run gas out of carbs???

[mutron77]

If you are using premixed is it good practice or not<br />to disconnect the fuel line at the lake and let the gas run out of the carbs before you trailer the boat? Or just bring it home with the carb bowls full<br />and hope it don't gum up before you take it out again.

 

[neumanns]

Re: run gas out of carbs???

Be interesting to see what the pros say but I would guess leave it in there unless it is for an extended period. Every time you run a twostroke out of fuel you are running it momentarily without lubrication. The long term effects of this are debatable but it cannot be all that good on them.

 

[wayne h]

Re: run gas out of carbs???

use fuel stablizer and keep them full dont run your engine dry. i leave my tank and line all conected and if i dont use the boat for some time i still pump the primer bulb to keep the carbs full.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: run gas out of carbs???

I have to admit to doing this all the time before I got the boat I have now, and to be perfectly honest I would probably still do it if it were not for this forum. The way I had it explained to me besides what has been said was. The carbs do not run out of fuel at the same time, so if you have a three carb setup, the carb that runs out of fuel first is going to run unlubricated while the others run out, not a good thing for those cyliders. May not show any damage for awhile, but I beleive it would eventually show up as low compression in those cylinders.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: run gas out of carbs???

This is not a good idea. As lubedude said, the carbs don't run out at the same time so some of the cylinders are running unlubricated. Now, with that said, it's probably not much of an issue with no load at idle. (although I still wouldn't do it) I just took apart my '74 Mercury 1500 and I am quite shocked how little damage was done. I ran it at WOT for about 5 minutes WITHOUT oil, although there was still alot of damage done. Unless you're storing it over the winter there is absolutely NO reason to do this. Gas does not go bad that fast. Even over the winter I've never used fuel stabilizer in anything nor have I ever drained any carbs. Never had to clean out a carb either.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: run gas out of carbs???

I have to agree with ya OZ about the stablizer. I have never used it either, I let mine sit for over five months over the winter, and I had no problems this year at all. However I did squeeze the bulb a few times during the winter, about every two months so the carbs never dried out. I have several gas cans around for different things, everything runs fine. Same with winterizing, I make sure there is no water anywhere to freese, and thats about it. No fogging or anything. I do turn the engines over a few times durring the winter also. I have the feeling that it is just a good way of separating your money from your wallet. If I was to have to let something sit any longer, I would probably use some though. Smart, Maybe not, but it has worked for me durring my lifetime.

 

[kcole683]

Re: run gas out of carbs???

I never run the fuel out except for long term storage.<br /><br />I seriously doubt that running the fuel out will hurt the motor. Mercury recomends it in the owners manual for 2 strokes.

 

[ob]

Re: run gas out of carbs???

If a guy was going to store an engine for a prolonged period,I don't get why he would run the fuel out anyway if he wanted the carbs empty. Just remove the plug and drain the bowls.

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: run gas out of carbs???

My owner's manual says not to do it for my 200hp Johnson, but the guy who sold me my 9.9 Yamaha 4S kicker is a mechanic and says to run that one out (since it gets used rarely). Jeez...I don't know!

 

[DJ]

Re: run gas out of carbs???

Keep the fuel treated and leave them full. You'll never get all the fuel out anyway.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: run gas out of carbs???

On multiple carbs, I say no. You have one carb empty, those cylinders are still cycling with minimal oil residue while other cylinders are running. If there is one carb, then run it out, it doesn't matter. I run my troller motor out, but not my inline 6 Merc with 3 carbs.

 

[rwise]

Re: run gas out of carbs???

I think air in the carbs does more damage than fuel, IMHO

 

[james roach]

Re: run gas out of carbs???

DONT DO IT. Drain the bowels if you must but dont run it dry.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: run gas out of carbs???

Food for thought here.<br /><br />Air is what causes gas to turn. If you run the fuel out, you will still have some fuel left. You'll never run the carb completely dry, it will just get to a point that it wont supply enough fuel to let the motor run. The film thats left will turn quicker than a carb full.<br /><br />I'd go with the stabilized fuel.

 

[Forktail]

Re: run gas out of carbs???

The manufacturer of all my 4-strokes (EFI or carb) recommend running the fuel dry.<br /><br />The manufacturer of all my 2-strokes (EFI or carb) recommend stabilizing the fuel and not running dry.<br /><br />I'll go with what the folks who made my outboards suggest.