'94Force 120HP OB Fuel question.

[ggundersen3]

2 questions. This is my first season with my 1994 Force 120HP Outboard. It's my first outboard since 2001 when I sold my boat with a 90HP Evinrude and went to I/O. Now I sold my I/O and went back to an outboard. It runs good but wondering if it makes a big difference if I use 87 or 93 octane gas? Its a 2 cycle 50:1 mixture motor. Will it make a big difference in performance? Also, can I use Seafoam additive with the 50:1 mixture outboard?

 

[pnwboat]

You will notice no difference in performance between 87 or 93 octane fuel. You can use some Seafoam additive with the 50:1 fuel mixture, however, I myself am not a big believer in fuel additives. It probably won't hurt anything. Worse thing.......maybe a bit more smokey.

 

[SkiDad]

87 is what all us Force owners use. Make sure you are propped correctly. Try to get it around 5000-5200 with your normal load and it will help your engine run smoother.

 

[ggundersen3]

An interesting, debatable topic related to my topic is fuel additives such as Seafoam. Alot of posts here say they have used them for years and like them and say they really help keep fuel systems/carberators clean and running good, yet others say they're bad and are harmful and actually do damage and others say they are useless and do nothing. Looking for pros and cons here. I'm a Wisconsin, fresh water boater with a '94 Force (by Mercury) 120HP OB. Appreciate the advice greatly.

 

[UtahBoating]

Here is my own personal experience with seafoam, this is why I am a big believer in it. A few years ago on one of my snowmobiles it ran like crap, we get it up to the mountain and the thing wouldn't stay running it would stall out it would have hard starting etc. I was too lazy to dig into the carbs and started adding a little bit of seafoam to each tank of gas, I didn't add much only about a capful to each tank. After about a tank or two I started noticing a little bit of improvement in the sled started to run better and better, I ran that sled hard for the next two winters before I sold it and I never had any other issues with it. I have also been using seafoam since I purchased my boat this year, I don't add the recommended amount I only at about a quarter to a half what is recommended, not sure if it's doing anything but I figure it can't hurt.

An interesting, debatable topic related to my topic is fuel additives such as Seafoam. Alot of posts here say they have used them for years and like them and say they really help keep fuel systems/carberators clean and running good, yet others say they're bad and are harmful and actually do damage and others say they are useless and do nothing. Looking for pros and cons here. I'm a Wisconsin, fresh water boater with a '94 Force (by Mercury) 120HP OB. Appreciate the advice greatly.