gummy carbs dilemma

[JOHNNYCEE]

The carbs on my '94 Evinrude 40hp gum up yearly because I can't take my boat out often enough. I'm considering selling it. One dealer sez if I get a fuel-injected 4-stroke I'll have much less gumming problems if I use stabilizer and keep the bulb primed. Another dealer sez I'll have gum probs no matter what motor I have because todays fuel contains so much additives that decompose. Should I A) buy a new fuel-inj. 4-stroker B) Keep my '94 Evinrude and pay yearly repair bill C) Sell the rig and don't get another until I can use it more???

 

[12Footer]

Re: gummy carbs dilemma

As your usage is so limtited, and if I were in your shoes, I'd rent a boat when I wanted to go out, until the time when I'd use it often enough to keep and maintain her.<br />I'd end up with more bait money that way,at least.

 

[JeffSlade]

Re: gummy carbs dilemma

Just use a stabilizer and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[Franki]

Re: gummy carbs dilemma

2 stroke oil makes fuel gumm up much faster..<br /><br />a 4 stroke, or a dfi 2 stroke will have less problems straight off the bat..<br /><br />but there are some other things you can do as well.<br /><br />Some people swear by running the motor dry after use.. (disconnect the fuel and keep it running.)<br /><br />I prefer to take a screwdriver and loosen the drain bolts on the float bowls and let the last fuel drain out.. it takes 3 seconds and the carbs are dry.. and the best bit is that you engine didn't just run mostly dry of oil for 5-10 seconds..<br /><br />If you do that, then you won't have anywhere near the problems you are having now..<br /><br />you can also add a stabilizer fluid to the fuel in your tank and run it for a while, the stabilizer will slow the gumming process down alot..<br /><br />hope that helps..<br /><br />regards<br /><br />Frank

 

[JOHNNYCEE]

Re: gummy carbs dilemma

Thanks very much, guys, for your very helpful suggestions. In order to solve my problem I'm going to go to my storage place and start the motor every three weeks or so. I use stabilizer, but it's been only partly successful.I really liked the suggestion of draining the carbs, but on my particular model, I'd have to remove the air silencer assembly to access the drain screws, so that wouldn't be practical for me.<br /><br />Thanks again.<br />John

 

[rpeeples]

Re: gummy carbs dilemma

JC,<br /><br />I used Sta-Bil last year and my motor still gummed up. I think I will just let it run dry every time out and try to buy just enough gas that I'll need, plus a little more.<br /><br />I don't like to knock Paul Harvey but I have found that a lot of the things he advertises are not all that good. I won't buy again Sta-Bil, Bose, Buick, and several other items he advertises. <br /><br />That's my story and it's stickin' to me.

 

[jegervais]

Re: gummy carbs dilemma

Keep in mind that if your Evinrude has the VRO oil injection you should not attempt to "run it out of fuel". If you disconnect the fuel line to let the engine run out of fuel, it will cause the VRO to pump pure oil into your carbs. The next time you try to start it, it will be virtually impossible. Actually, if you're having to have the carbs cleaned annually, you might want to investigate if the VRO isn't seeping oil into the carbs over the winter. I've seen that more than once...<br /><br />-John

 

[oldboat1]

Re: gummy carbs dilemma

I've become a believer in running the engine out of fuel -- know there is probably a little wear involved, as noted in the earlier post, but with bad gas and gumming problems I would rather just run it out at idle. (Note, though, that my motors are the old pre-mix variety -- not VRO.) It's kind of amazing how much gas is in the lines, pump and carb(s) -- engine can run on for what seems like quite a while. Stabilizer/dry gas treatment in the tank is a necessity these days for any storage, and the safest method for occasional use is just to buy what you need for an outing and burn it all.