Running out of fuel

[Sea Rider]

Re: Running out of fuel

Yes, there's been lots of E talk on the forums, but most of old boaters have forgotten the virtues of using non E fuels. According to my personal experience with E8 in just 6 month use find that really contributes to detereorate faster rubber parts specially carb and gas pumps parts on portable motors, mostly because these parts are usually thin, cannot speak for high end motors, but assume have thicker membranes that lasts and degrade longer. Don't leave carbs with E fuels sitting for long periods of time, how much time, can't tell. Pictures corresponds to 2006 manufactured motors that stands E10 according to owners manuals. But even so, find some metal deteoration, discoloration at lower bowl.

Happy Boating

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Running out of fuel

I have an old (1978) Merc. 2 carbs, no VRO. I run the carbs at least partly dry at the end of the day, for two reasons:

1) If I don't, some fuel will dribble out the bowl vents and into the splashwell when I tilt up the motor.
2) If I don't, the rubber-tipped needles in the carbs tend to swell and stick in their seats--is that due to ethanol, or would that happen even with non-E gas? I dunno, needles are newer replacements (carbs get rebuilt yearly--preventive maintenance), so I'd assume they're supposed to be ethanol compliant; just what I have observed and experienced. I get a full year out of rubber-tipped needles if I run partly dry, 2 weeks to a month if I don't--even just one time.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Running out of fuel

OK here's my experience with 20 years of E10.

1969 6HP Evinrude, a cork type gasket was changed in about 1997, last cleaned the carb then.

second 1969 6HP Evinrude, Just started it after 5 years of sitting, started and ran perfect. Never had the carb apart

1976 200 Evinrude, changed the fuel lines in 2004, Had the carbs apart once to check them, they were clean and fine.

1993 3.3 Merc, never had the carb apart.

1998 8HP Merc, never had the carb apart.

1979 9.9 Evinrude, new head gaskets and other things, don't remember ever having the carb apart.

1998 90HP Evinrude, had the carb apart once because a main jet unscrewed itself and it start running funny, that was in 1999, nothing since then.

1976 50HP Johnson. Cleaned the carb once after it sat for 7 years, it started right up and ran fine before the cleaning, but I figured I check it...it was fine.

I never run the gas out of these motors and some sit for years between being used. These aren't the only motor I have, but these are ones that have been around for a very long time, or I purchased new, so I know the history.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Running out of fuel

If it's a 2 stroke engine, it's usuall because gas dries on bowl when left for extended periods of time and leaves oil residues that sticks needle against needle base, nothing to due with E unless rubber tips softens to extremes to stick too. Fortunately have had no issues with needles so far, but described issues with rubber parts ballooning than with standard gasolines. Seems all have had good and bad experiences, as tech comments are not cast on stone, will call it "E Democracy"

A simple test, soak 2 sets of same o'rings, diaphragms one on E10 and other on non E10 fuels for hours, remove and try to match each set one on top of the other...

Happy Boating

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Running out of fuel

I do have one small craftsman roto tiller that has had most of the fuel lines and primer bulb rot away quickly (a couple years), it runs the same gas as the other lawn and garden stuff, plus outboards. I attribute it to very cheap production in China, its just junk stuff to save a penny, it's the fault of the company making the product, not E10.