10 hours on rebuilt power head

[gmguy 01]

there is 10 hours on my outboard sense i had it rebuilt and i was wondering when it would be a good time to decarb.Will it hurt it to decarb it now,I have heard alot about this but have never done it on an outboad motor.I have done it on an automobile engine before and used combustion chamber coditioner,is this the same thing?

 

[steverino]

Re: 10 hours on rebuilt power head

I assume by "decarb" you mean that you want to spray some solvent type stuff into the carberator while the engine in running --- similiar to what people do with cars --- to burn the carbon out. I wouldn't do this on an outboard. There is nothing gained and everything to be lost. First off there would be no carbon buildup in only 10 hours of use since rebuild. If it's not broke, don't fix it.

 

[Trent]

Re: 10 hours on rebuilt power head

I would not do it yet. Do it about one time a year...Depends on how much you boat.<br /><br />Steverino:Im wondering your thoughts on why nothing is to be gained and everything to lose?<br />Merc and OMC both sells cleaners and recommend decarbing. Piston/head clearances need to be kept, and carbon removed to reduce the possibility of pre-ignition from carbon "hot spots", also carbon changes the normal air/fuel mixture flow and can lead to reduced power, as well as sparkplug and piston damage.

 

[jegervais]

Re: 10 hours on rebuilt power head

OMC, Merc & Yamaha all recommend a de-carbonizing treatment every 100 hours or once per season, whichever comes first. <br /><br />Use the best possible oils (usually OEM or after-market synthetics) to minimize carbon build-up. Carbon build up can stick the rings, causing piston and cylinder scuffing or breakage of the rings. Accumulation in the combustion chamber can cause hot-spots which effectively advances the ignition timing and can burn or melt the pistons.<br /><br />My advice would be to apply the decarbonizing treatment sometime late this summer.<br /><br />-John

 

[ODDD1]

Re: 10 hours on rebuilt power head

John, I have always felt that if decent fuel and oils are used, decarb is a non-issue...would I recommend a decarb to anyone? Nope....but decent oil? everyday.....

 

[jegervais]

Re: 10 hours on rebuilt power head

ODDD1:<br /><br />If you're talking about synthetic blends and fully synthetic oils, I agree decarbonizing is a "non-issue". Having worked for a dual-line dealer for several years and getting to know our customers pretty well, even the ones who exclusively use only the Merc Premium Plus or the E/J (top of the line O.E.M.) oils EVENTUALLY need a dose of Engine Tuner (Power Tune - whatever). Maybe it's something to do with the RFG in my area??? I don't know... <br /><br />Some observations from what I've been seeing/working on: Couple of customers running the Ficht Oil in their carbed 2-strokes - carbon deposits virtually non-existent. One customer using the Ficht Oil in a Ficht - carbon somewhat an issue (de-carbing once a year seems to take care of this one). One customer strictly using Amsoil in a Ficht - carbon a non-issue. Nearly every other outboard using the O.E.M oils gets decarbed at least every other year. When a customer drops off a rig for a sync & link, the night before it gets a compression/spark check, then run up to temp and a dose of de-carb. Sync & link gets done the following morning. So far, so good.<br /><br />What are you seeing up in Fon du Lac???<br /><br />-John

 

[ODDD1]

Re: 10 hours on rebuilt power head

Well,John....syn/syn blend oils do help, but I always thought it was the additve package that made a difference, not the base oil...RFG I dont think makes alot of difference for carbon buildup...the only motors that we see have a serious carbon problem are the old crossflows..old merc inlines and the force stuff...but what do you say when when you see one thats been fed properly and is still happy after 20+ years without a decarb? or the other side of the coin, when a guy cant get through a case of cheap stuff without the pistons/rings sticking so badly it wont even start?

 

[gmguy 01]

Re: 10 hours on rebuilt power head

THANKS FOR THE REPLIES . I KNOW IF YOU PUT THIS STUFF IN A CAR YOU CLEAN UP VALVES, PISTONS,AND THE WHOLE CUMBUSTION CHAMBER.I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS THE SAME STUFF.I WORK AT A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP(AUTOMOTIVE DEPARTMENT) AND THIS STUFF IS REALLY CHEAP FOR TO GET MY HANDS ON.IT'S CALLED MOPAR COMBUSTION CHAMBER CONDITIONER, MAYBE IT'S THE SAME STUFF?

 

[Dhadley]

Re: 10 hours on rebuilt power head

John and ODDD1 - a few years ago we did a coking test where we propped out a crossflow at 4900 to 5000 RPM max. We ran OMC TCW-3 oil and fresh gas. It still coked up and broke a ring rather quickly. We then freshened up the motor and changed the set up to 5800 - 6000 RPM with an average load. We never ran Engine Tuner or Carbon Guard. At 500 hours we took it apart and found no stuck rings or any damage anywhere. <br /><br />Have you noticed motors propped out on the high end coke less?