Is it a good idea to run the engine out of fuel

[PAL/RI]

Is it a good idea to run a outboard out of fuel, for short storage 1 to 2 weeks? It's stored on the rail of my sailboat. Evinrude 8hp 2 stroke.

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Is it a good idea to run the engine out of fuel

No. I learned that the hard way so take my word for it. If you want to drain the fuel then drain the carb bowls. Don't run it dry.

 

[basspirate]

Re: Is it a good idea to run the engine out of fuel

your lubrication comes in the form of fuel mixed with oil. when you run the engine dry your engine gets no oil or the improper amount. really bad idea. one or two week storage i would not be worried about. its when you get to about 3 or 4 months that can be worrisome. use sta-bil in your fuel and you'll be good.

 

[wetboy86]

Re: Is it a good idea to run the engine out of fuel

what they said

 

[Rick.]

Re: Is it a good idea to run the engine out of fuel

If you have a single carb. engine (like you have) I really don't see how it would hurt it. Multi-carb. engines I would never do it as one cylinder will be fuel starved while the other may not be. Best of luck. Rick.

 

[Vic.S]

Re: Is it a good idea to run the engine out of fuel

I always run my 6 hp out of fuel when its not going to be used again for a week or so. At idle speed there is loads more oil than it needs and it stops as soon as the fuel starts to run out anyway.

Apparently not a good idea for multiple carb engines because the upper carbs run out of fuel before the lower ones so the upper cylinders run for a while with no lubrication until the lower carbs run dry.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Is it a good idea to run the engine out of fuel

Here's a reason not to do it: "crankcase combustion."

You know how, just as it's running dry the RPM's increase? That's because the mixture gets lean (less gas, more air). When that happens, the combustion slows, and when the intake ports open the incoming charge is ignited and the oil for the crankshaft and crankshaft rings is burned up.

I know lots of folks have done this for years with "no problems." But we wouldn't really *know* if it was contributing to a premature engine failure, would we?

I guess if you only use the motor rarely, you may never get to the point where it fails, and the time you save running it dry instead of draining carbs (or frequent carb rebuilds) is worth it.

But for you, using it every couple weeks, it's a moot point. Just avoid buying more than a couple months' supply of fuel at a time and add a stabilizer.