2 questions...wiring/pre-mix

[smoedog]

How do you guys deal with mixing you gas and oil when filing up at a marina. I got a 20 gal tank and figure if I add oil them fill the tank. By the time I drive to the ramp it will be mixed. But what about filling up at a marina, how do you mix it then? Second. Is there any issue with using my pontoon as a ground when wiring up lights, or do I need I need to run the negative up to the bus bar in the console?

 

[ahicks]

Don't use the boat's hull for anything electrical. You'll be setting yourself up for electrolysis that can eat through the pontoons in pretty short order. Run the ground wire.

 

[lncoop]

My mechanic finally convinced me to disable the oil injection system a couple years ago. I just dump the oil in first then count on the pressure/volume from the fuel nozzle to do the mixing. I fill up on the way out of course but we often have to refill on the water and after two years I've had no adverse effects from doing it this way. I don't even know what else one could do. I guess if you were really anal you could add a little oil then make the little girl stop pumping and add a little more oil repeating the process until full, but that'd be overkill IMO. I'm sure there are some who would disagree. I do recommend using one of those cheater bottles to make your life a little easier. The last thing I want to do after half a day on the water under the hot sun with a frosty beverage or two is calculate fuel/oil ratios. YMMV. Welcome back bro. Hope to see you on the water soon!

 

[HarborRat]

Back when I still had a two stroke I would just see how much gas it took, then add about 3oz of oil per gallon...or just a hair under. 3oz/gallon is about 43:1. The oil is designed to mix with molecules of gas almost instantly, so don't worry too much about that part. You could add some first like Incoop said, if you want the peace of mind.

Using the aluminum as a ground is a no-no for reasons ahicks said and more.

 

[crb478]

When I mixed oil I also had a tank that you could see the gas level in, I divided it into quarters and had a cheater bottle for the oil. I would pull to the pumps add about 3/4 of the oil that I thought I would need and then have it filled once I knew exactly how much gas I would add the correct total amount of oil for the gas. It is mixed up at this point, or you could rock the boat if you want to be sure.

Run the second line and add a ground block, it will make a neater, better, easier way to add future electronics and not cause electrolysis. It also make it easy to clean your grounds which are what usually cause electrical gremlins.

 

[smoedog]

Thanks for the info.

See ya out there soon Incoop. Got the carpet and some of the furniture back down, just waiting on my rail risers to finish it up and then clean up some of the PO's wiring