Marine Gas Useful Life ?

[emarshbuck]

Just paid $700 to have the 3 carbs on my 25HP Tohatsu outboard overhauled. This same mechanic charged me $500 two months ago to overhaul the top carb, and use carb cleaner on the bottom two. When I picked it up two months ago, seemed to run fine at this shop. When I took it out the next day it would idle fine and get us out of the no wake zone, but when I tried to get it up on plane, it shuddered and almost died. Took it back to him the next day. Just got it back today after two months at his place.

Mechanic said my marine gas was old and had turned to near like kerosene. Told me the useful life for this gas is 2-3 months, even with Sta-bil. Would he have noticed this two months ago, and is this true about marine gas? My next door neighbor who has been a boater for 30+ years disagrees with my mechanic.

thoughts?

thx

ed

 

[dingbat]

I would be looking for a new mechanic.

 

[GA_Boater]

You need a real mechanic.

How old is the gas? It won't go bad in 2 months unless the tank had bad gas to start with. New gas added to bad gas just makes more bad gas.

 

[Scott Danforth]

auto gas in the tank gets turned about once a week with traffic. so chance of bad fuel from a gas station is really low

marine gas and ag fuel gets turned less often. so chance of bad fuel is higher........however if the fuel supply is fresh, expect about 9 months to a year prior to fuel turning to carp.

as for your mechanic, there are good ones and not good ones.

 

[DouglasW]

Told me the useful life for this gas is 2-3 months, even with Sta-bil. Would he have noticed this two months ago, and is this true about marine gas? My next door neighbor who has been a boater for 30+ years disagrees with my mechanic.

Interesting. I have used gas over two years old with stabilizer in three of my generators. Not recommended, but worked ok for me during Irma.

 

[bruceb58]

The last few years one of my boats with a carb was getting used once a year for a week so the gas was essentially one year old. Never a problem and I don't use Stabil and its 10% ethanol.

 

[Tassie 1]

As already said above get a new mechanic...
$700??
jeepers!

Just as a comment, some small engine ( lawnmower/ ride ons ) mechanics are quite capable of doing work on outboard carbies,

worth asking about for next time?
probably a cheaper hour rate too

yrs ago used to go to one such bloke in a small town who worked on everything,

 

[tpenfield]

+1 for a new mechanic

 

[Sea Rider]

Next time you pay a visit to that extremely costly scam mechanic check there's a tall tree side to his place to hang him by the neck. To charge 700 bucks to have 3 carbs overhauled which traduces to swap 3 carb kits and apply half can of carb cleaner is a real crime. Each carb kit costs max $ 50.00...

Happy Boating

 

[Lou C]

I’ve used stabilized e10 fuel as old as 2 years old in the boat and power equipment and not had problems. I drained out 2 year old gas from the boat fuel filter into a mason jar and it was crystal clear.

 

[racerone]

Another " one and done " poster here I think.