How do you mix your fuel?

[rippest]

I recently became the proud owner of a 1985 Doral 164 with a 115 Johnson outboard. The oil line was never connected to the engine..which I've read is SOP for this kind of engine.

I mix the fuel 50:1. But I find it a pain in the *** mixing the fuel mixture in a 20 litre can and then pouring into the built in 53 litre tank. I did try mixing all of the required oil in can with some gas and then filling the gastank right from the pump.

My pal suggest pouring the oil into the tank first and then filling up with gas. He felt it would mix together fine.

I'm curious what you old sea dogs do? I don't want to fry my nice 115.

This is a great forum. This will be where I come for my answers.
Thanks..

 

[pecheux]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

Had a 115 hp pre-mix and built in tank ... pourred the oil first then added fuel. Sometime overfuelled and simply added whatever qty of oil required to top off. 50:1 type oil mix well by itself ... plus either pulling the boat on a trailer or waves movements would eliminate any doughts.

Happy boating.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

Just buy a mixing bottle. You can get them at just about any marine store. The bottle will have graduated markings on the side, giving the correct amount of oil for the number of gallons/litres pumped into the tank. The bottle will have a number of mixing ratios on it, including the 50:1 mix that you will need.

I actually own a dozen of them. i buy my oil (BRP XD-50) from my dealer in bulk. I have a three gallon gas can that is never used for anything but 2-stroke oil. From that, I fill each bottle with enough oil for 12 gallons of fuel at 50:1. I keep the bottles on a shelf in my shop and grab one or two, as I head to the gas station.

 

[Rowroy]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

Just buy a mixing bottle. You can get them at just about any marine store. The bottle will have graduated markings on the side, giving the correct amount of oil for the number of gallons/litres pumped into the tank. The bottle will have a number of mixing ratios on it, including the 50:1 mix that you will need.

I actually own a dozen of them. i buy my oil (BRP XD-50) from my dealer in bulk. I have a three gallon gas can that is never used for anything but 2-stroke oil. From that, I fill each bottle with enough oil for 12 gallons of fuel at 50:1. I keep the bottles on a shelf in my shop and grab one or two, as I head to the gas station.

That is a very interesting system that you have.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

Just buy a mixing bottle. You can get them at just about any marine store. The bottle will have graduated markings on the side, giving the correct amount of oil for the number of gallons/litres pumped into the tank. The bottle will have a number of mixing ratios on it, including the 50:1 mix that you will need.

Indeed. These bottles are the best and only a couple bucks at Wal-Mart etc. I usually put the required amount of oil in the tanks before I head out to the gas station. If for whatever reason I don't add the oil right away I always mark the tank with a big 'ol piece of tape with "UNMIXED" written on it.

 

[fishon13]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

Add some gas first then add oil contiue to fill

 

[rippest]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

Very interesting.
Thanks for the imput.
I'll have to find one of those mixing jugs.
Thanks,

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

Here's another tip - the "standard size" (I forget how many ML they are at the moment) individual serving water bottles can be used for oil. When filled to the point where the bottle begins to taper into the neck, the oil volume is just about right for 6 gallons of gas.

I was in the music business for some time and the Coca Cola distributors were always leaving the red bottle racks behind after each show, instead of taking the time to retrieve them. Since the racks were abandoned and would just be thrown out otherwise, I used to take some home. These racks are perfect for storing things like water bottles that have been turned into oil bottles, so I used them for mine. I know that collecting these is not an option for everyone, but you can buy generic versions of them at some stores.

The system was simple - drink the water, put the empty bottle in a rack with the top off, throw the cap in the rack too, wait awhile until the residual water evaporates, fill with bulk oil, put the cap back on, and transfer to another rack with full bottles. When the time comes to refuel, grab as many bottles as you need, refuel/mix and throw the empties in the trash at the station. When doing this, I used to just drop the full bottles in my splash well for the trip to the gas station - I never had one bounce out during all the years that I did this.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

Yeah I agree with just dumping the oil in first, that's what I do. Just get one of the mixing bottles mentioned, they are the best and easiest way. I think they go up to 10 gallons, so before you go to the gas station, just dump as much oil in as you need for how much fuel your getting, and then go fill up gas. The gas going in will mix the oil in no problem. As was mentioned, TC-W3 mixes very easily with gas.

I use a 14 gallon portable tank to fill my 65 gallon built in tank. The boat sits in the water, so I just fill the portable tank 2 times up at the corner gas station and then bring it back to the boat and put it in.

I use the mixing bottle, and first fill it up to 10 gallons on the 50:1 scale, dump it in the portable tank, then re-fill the bottle back up to 4 gallons on the 50:1 scale and dump it in the portable tank. Go fill it up with 14 gallons of gas and the gas spraying into the tank mixes the oil pretty well, then the drive back to the house in the back of the truck mixes the rest, if it's not already done yet, buit like I said 2 stroke oil mixes very quickly and easily into gas.

 

[dingbat]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

I have a seperate 3 gallon tank that you just keep filled with oil.

Even have an "oil" gauge, with alarm, at the helm.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

Hook up the oil injection and don't worry about it anymore. Get out of the stone age and take advantage of the technology you paid for.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

Wow, Finally found another Doral 164 owner out here !!!! and a 1985 to boot !!
Welcome Sir. Take a trip to the Doral section, say hello and post some of your 164 photos.
Now There's 2 of us !!!!
Great boat. I have the 140hp Johnson on mine. Use the jug thing to mix fuel or change back to the mixing pump (if it works) need to know that before considering it.
See you in the Doral section.

Ken.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

I usually pump in my fuel then add the required amount of oil. My thinking is that I'm less likely to over oil, and the ride from the station to the ramp will no doubt mix the fuel. I've been doing this for years with no problems.
I've pumped many tanks with fuel mix so rich in oil it looked more like oil than gas. If you add oil for say 20 gallons, then it only takes 18, there's no way to remove the extra oil.

For my smaller boats, I keep several spare portable tanks, when one is empty, I fill with 6 gallons and add my oil. I never store a tank unmixed. My 4 stroke tanks and premix motor tanks are marked with spray paint to avoid any mistakes.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

I use a 3 gallon portable in the boat and I fill a 6 gallon gas can at the gas station. I also use the bottle with the lines on it. I add the oil, then fill the jug, give it a few shakes and bring it home. that way I have two tanks of properly mixed gas sitting at home.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

When I premixed into my built in tanks, I saved a bunch of old 1 qt oil containers (got a case of empties at the local quick-lube place) and made an easy to read mark 1/2 way up which I pre-filled and stored on board. I then estimated how much gas I'd be putting in and added oil before starting so that the fuel spray would mix the oil. I'd just do simple increments of multiples of 6 or 12 gallons or 1/2 or a full bottle of oil. I'd never mix more exactly than that, rounded up or down to nearest 6 gal increment and didn't worry if I was a little over or under the target of 50:1. I once figured out I was always between 45 and about 53:1 during the time period I checked.

I now have graduated into modern times like Dhadley said and have an intact VRO/OMS system. I do believe that the modern oiling system is more reliable than the human pre-mixing it replaced, all in all. I do simple maintenance and system checks on the oiling system and feel it should be as reliable as any other mechanical system on the boat, and has functioning alarms for failure which I make sure are working.

The problems people have with oiling systems almost ALWAYS have to do with lack of very simple maintenance and system checks. I feel that this actually requires less meticulousness than remembering to correctly mix oil every time, especially in a built-in tank where the amount of gas is different every time you fill. YES, I have gotten spaced out and mis-remembered what I'd mixed! For 6 gallon tanks that you run empty before filling, it's not as big of a deal, especially since you can look at the gas and see if it's got the oil dye in it.

For my kicker, I use the calibrated mixing jug that was described above, it works great. I would have used it for my old system, but I found it easier just to produce a dozen or so pre-marked and pre-filled containers that were easy to store on board and eliminated on the spot measuring. I did all the re-filling of the oil containers at home, about every month or so.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

I pour it in the oil resivour and let the engine figure out the mix.

-- Somehow this just sounds simpler...

 

[Rowroy]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

I do believe that the modern oiling system is more reliable than the human pre-mixing it replaced, all in all. I do simple maintenance and system checks on the oiling system and feel it should be as reliable as any other mechanical system on the boat, and has functioning alarms for failure which I make sure are working.

The problems people have with oiling systems almost ALWAYS have to do with lack of very simple maintenance and system checks. I feel that this actually requires less meticulousness than remembering to correctly mix oil every time, especially in a built-in tank where the amount of gas is different every time you fill. YES, I have gotten spaced out and mis-remembered what I'd mixed! For 6 gallon tanks that you run empty before filling, it's not as big of a deal, especially since you can look at the gas and see if it's got the oil dye in it.

No need to defend your decision here. If it works for you, then use it.

However, you must remember that there are still many older outboards that don't have oiling systems.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

No need to defend your decision here. If it works for you, then use it.

However, you must remember that there are still many older outboards that don't have oiling systems.

Oh yea, I know -that's why I mixed gas until last summer!

 

[ddrieck]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

I can see the top of my new permanent fuel tank. Its kinda see through so I pump my gas into the tank and watch as it nears the top. I slow the gas pump down and end a whole gallon amount. I then do the math and using one of the before mentioned graduated oil containers I measure out how much oil needs to be added. I then pour it in after ( here some the hisses and boo's) adding the fuel. The way I see it, it will be mixed just fine by the time I get to the lake...about 75 miles. Been doing it ths way for years with boats and snowmachines and never had a problem.

 

[harkawy]

Re: How do you mix your fuel?

I purchased 4 plastic five gallon gas containers. I add 12.8 ounces of oil to each container before heading to the gas station where I fill them with 5 gallons of gas. Since each container is plastic, they bulge slightly permitting me to pump 5 gallons in to each. The trip home mixes them. I store them in the garage out of the heat and add fuel as needed. Attached is an Excel spread sheet for the conversion of gallons of gas to ounces of oil.