How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

[NeWcS]

So the first kicker motor I had a couple years ago go all jacked up due to carbon build up. After speaking with the guys at a shop about it I was told it was due to the fact that the motor was always running at really low speeds/rpms which causes such build up.

So aside from running it at W.O.T after using it for an extended amount of time, are there any other things I can do to prolong the life of the motor? (2-stroke)
Thx!
* Jay

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

Running some Seafoam thru it once in a while might help.

Mix it with your fuel, it will smoke quite a bit when burned.

 

[stackz]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

run fresh gas in it. when you're done for the day while you're flushing it. unhook the fuel barb and let it run till the carbs go dry so fuel doesnt sit in there and degrade and clog up orifices or cause the carb float to stick in the bore.

that and once a year, just pull the carbs off and pull them apart and clean out all the orifices/jets with brake parts cleaner or similar and keep it all nice and clean.

my neigbor hadnt cleaned his carbs in 10 years. boat was still doing 25mph though. I pulled the carbs apart and the jets on the lower two were completely clogged. got them all cleaned up and he's topping out at 35mph now. lol.

seen fuel break down and cause floats to stick when people let their 4-wheelers sit over winter, etc.

sta-bil is your friend. or just drain the tank and run it till the carbs run dry before you store it.

 

[jimdogg1269]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

sea-foam is some great stuff,, i had some engine run-on problems with my boat and i poured 1 bottle in the tank when i filled up and it ran great, no more problems

 

[ondarvr]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

Use a decarb type product (seafoam is one) periodically, run it at higher RPM's during each outing if possible and try to get a prop that will allow it to run at higher RPM's. When a motor is run under a heavy load with the throttle open carbon can build up quickly, the correct prop helps with this.

You didn?t say what kicker you had, or what you will be getting, but if your motor has a thermostat make sure its working correctly and some motors can use a higher temp thermostat when used for trolling. Other kickers don?t come stock with a thermostat, but do have a place for one, so check on this.

Pulling the fuel line and allowing to run until it stops will not drain the carb, it's not going to hurt anything, but it's not going to really help anything either and will do nothing for carbon build up.

 

[lcdr frank]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

I do a lot off idle only in the no wake zone and fish in this same area. Before I go back to the launch I will take a spin outside the no wake zone at WOT to blow it out. Had the same plugs for over 2 years and about 100 hours. I run sea foam in every tank and pure gas only.

 

[pine island fred]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

Have used YAMAHA RING FREE in my 2 stroke. 1 oz. per 10 gallons for years now and the motor will not die. FRED

 

[robert graham]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

My experience very similar to Pine Island Fred's. I've used the Yamaha Ringfree in my 1999 yamaha 90HP 2 stroke since it was new, piston crowns bright, shiny aluminum, no carbon. Motor runs like a new one. At 1 ounce per 10 gallons of gas it's a lot cheaper than stuck rings, motor rebuild/replacement. Good Luck!

 

[dingbat]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

The any TCW3 approved oil crowd will complain, but the best way to protect from carbon is to use a good clean burning, ash less oil. A 100% synthetic oil will go a long way toward keeping carbon build up to a minimum.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

I have been told that ringfree and seafoam are comparable. Don't know personally.

The best advice is to burn it off by running--not just at the end of the day but periodically during the day. Do not, however, just rev it in neutral; that is bad for the motor, too.

 

[Xandre]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

sea-foam is some great stuff,, i had some engine run-on problems with my boat and i poured 1 bottle in the tank when i filled up and it ran great, no more problems

What were your problems before you poured the seafoam? Motor running slowly?

Seafoam is new to me. Will this clean out my carbs?

My motor runs slow these days. I can get her up to 19-20 mph with but a number of years ago I could go much faster. I have suspected it needs a carb cleaning but am not sure.

Should I use sea foam? Any thoughts?

thanks!

 

[ondarvr]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

Seafoam is not a substitute for a good carb cleaning, and running an outboard with a dirty carb is about the fastest way to destroy it.

It's actually fairly simple to clean a carb, so the best idea is to get a manual and a rebuild kit(s) and go for it.

Have you checked to see if the foam in your hull is waterlogged?

Sorry for the hijack

 

[Xandre]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

Seafoam is not a substitute for a good carb cleaning, and running an outboard with a dirty carb is about the fastest way to destroy it.

It's actually fairly simple to clean a carb, so the best idea is to get a manual and a rebuild kit(s) and go for it.

Have you checked to see if the foam in your hull is waterlogged?

Sorry for the hijack

Glad you hijacked!

I have a manual but am just not very confident in my mechanical skills. Though I have learned a good deal since owning a boat for the past 6 years or so.

I know the boat isn't water logged as I ripped up, replaced and re glassed the deck the past season. There was no foam to be water logged and I shop vacced any water that was in there.

To be honest I don't even know if it is a dirty carb...I'm just assuming but I am no expert. It's an old 1968 Johnson Super Seahorse...perhaps it's just lost it's original capability?

I appreciate your thoughts, thank you!

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

I'm a big fan of BRP "Engine Tuner." I just find it to be easier to use than Seafoam.

Buy a can, start engine, let it warm up before application. Spray the stuff into the carb/carbs until just before the engine falters, let it "catch up" and continue process, until the can is empty. Works great!

I do this about twice a year.

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

Additives and cleaners help clean the engine ,to help prevent carbon build-up you need to have engine in top order, with good ignitions spark,timing,good TCW oil,good fuel and proper engine temp.

 

[blessingsdf44]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

What does wot mean?

 

[steelespike]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

wot is wide open throttle.
Products like sea foam added conservitively at every tank will keep it clean.
Also a motor with carbon buildup can be cleaned up following the directions on the sea foam container.I've seen reports of lots of motors brought back to specs with a decarb.

 

[aerobat]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

one very important thing ( when you mix the oil into the gas) is also to use the correct mixture ratio without adding own margins to the manufacturer margins. i have a 2000 yamaha 5 hp as a kicker and run it at recommended 100:1 and never had carbon buildup or any other motor problems.

oil is also not unimportant - i switched over at my 150 ficht ram from xd30 to xd50 and was stunned about the results. absolutely smoke free operation and a perfect clean exhaust hub where using the xd30 carbon buildup at the hub was visible.

 

[JB]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

Use a good synthetic TC-W3 oil. You will make little or no carbon.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: How to avoid carbon buildup in an outboard?

So the first kicker motor I had a couple years ago go all jacked up due to carbon build up. After speaking with the guys at a shop about it I was told it was due to the fact that the motor was always running at really low speeds/rpms which causes such build up.

So aside from running it at W.O.T after using it for an extended amount of time, are there any other things I can do to prolong the life of the motor? (2-stroke)
Thx!
* Jay

While everyone agrees that the motor can be cleaned using Merc power Tune, Yamaha Ring Free, SeaFoam, treatment to remove accumulated carbon, the original problem is 'How to PREVENT the carbon from occurring?

Extensive idle time on most ANY 2 stroke tends to build carbon as the idle mixture is overly rich. If the motor was never to be accelerated the operator could lean the idle mixture to best idle in gear, otherwise, a religious regimen of fuel additive of any one of the mentioned cleaners may extend the length of run time before experiencing another build up. It is the nature of the 2 stroke to idle rich.