maintenance tip

[deejaycee_2000]

I found over the years that if I pull the fuel plug from my outboards before I take my boats out the water so that the engine runs all the fuel out the system (idling till it dies) that there is hardly never problems with them. I've been doing this for the last 15 years, especially with my 15hp Mariner, had it serviced about 8 years ago and it still runs perfectly as if it was just serviced. Even with my oil injection engines, works like a charm ..... I don't know if anyone has any comments they wanto add on this?

 

[Chunder06]

Re: maintenance tip

I do similar with my 16 year old 90hp merc, mine runs in salt water and I flush it out with fresh, pull the fuel line off and and let the carbies drain out, it takes a while for them to empty, I've had no starting problems ever.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: maintenance tip

i have done the same for 40 years, and found it keeps the carb problems down. but, others say the the top carb runs out of gas 1st, thus dragging the top cylinder without lube. i've never had a problem from it, and will keep up the practice. i have a '55 15hp still going strong, only maint. in 51 years regular impeller lower unit change , plugs. fly wheel has never been off.

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: maintenance tip

After it dies the first time, I leave it about half a minute, choke it and start it on full throttle, it will start and die straight away again, just to make sure that the fuel is totally out ....

 

[JB]

Re: maintenance tip

This topic comes up often, DJC.<br /><br />Among the times it comes up are requests for help restarting an engine that has pumped the carbs full of oil from the oil injectors after the gas is disconnected.<br /><br />I did that for years on single carb, non-oil-injected engines and for a while on non-injected multicarb engines. I don't do it anymore.<br /><br />I don't recommend it. If you are going into storage of more than a couple of weeks drain the carb bowls from the bottom.

 

[Chunder06]

Re: maintenance tip

JB I have no extra smoke when doing this, therefore no build up of oil in carbs, and normal smoke when starting.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: maintenance tip

If you've been doing this for 15 years with no problems, why are you worried about it now?

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: maintenance tip

I'm not worried about it, read the subject line ....... maintenance tip, hence the fact that it is in the non-repair section, I simply wanted to know what others thought of this .

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: maintenance tip

I do it too on my single carbed two strokes. Fires up beautifully everytime out.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: maintenance tip

I used to do it years ago but don't do it now. I don't know why I just quit.<br /><br />On one carb running out before another, surely they do. But needle bearings only need a tad of oil and I would guess that there is adequate residual oil to keep things slick for the few seconds it takes for the other carbs to emtpy.<br /><br />Mark