fuel mixture

[PhilfromOhio]

I have an old 58 Johnson V4. the mix is supposed to be 24:1. it sure smokes
something fierce, too be expected by this mix, can I lean it out without dammaging the motor? Say 32:1 or even 40:1 ?

 

[Vic.S]

Re: fuel mixture

Generally 1958 models and earlier run on 20:1 !

see http://www.evinrude.com/en-US/Owners-Center/FAQ/OilAndFuel

Probably best not to use less oil than 24:1

Maybe carb can be adjusted ?

Maybe a Seafoam decarb will help ?

Maybe a synthetic oil will help?

You are using a TCW-3 oil?

 

[F_R]

Re: fuel mixture

There is no end to the arguements you will get on this topic. I normally refrain from giving an opinion on the subject, but in this case I'll make an exception.

1. The powerhead is the same as the 60hp motors that came out in 1964 and later. They ran on 50:1. So why can't yours?

2. BRP didn't make the motor. Their engineers probably weren't even born yet.

3. At 8 gallons per hour being poured through that gas-eater, how could it possibly be not getting enough oil?

Disclaimer: If I had one, I'd run 50:1. But if you follow my lead and your motor tears up, it was going to tear up anyway. Sorry, but you can't blame it on the oil. But somebody will.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: fuel mixture

My old Scotts called for 16:1, But that was 30wt motor oil in the mix. Newer oils are much better. BTW at 16:1 that thing would kill every the mosquitos in the county. Using outboard oil I bumped the mix to 24:1 and it still smoked but ran better and I never had an issue. If not 50:1 I'm suspecting that you can go a a little leaner mix and be okay with the new oils. I never had the nerve to go beyond 24:1.

 

[Vic.S]

Re: fuel mixture

I ran one small outboard for a while on ordinary SAE30 oil mixed 10:1. Now that's what you call smoking.

Now converted it to run on 25:1 and use TCW-3 oil as the source of SAE30 dried up. Virtually no smoke at all now

 

[Fuzzytbay]

Re: fuel mixture

Its been my experence that running 50:1 TCW type oils over the years has proven, at least to me, to be safe. In my almost 40 years of running outboards, I have only had one "break". That was a 1954 7.5, evinrude fleetwin, when I was 15. Its death was due to a wrist pin letting go. Was it from lack of oil? or just that many hours on it, without a tear down? who knows. Now I also look at how many outboards fail due to someone saying did I put in the correct amount of oil into the mix. Ok if I run 50:1 and I only add half that amount, then I now might be running to thin of a mixture.... and "bang', yet if I ran 24:1, i'd only drop down to 50:1. So maybe 24:1 is a safer mix. It sure isn't going to die of lack of oil, now is it? If I ran motors from the earlier years, pre 1950's, well I might run 24:1 or even 16:1, in an attempt to stop it from breaking due toan oil related failure,etc, yet since the motor is alread so old, chance's are it will breakdown if used regularly. No motor is about to last forever, all you can do is keep it well maintained, treat them with proper care, and hope it wasn't made on monday or friday....
I'll still recomend 50:1 for most motors, in the range of years, my experence has proven to be safe. Yet as :with all advice, it may not work in your situation.

 

[PhilfromOhio]

Re: fuel mixture

Thanks everyone for the great advise. I'll fool around with the mix today and see what happens.

 

[PhilfromOhio]

Re: fuel mixture

An update to all who may read this thread. Through much research and talking with the guys who are in the know. Meaning mariners who have a history with outboards, I made the decision to move to a 50:1 ratio using a high quality TCW-3 oil, 1.5cups of sea-foam and a few oz's of Marine stabil to a 6gal tank. The smoke has deminished and the power both top and bottom are remarkable. I have noticed an improvement in handeling as well. I had a slight vibration in the motor and it has vanished. This is just a concotion I tried and it seems to work on my motor. Before you try something like this I would suggest you ask the pro's. It seems that every motor is different and may respond negatively to a mixture such as this, but it worked for me. I may try adding a bit more oil in the future, but from my research and chatting with the fellas here in Iboats, the newer TCW-3 oils are a much higher quality that what was used in the 50's and 60's where these old outboards were manufactured.