Running an outboard dry after use

[breezeblock]

Originally Posted by gpsguru

On all of the newer Mercury / Mariner EFi 4strokes, the manufacturer recommends just adding fuel stabilizer to the a full tank of fuel, then running on muffs for 5 minutes before any extended period of non use.

I have never run any engine dry ............... with the older 2 strokes the risk of heat damage from an oil starved weak mixture is a definite possibility.

I have never owned a carbed 4 stroke, but again, it would run lean once the fuel level drops below the float valve, and that cannot be good for any engine.

Modern fuels are much better quality than they were years ago .......... My cement mixer often stands for 18 months without use, yet always starts on the 2nd or 3rd pull ................. the lawnmower is rarely used from late Sept through to March, yet always starts up runs OK

we have a fleet of 2 strokes in various bits of kit mainly chainsaws and cutoff saws and we have never had any seizures on them by running dry but we never use supermarket fuel our modern chainsaws with fuel injected lean burn type engines hate the stuff they run like shit if we fill from tescos i think the key is if its going to lie for any length of time bin the fuel and never store more than you need

[69cmw]

I've been using Tesco fuel in my boats, bikes and cars for years, I've left fuel in 1 of my boats for 12 months, started 2nd turn of the key, never had any issues at all with the stuff....

[Maximus]

......This Seems like yet another Tail Chaseing thread to me!

[billows]

Dealer maintained the ethanol in the fuel remains in the carb bowl after the petrol evaporates and attracts water so then you get water in your fuel

[Poly]

Originally Posted by billows

Dealer maintained the ethanol in the fuel remains in the carb bowl after the petrol evaporates and attracts water so then you get water in your fuel

[willk]

Originally Posted by Poly

You have to understand one thing P., we're not accustomed to the idea of ethanol being left to evaporate...

That would be Wrong!

[ShinyShoe]

Yeah but Poly ain't a fan of mixing his highly prized ethanol with water either...

[Last Tango]

Originally Posted by breezeblock

we have a fleet of 2 strokes in various bits of kit mainly chainsaws and cutoff saws and we have never had any seizures on them by running dry but we never use supermarket fuel our modern chainsaws with fuel injected lean burn type engines hate the stuff they run like shit if we fill from tescos i think the key is if its going to lie for any length of time bin the fuel and never store more than you need

My brother in law works at the Grangemouth refinery an assures me that it's exactly the same fuel from the same storage tanks that goes into every tanker that gets loaded there (including Tesco's) regardless of what it says on the truck.
As far as I know it's the only refinery in Scotland and that's where every dealer here gets their fuel from.
Run the cars, boat, lawn tractor and strimmer on Tesco's fuel....never had a problem.

[mikew4]

Originally Posted by Last Tango

My brother in law works at the Grangemouth refinery an assures me that it's exactly the same fuel from the same storage tanks that goes into every tanker that gets loaded there (including Tesco's) regardless of what it says on the truck.
As far as I know it's the only refinery in Scotland and that's where every dealer here gets their fuel from.
Run the cars, boat, lawn tractor and strimmer on Tesco's fuel....never had a problem.

Correct. However once the fuel leaves the refinery, additives are put in, which differentiates it according to brand.

Personallly, i fill up from anywhere and dont notice a blind bit of difference

[69cmw]

Originally Posted by mikew4

Personallly, i fill up from anywhere and dont notice a blind bit of difference

Same here

[Poly]

Originally Posted by mikew4

Correct. However once the fuel leaves the refinery, additives are put in, which differentiates it according to brand.

Personallly, i fill up from anywhere and dont notice a blind bit of difference

I haven't managed to correlate the brand to quality but I do believe that premium diesel gives me better running in the car, and have not had any EGR issues since switching to it for every full tank (Mrs P "tops up" with random stuff in between).

As a result I prefer to run the O/board on premium fuel too. Mrs P also works at a Scottish oil refinery and whilst the raw fuel is the same believes there are additive blends that depend on the destination, and "marketing".

[mick]

Originally Posted by Poly

I haven't managed to correlate the brand to quality but I do believe that premium diesel gives me better running in the car, and have not had any EGR issues since switching to it for every full tank (Mrs P "tops up" with random stuff in between).

As a result I prefer to run the O/board on premium fuel too. Mrs P also works at a Scottish oil refinery and whilst the raw fuel is the same believes there are additive blends that depend on the destination, and "marketing".

I would agree with that run both my motors and the boat on BP or Shell top spec for the few pence more it costs and if you ask any mechanic what causes most injector related issue it's down to supermarket stuff

[BogMonster]

I turn off the fuel and run small engines dry at the end of the season, having had problems with them in the past with gunk in the carbs when I have left the fuel switched on. I do it with strimmer, mowers and the garden rotavator. Have never thought of doing it with the outboard but I might from now on.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

I turn off the fuel and run small engines dry at the end of the season, having had problems with them in the past with gunk in the carbs when I have left the fuel switched on. I do it with strimmer, mowers and the garden rotavator. Have never thought of doing it with the outboard but I might from now on.

Don't do it to the Etec !!


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[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by mick

I would agree with that run both my motors and the boat on BP or Shell top spec for the few pence more it costs and if you ask any mechanic what causes most injector related issue it's down to supermarket stuff

Having worked in the fuel industry for a number of years,and knowing what actually goes into each type of fuel and where it comes from I have come to realise that most mechanics, plumbers and boiler repairers are very vocal on subjects that they know absolutely bugger all about.

For what it's worth,standard 95 RON supermarket fuel is a 'standard retail blend' wherever it comes from (and it comes from ALL the fuel terminals/refineries depending on where they can get it).

It is exactly the same as fuel supplied to a large number of independent chains of filling stations, and a higher spec than is supplied to quite a lot of filling stations.

If you really want to use better petrol, run super unleaded or the branded equivalent. It's got no ethanol in it yet in the UK.

[MatFromPoland]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

I turn off the fuel and run small engines dry at the end of the season ... Have never thought of doing it with the outboard but I might from now on.

Why not to follow Etec manual.
Add Evin stabilizer and run winterization from tachometer gauge.

[A1an]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

If you really want to use better petrol, run super unleaded or the branded equivalent. It's got no ethanol in it yet in the UK.

Are outboards able to adjust timing to suit 97-99. I've not come across a knock sensor on an outboard yet but then again I've not worked on all marques.

[Nos4r2]

Higher the octane, the less knock

[willk]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Higher the octane, the less knock

"Knock knock!"

"Who's there?"

"Gas"

"Gas who?"

"um, I dunno... "

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Higher the octane, the less knock

But outboards can't generally adjust their timing to take advantage of the higher octane. So there's no benefit in using the posh stuff.
I contacted Shell a few years ago to enquire about the difference between the bog standard unleaded & the Vmax high octane fuel. The regular unleaded has less than 5% ethanol. The Vmax has "upto" 10% ethanol, but they didn't actually put a figure on it. Ethanol is used to raise the octane, so by buying the expensive high octane fuel, you're actually paying more for increased ethanol content. I have the data sheets somewhere, I'll dig them out.
BRP advise to use regular un-leaded in Etecs.


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