Fuel additives- Do you, Don't you ,what and why

[mboy]

When I was at gas dock yesterday, was telling my buddy that my pops marina is .20 gallon cheaper on avg.

Old bastard at gas dock was teling me that's becuase they sell mid grade gas (90 octane I guess) and my pops marina sells regular (87 I guess).

I would imagine my 2003 175 johnson 2 stroke doesn't care as much about the 3 octane difference as much as my wallet might @ .20 gallon, correct?

I also doubt he is correct on the fact the my pops marina gas is lower grade anyway.

[fishon42]

Dont you just love people like that...




Fish On

[mboy]

Yup. Most marinas have them. Old, miserable, think they know it all, someone caught a bigger fish then you BASTARDS.

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Mboy,

My 2005 Yamaha 200 HPDI is developed for "regular gas." Any higher octane than 87 does nothing for it ... it reduces the cash in my wallet, that is about it.

Seeing the "insides" of these as my buddy is a certified Yamaha mechanic, they DO reuqire Ring Free. It is expensive but I have seen engines than do and do not regularly use it. I use it.

As for ethanol, manufactures are saying it should be used. The two biggest products are Startron and MDR E-Zorb. I used Startron but have changed to E-Zorb as E-zorb can "re-combine" ethanot that has separated from the fuel.

I do not know a Johnson alternative to Ring Free. Ring Free has many purposes, one of which being total combustion of the fuel so no carbon buildup occurs.

The gas is probably cheaper as it does not include Valvatech (maybe bad spelling). Some marinas put additives in at the pump. Those additives have a cost associated with them.

I try to limit where I buy my fuel. You do not want a marina that has little or no traffic (as ethanol can begin separately rather quickly) and you want to avoid marinas with underground tanks.

That is my $.02,

Capt. Ed

[mboy]

Thanks Ed. I actually plan do decarb my engine once a season using 3/4 gallon of fuel with 1 bottle of Seafoam in an external tank.

I hear good things about this method.

[salty pig]

mines a 97 johnson  have some more hose clamps to replace saw the plastic clamps leakng a tad. I use the startron maybe i should switch over to that EZ stuff... These damn outboards scare me to work on !

[Capt. Ed]

Hi All,

Keep your fingers crossed that politicians do NOT make the percentage higher for ethanol in the fuel.

It will be bad (and expensive) ...

MBOY - I have heard good things also about that method. Too bad I don;t have carbs in my engine!

Best wishes,

Ed

[Pathfinder]

I run a four stroke, was using Ring Free every other tank full while under warranty.  I now use Sea Foam and StarTron.  I winterized with StarTron and Stabile.  After I'm finished with my current bottle of StarTron, I will switch to MDR- E Zorb.  I'll still use Sea Foam every other tank full.    Great stuff.

[salty pig]

should i put sea foam in my tank?

[sealife]

I had a 1986 225 evinrude that I used for 1600 hours.  I always added an OMC product to the gas called carbon guard and about every 50-75 hours ran their other cleaner through the injector hose on the carbs.  Carbon build up on the rings is what makes them stick and then good by piston.  EZ Zorb has been highly recommeded for use witht the ethanol gas. 
Regular gas is 87 octane and the middle grade is 89.  OMC recomended 89 as the minimum in the older motors but the newer runs are happy with 87.

[Pathfinder]

salty pig :

I would use the SeaFoam and StarTron or E-Zorb by MDR.  You can buy the Sea Foam at most auto parts stores.  Not cheap but worth every dime.  Try every other tank full.

[GregB]

i use the sea foam as well as a fuel additive every 3 fills. I also use the spray version to decarb once a year. 2005 200hp 2 stroke merc.Marvel mystery is a cheaper alternative, i use that when sea foam is unavailable. My motor is oil injected and I feel better adding the stuff.

[BuddahB]

  I have a f225 and use Startron once a year in a tankful and use Marvel Mystery Oil in every other tank. "She runs like I stole it." Ringfree is a bit rich for my wallet. The above combo works just as well. JMHO...

[mboy]

I just decarbed by filling my racor up with sea foam. Blue out a good amount of white smoke, but nothing super crazy so carbon buildup must not have been that bad ( i let it sit after letting the seafoam work thru engine until it kept stalling).

I have also been using Pri-G every other tank full. So far so good.

[Luna Sea 5]

if you want to save money on gas, pull her out of the water and save $.75 a gallon.  I seen it as low as $2.45... and it the marina as high as $3.20.