Ethanol

[HAS]

In Delaware we have 10% ethanol in the gas, when I got the boat
from my brother in April of 09 it had the gas hose and tank from when
the new 50hp. 4cyl. Mercury engine was installed in 1984. I was able
to get it running, but I never knew when it would stop. After I had to row
back to the ramp one time, I bought a new tank, hose, water separator,
and filter, I overhauled the fuel pumps and carbs,and it ran a lot better,
but would not start cold unless I used fast idle and let it run a few
minutes.
I was using Mercury 50 to 1 synthetic oil and 1oz of STA-BIL in 6 gallons
of gas. A friend told me to get LUCUS fuel injector cleaner,I started using
2oz of LUCUS with 1oz of STA-BIL in 6 gallons of gas with the MERCURY
oil, after 3 or 4 tanks this motor will start cold and idle without using
fast idle, it idles for hours without a miss and will go to 5400rpm quick
smooth. This has worked very well for me, if you are having ethanol
problems, it may help you... GOOD LUCK
HAS

 

[mrallen007]

Re: Ethanol

um... bless you my friend... We have 15% or so ethanol content in the Dallas area. I'm having similar issues with my motor. I'm also having similar issues rowing or being towed back to shore and pushing to boat onto the trailer from in the water. Not a banner day...

 

[spicoastie]

Re: Ethanol

FYI, any mercury outboard being ran on any fuel with a higher than 10% ethanol is considered to be out of warranty.

 

[will941s]

Re: Ethanol

Mercury is going to have to change the warranty standards, most gas stations are going to 15%. A year ago here in Charleston SC there were about 30 or 40 gas stations that you could hit up for no Ethanol, now most of them are 10%, some at 15% and still growing. Since the summer I have found 1 with no Ethanol and thats at a Marina for $3.25 a gallon. Went and done a complete fuel system overhaul on my OB and pay CAREFULL attention to fuel and carb now. I clean the carb every year, inspect the line (alcohol resistant racing lines), and replace the water/fuel sep. filter every six months. So far hav'nt had any problems. When I first got the motor with standard lines, no filter......it had all kinds of issues. Better to just deal with Ethanol issue and accept it, it's not going anywhere and "convert" your OB to handle it. Just learn how to integrate Sta-bil and Seafoam into your boating routine.....and accept the fact that if your gas sits for 30+ days without being used, it's weedeater fuel.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Ethanol

Mercury is going to have to change the warranty standards, most gas stations are going to 15%. A year ago here in Charleston SC there were about 30 or 40 gas stations that you could hit up for no Ethanol, now most of them are 10%, some at 15% and still growing. Since the summer I have found 1 with no Ethanol and thats at a Marina for $3.25 a gallon. Went and done a complete fuel system overhaul on my OB and pay CAREFULL attention to fuel and carb now. I clean the carb every year, inspect the line (alcohol resistant racing lines), and replace the water/fuel sep. filter every six months. So far hav'nt had any problems. When I first got the motor with standard lines, no filter......it had all kinds of issues. Better to just deal with Ethanol issue and accept it, it's not going anywhere and "convert" your OB to handle it. Just learn how to integrate Sta-bil and Seafoam into your boating routine.....and accept the fact that if your gas sits for 30+ days without being used, it's weedeater fuel.

What do you have against weedeaters?

 

[will941s]

Re: Ethanol

HA.....not a thing. Little homelite has'nt had fresh gas in 4 years and runs off my old boat gas with TCW-3. Funny thing is when I first got it it would gum up and not start half the time with the regular 2-stroke oil and gas. Since I started running my old OB gas in it, it runs great.......and starts easier. Kind of nice weedeating without muscle failure in my right arm from pull starting 150 times.