Do you leave gas in the carb for winter storage?

[bayliner1996blue]

Hello all. After some diagonis (hard hot starts) I have concluded that my 1996 mercuser 3.0 LX needs the carb rebuild (it is leaking gas). It did not do this 2 years ago when I bought my boat. For winterization I put my stablizer in my gas tank and fog my engine as recommended. I am now wondering if fuel (even with stablizer) sitting in my carb over the winter will deterate gaskets and such causing my problem. I still have a lot of boating left this year so I cannot put off the rebuild till next season.

My questions is are any of you all running your fuels systems dry for winter storage? I am thinking of doing this to help perserve my carb. Planning on in addition mock fogging my engine by removing the plugs and cranking the starter while spraying the fog oil into the carb and cyclinders directly.

 

[Bigdave196]

Re: Do you leave gas in the carb for winter storage?

[QUOTE. Planning on in addition mock fogging my engine by removing the plugs and cranking the starter while spraying the fog oil into the carb and cyclinders directly.[/QUOTE]

We do this every winter. On the last lake day we basically run the boat to almost empty, and then trailer it. Ad fuel Stay-BUL, and disconnect the fuel line from the carb. Spray fogging oil into the carb (Edelbrock) and run it till it starts to smoke and run out or fuel. Spray a little more into the carb while the engine cranks to finish lubing everything up, then pull your plugs.
This made our carb last 15 years.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Do you leave gas in the carb for winter storage?

The winterization instructions in the "Adults Only" section really does a good job of explaning the steps. It would appear that you're treating the tank with sta-bil first and then running the treated fuel through the carb. So that sounds like you've got fuel in the carb to keep the gaskets wet but it's got the treatment in it to prevent rust and scale formation.

 

[bayliner1996blue]

Re: Do you leave gas in the carb for winter storage?

Read the winterizing section. Looks like fuel is left in the carb (with stablizer). I am going to try with no fuel this year and see what happons.

 

[Don S]

Re: Do you leave gas in the carb for winter storage?

I would really warn against drying out the carb. The passages that have a little water all turns into corrosion. The accelerator pumps dry out for lack of liquid. Check balls stick. Then you get to rebuild your carb. If left in gasoline with stabilizer in it. they usually work just fine year after year.
You WILL see.

 

[mkast]

Re: Do you leave gas in the carb for winter storage?

I am going to try with no fuel this year and see what happons.

Will lead to gaskets shrinking and cracking.
You've been informed.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Do you leave gas in the carb for winter storage?

Stabil and fogging has always worked well for me. My boat is a 1985 and is still running the original carb.