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Fuel additives for old Mercury outboards

T

TJ Throne

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I bought an old boat that came with 2 old Mercury 2 stroke outboards, a 1978 20hp and a 1984 9.8hp . After doing some work on them, they both run well now and pump water. It is difficult for me to find ethanol free fuel where I live without driving about 30 minutes. Is there a specific fuel additive that I can use to keep the carbs clean, or should I just disconnect fuel and run engine until the carbs are empty. I have heard a lot about Sea Foam Marine and Star Tron. I am new to being a boat owner. Also, if I use additive, should I still run the carbs empty like I have been doing. Thanks
 
My opinion based upon my boating activities since I was in high school...in the 1950's: Reports currently indicate that Ethanol is good to keep carbs clean. The reported problems are long term sitting up and water collection. You get reports of different people doing different things with their equipment based on their usage. You get both sides of the story. What is missing is comparing apples to apples.....you don't get the whole story from both sides to come to some overall conclusion because every story is different because everybody's usage is different.

I never had a problem with Ethanol because I use/used fuel stabilizers in my road vehicles and everything else with spark combustion around my farm including my boats. Did I need to? Who knows! But it was my money and my tummy that felt good because of my actions! Some don't use them and report no problems and some do. That's only part of the story. Why do some have problems and others don't? Gotta dig into the facts associated with each opinion.

Your equipment, your decision. Good Luck!
 
Texasmark said:
My opinion based upon my boating activities since I was in high school...in the 1950's: Reports currently indicate that Ethanol is good to keep carbs clean. The reported problems are long term sitting up and water collection. You get reports of different people doing different things with their equipment based on their usage. You get both sides of the story. What is missing is comparing apples to apples.....you don't get the whole story from both sides to come to some overall conclusion because every story is different because everybody's usage is different.

I never had a problem with Ethanol because I use/used fuel stabilizers in my road vehicles and everything else with spark combustion around my farm including my boats. Did I need to? Who knows! But it was my money and my tummy that felt good because of my actions! Some don't use them and report no problems and some do. That's only part of the story. Why do some have problems and others don't? Gotta dig into the facts associated with each opinion.

Your equipment, your decision. Good Luck!
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Thanks for your "experienced" opinion. Appreciated
 
racerone said:
An empty carburetor stays clean.
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That's kinda what I thought. If I can get ethanol free fuel closer to where I live, would I still need to empty the carbs. Those motors don't use much fuel since I use the trolling motor most of the time I am fishing, except when I move around. That fuel would probably sit around for a while
 
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