fuel system cleaner fluid

[scrobo]

I have a Merc 402 that runs well...

I was wondering if there is any pros or cons to adding carb cleaner to the fuel mixture? Do I need to buy stuff specifically for a boat? Or can I use STP automotive brands? Will it do any good to use this? Or is it a waste of $5? Most of all will it damage the engine? What about fuel system cleaners?

 

[gss036]

Re: fuel system cleaner fluid

Use SeaFoam in the fuel. Works great in outboards. Most auto parts stores will carry it. NAPA for sure.

 

[Laddies]

Re: fuel system cleaner fluid

I don't want to get into the great seafoam debate, for varnished carbs get fuel injector and carb cleaner at any auto parts store it's made to remove varnish from dirty carbs it's not the great fix all the other stuff is suppost to be.

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: fuel system cleaner fluid

I think the best fuel system conditioner you can use is lots of fresh gasoline mixed 50:1 with good oil.

Refuel as needed, and repeat as required.

 

[scrobo]

Re: fuel system cleaner fluid

Well.. I guess difference in opinions is what makes life interesting.

I've run the fresh gasoline now since I bought the motor I'll look into the others. Never heard of Seafoam.

BTW Laddies... I spent last summer in Northern Michigan. Up near Gaylord (Boyne Mountain resort to be exact.) Went canoing on Deer Lake. Went drinking in Elmira and horseback riding in Sparr. Very nice area.

 

[Laddies]

Re: fuel system cleaner fluid

scrobo, my oldest son lives in Boyne City, we are about 30 miles north of there you right it's a great place to live.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: fuel system cleaner fluid

Everyone has their favorite brand of "beer" and "oil"...................

When I joined this site I had a 2 year old 90 hp 3 cyl Merc that just didn't run as good as I expected......course one of the problems was that it was 3 cyl and my last engine was a 6....big difference in smoothness of operation.

I was told to do a decarb and being I'm a cause and effect guy, things don't just happen, I figured that the current fuel, being unleaded, didn't crud up things like back in the leaded days. So I blew it off.......for awhile.

Course gasoline contains carbon elements, and 2 cycle oil, when burned can gum things up....didn't think about that.

Eventually I did start using Sea Foam and have not had a tank of fuel in this current boat without it. No doubt, the engine starts and runs much better than when I bought it and did nothing to the engine but Sea Foam and changed the plugs in the year and a half I have owned it.

As for hard varnish, I use Berryman's Chem tool on engines I have serviced over the years, but I doubt that I had varnished carbs on this engine when I got it....I probably just had gummed up piston rings, and in this loop charged engine, they have to move to seal properly.

My 2c,

Mark

 

[scrobo]

Re: fuel system cleaner fluid

scrobo, my oldest son lives in Boyne City, we are about 30 miles north of there you right it's a great place to live.

IDuring my visit I frequented a little bar in Elmira on the M-32. It was a nice place to eat as well.

It was up there last year that got me thinking of buying a boat.

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: fuel system cleaner fluid

A heads up on Berryman's B-12

Here in California (at least) it appears to be going through a re-formulation, and those really tough, cut through varnish now, solvents like xylene and toulene apear to be being phased out.