54

There were a few Hondas converted to run on LPG a few years back. 4stroke carb engines.

Hamble harbour master had them on their launches.

However, they binned the LPG gear as there were supply problems with LPG in Hamble and they were having to run on petrol for much of the time.

Marine LPG use did not reach a critical mass and the suppliers have been less keen to support it.
Less supply = fewer conversions being developed.

ian parkes · 21 June 2006, 20:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nasher

Ian

An old carb'd two stroke is about as simple as it gets, and should be the easiest thing in the world to keep going. Much better than a four stroke developed from a car engine turned on end with its additional moving parts etc.
The reason you see so many old ones broken down is the owners fault more often than not, because they don't maintain them.
Sadly most who try to go boating on the cheap spent more of their limited cash on this years sunglasses than putting a new set of plugs in the engine, or changing the fuel filter.
Recently of course the 2 and 4 stroke engines are both covered in equaly complex electrical systems that take a bit more time to understand.
My vote will always be with a two stroke.

If you put some effort in you can pick up the right boat, remove the old spec two stroke, and drop on a newer one, for less than the cost of buying a boat with a newer engine on in the first place.

Nasher.

Exactly thats what I mean its not the engine , its the user , but with the 4 stroke so long as they can check a dipstick it will be ok with a service . I have seen so many people abuse 2 strokes over , with the wrong oil wrong plugs etc , Just running the wrong heat range plug can cause major damage . I would buy a new or nearly new motor , but 10 years old is a real gamble.