2001 50hp 4-stroke Merc - Carb Cleaner questions

[CDN_Falcon]

I've read a lot of carb cleaning threads and can't seem to find an answer that satisfies me.

I'm having rough idle problems that I believe are being caused by the number 2 & 3 carbs being dirty. Idle and low rpm often dies out. If I can get it to stay lit and climb it slowly to above 2000rpm she evens out and runs like a charm. Good power etc. Ran it full open on the water for well over and hour and once powered down for docking the same rough idle occurred and she died out shortly after getting to around 1000rpm.

My thinking is that there's gunk buildup around the needle valve. Let me disclaimer and say that I'm by no means a marine mechanic and may be speaking out of my rear end here.

Now my question is there any recommended carb cleaning product that I can add to the fuel for use with a 4 stroke? A lot of the threads I've read seem to be talking more about 2 stroke engines. Would a car carb cleaner work and not cause any kind of engine damage to a 4 stroke marine engine?

I'm trying to avoid having to do a full carb rebuild if possible. I don't think it's really a bad buildup, just enough that it's causing this idle problem.

 

[CDN_Falcon]

Re: 2001 50hp 4-stroke Merc - Carb Cleaner questions

Has anyone used a product called SeaFoam before? Went down to a local marine shop and they gave me a bottle to add to the gas. The bottle has no mixing ratio only saying it treats between 30 and 90 litres of gas.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

 

[Snowfish]

Re: 2001 50hp 4-stroke Merc - Carb Cleaner questions

SeaFoam is probably the only carb cleaning, fuel stabilizer, moisture removing product that actually works. I buy it by the gallon. Boats, Sleds, Cars, Trucks, Bobcat, Forklift, Lawn mowers, etc all get a shot from time to time. Cleans carbs & fuel injectors squeeky clean. Great for storage because it stabilizes, isolates moisture, and leaves no residue. Put a little StaBil in one cup and some SeaFoam in another. Let it evaporate and see which one leaves a red haze(stabil). When I first got my 25hp Evinrude, I had to have the choke partially pulled out to be able to run WOT. In less than a 1/4 tank of gas, with SeaFoam added, the jets were clean enough to run with no choke. Pretty amazing stuff.