Too much oil in gas, Now what?

[mrrrl]

It appears that I have added too much oil in the gas. I have been over the amounts that I have added and it appears to be right, but now the engine fouls the plugs in a matter of minutes. Before the engine ran great and have never had this problem in the past.<br /><br />So my questions is what is the best way to correct the problem. I have a 20 gallon tank which is full, what would be the best and safest way to cut the gas to oil ratio down.<br /><br />Any and all suggestions will be welcomed.

 

[consie67]

Re: Too much oil in gas, Now what?

It should still run just a little smokey. You should be able to run some of it off and add gas. I think that you may have another problem esp. if you do not think that you added too much oil. Maybe a weak coil or power pack. CC

 

[mrrrl]

Re: Too much oil in gas, Now what?

But if I clean the plugs, it runs great so long as I don't let it idle for very long. <br /><br />If it idles it fouls the plugs, but again if I clean them it runs great.<br /><br />This is what made me believe that the gas/oil ratio is wrong.<br /><br />Do you still think it could be the coil or power pack? If so what are the test procedures for the coil & power pack.

 

[Spidybot]

Re: Too much oil in gas, Now what?

If you do not know exactly how much oil you've actually put in the gas, you have no way to calculate how much fuel to add, to get right mix.<br /><br />I'd clean the plugs, drain the tank and store the overoiled fuel, then fill up the tank with proper mix.<br /><br />The 20 gallon may be added LITTLE by little to either your car or any other engine or used as detergent for cleaning engine parts etc. in your workshop. <br />Take care when using or storing it as it really is very inflamable.

 

[vicl]

Re: Too much oil in gas, Now what?

mrrrl,<br /><br />I have the same problem with my '86 Mariner outboard. If I idle around the lake the plugs foul. However, if I open it up it runs great. If anyone has suggestions for mrrrl and I we would both greatly appreciate it.<br /><br />Thanks in advance for all your help!!!

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Too much oil in gas, Now what?

think I would clean and gap the plugs, and then run the bejeebers out of it until I burned off a good portion of the suspect fuel (and maybe unintentionally cleaned out the engine with the old Italian tune-up). But if still fouling at idle, I would drain the remaining gas. I would then run with a portable plastic tank and a couple gallons of fresh gas and oil in the right mix, and see if the problem is corrected. If not corrected, there are other problems to be addressed. If corrected, it's likely the mix -- but can't rule out need to have the main tank cleaned. If it runs OK with the portable, I would next try just a couple of gallons in the main tank and see what happens.

 

[sproz]

Re: Too much oil in gas, Now what?

Do as above but after adding the extra 2gal dont run her flat out until you have the correct mix in there.You should be ok. If you were in the UK like me you wouldn't throw 20gals away,not at £3.50 ($5)per gal!!!

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Too much oil in gas, Now what?

Actually, I think the first thing to do would be to hook up a good portable tank with the right fuel mix, and see if that corrects the problem. From there, you would go to the disposal/use issue for the 20 gallons, and decide whether the tank itself needs cleaning. You could still do the Italian tune-up to burn off some of the questionable fuel, if you wanted (no offense to Italian listers, by the way....)

 

[russthemuss]

Re: Too much oil in gas, Now what?

Sticking thermostat? (if its got one) Maybe you need to adjust the low speed jets in a little

 

[mrrrl]

Re: Too much oil in gas, Now what?

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I am going to hook up a smaller gas tank and try that first. I won't think it would be the coil or power pak, since it runs great after I clean the plugs and as long as I don't let it idle. Once it idles the plugs get fouled.<br /><br />But who knows for sure. I'll keep you all posted on what I find.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Too much oil in gas, Now what?

I'm with Oldboat1 on this one! Run the proper mixture in a separate tank and if all is well, run the boat on your main tank at high speed until you get down to about 1/4 tank or less, then fill it up with the proper mixture in your main tank. This will put you close enough to the proper mixture to correct the extra oil problem. Also, don't forget to change plugs after you get rid of the old mixture to ensure proper firing.<br /><br />Rick

 

[mrrrl]

Re: Too much oil in gas, Now what?

Here's an update.<br /><br />I mixed 2 gallons of oil/fuel in a 5 gallon gas can. I disconnected the fuel lines from the built in tank and attached them to the 5 gallon can. I cleaned the plugs. The engine ran great and never once fouled the plugs. I emptyed 15 gallons out of the fuel tank and rocked the heck out of the boat. I put in 5 gallons of mixed fuel back into the tanks, hooked up the engine and it ran great.<br /><br />My theory is the night before I filled up the tank, drove home and then added the oil. I figured the trip to the lake would mix up the oil and fuel. But I guess not. The oil settled to the bottom and the engine sucked it up. With the tank full it doesn't slouch around much.<br /><br />So lesson learned, I will have to mix the gas/oil in a 5 gallon can then pour into the onboard tank.<br /><br />Thanks for all the help.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Too much oil in gas, Now what?

glad to hear you are again up and running. You will probably never know for sure what went wrong with the fuel or the mix -- could be some bad gas too. I've had some recent problems with that, and wouldn't have believed it until it happened to me. <br /><br />When I had a permanent tank with an outboard, I hooked up a Racor filter and that solved some contamination problems (would not have solved a bad gas or bad mix problem, though). In addition, I've started using stabalizer regularly -- previously had used it just for winter storage.<br /><br />Happy boating!