my 3 secrets for problem free ob

[sam am I]

Not sure why everyone thinks ethanol is so scary.

Fox News.........

 

[Sea Rider]

Some issues :

Brasil has huge OB problems with E fuels, their E content is higher than in any other country, Know this issue by word of mouth of lifesavers that use carbed Ob's for rescue. Cars are other story, now a days can handle E fuels with no problem at all due to being fuel inyected. If you have not been in the process of swapping fron non E fuels to E fuels won't know the harm that E fuels produces on carbed OB's.

It's not true that now a days all OB's brands can handle E fuels with no problem, some delicate parts as described do wear out faster. Have well documented photographic examples to prove it. Don't know if E made from corn is same as made from sugar crane ?

Happy Boating

 

[fishin98]

My secrets?
- Drive it like you want to keep it forever. re: Keep its RPM under 90% max range.
- After every successful return trip, thank it for a safe & great ride.
- Winterize it with care. re: No skipping steps.
- Preventative maintenance (like gas filter changes, spark plug checks / replacements, etc.) is better than reactive troubles.

Consistent good drink (gas) and good lube (2 stroke oil) helps as well. LOL!!!!

This works for me...

Great idea, I will add that I do use fuel additives, currently use the Merc brand sold at Wally World. Adding a fuel/water filter separator does help, running carbs dry before laying the motor up for extended time, If available using ethanol free gas DOES make a difference, changing out the impellor every 2 -3 years and most of all replacing the starter rope at the slightest indication of wear.

 

[Sea Rider]

My way :

- 2 strokes Yamalube, Chevron, Amalie TCW-3 oils
- 95 octane filtered E8 fuel (non E fuels available)
- Use fresh fuel for that outing, minimum fuel remains are topped with fresh fuel on next outing.
- Run carb dry while flushing engine after outing.
- Each 100 metered worked hours :
* Decarbon combustion chambers, change plugs, gear oil, clean & purge fuel systen from tank to carb
- Grease complete throttle system, micro oil all rotating, sliding parts.
- As outings are constant, don't use fuel/water filter separators nor fuel additives nor winterize my OB's ever.
* OB always runs happily and purrs as a pampered kitten at idle.

Happy Boating

 

[redneck joe]

My secrets?
- Drive it like you want to keep it forever. re: Keep its RPM under 90% max range.
- After every successful return trip, thank it for a safe & great ride.
- Winterize it with care. re: No skipping steps.
- Preventative maintenance (like gas filter changes, spark plug checks / replacements, etc.) is better than reactive troubles.

Consistent good drink (gas) and good lube (2 stroke oil) helps as well. LOL!!!!

This works for me...

The most neglected rule and arguably the most important one

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Any of those that claim that the new gas is not an issue have any experience with the effects on small engines? Hard to deny the warnings in the O&M manuals.

 

[Sea Rider]

By new gas you mean E fuels, all brands Owner?s Manuals states max 10% ethanol content and just 5% on methanol or will damage OB including losing OB warranty. Not an issue with small portable OB's, small in size doesn't mean are of weak material or poorly built.

Happy Boating

 

[dingbat]

Have well documented photographic examples to prove it.

Please post these photographic example. My 30+ years of machine design experience, specializing in equipment used in extreme environmental conditions, tells me something is going other than simple ethanol exposure, if its an ethanol problem at all. All evidence I've seen was either bogus or a maintence issue, more so the a material compatibility problem.

Yea, ethanol is ethanol. Doesn't matter how you make it...

 

[Sea Rider]

Just to be clear, I'm not saying that E fuels will destroy your beloved OB in days to come, said that E fuels does wear thin rubber gaskets, fuel pump diaphragms, elongs rubber o'rings, hardens, swells fuel filter plastic cups, decolors carb exteriors faster and much aggressively than no E pure fuels. That's why while OB is being flushed after outing, disconnect OB fuel hose to run carb dry till drops dead. Some will say the new OB's can handle E fuels with no issue, can't speak for all of them as my current experience is with new Tohatsu OB's and rebadged brands. This pic speaks for itself. It's same 95 octane fuel after E8 has been added..



Happy Boating

 

[laurentide]

I don't know a single person who ever had a REAL ethanol issue.

I'm obviously not arguing with your personal experience, but ethanol absolutely will destroy fiberglass fuel cells. My father has a boat with a below deck 'glass tank. The first problem was the alcohol started to eat the epoxy and the tank interior began to disintegrate. The second (big) problem was that the liquefied, diluted epoxy got past the filter and injectors and into the cylinders and valves. When the engine cooled it solidified and destroyed at least two push rods. That led to a total teardown and rebuild. $8.5K later (he's not a mechanic ) he's got an above deck portable tank and only runs straight gas.

Glass tanks are rare but they do exist on older inboards...and most have been replaced at great expense because of ethanol.

 

[Sea Rider]

I'll second that, E literally eats old fiberglass tanks and metal old ones stored under deck, have seen that issue too, luckily I only ran portable OB's with plastic 3-6 gal tanks. Check these 2 carb pics cond. Non E and E fuels, pics speaks for themselves, not much to add, just HATE darn E Fuels.

1,000 metered worked hours, Tohatsu 2 strokes 18 HP OB. (4 years constant use with Non E 95 octane fuel)



500 metered worked hours, Tohatsu 2 strokes 18 HP OB. (20 months constant use with E8, 95 octane fuels?



Happy Boating

 

[bruceb58]

I'm obviously not arguing with your personal experience, but ethanol absolutely will destroy fiberglass fuel cells.

I agree with you on fiberglass tanks. I am more talking about the effect of ethanol on engines with other tanks.

 

[bruceb58]

Your carbs outside appearance have nothing to do with ethanol fuel since the fuel is inside the carb.

 

[Sea Rider]

Don't have a clue for that, outside carb discoloring started when using E8 content fuels, before that not a mayor issue as seen on first pic. That carb has not been removed once from OB nor cleaned, lubbed, oiled with any product whatsoever. If OB works top at wot and idle no use removing it to check inside. I'll will have to deal with it...

Discoloration is also shown on fuel cup whick is immaculate white, now yellowish, and fuel works on the inside too..

Happy Boating

 

[bruceb58]

Well, its something else and its not the E8. Thinking ethanol does something to the outside of the carb is reaching.

 

[Chris1956]

OK, quite a bit off topic, with the price of crude oil getting lower and lower, anyone seeing any lowering of the price of 2 cycle oil? One would think it would happen, barring some "vast right wing conspiracy".

BTW- I am not accusing anyone in particular. I just hear "right wing conspiracy" much more than "left wing conspiracy". Both are laughable....

 

[Sea Rider]

Why is Yam 2 stroke oil so darn expensive when other excellent brands such as Chevron, Amalie costs 1/3 of Yam. Does it have special additives, carbon guard added, comes from a virgin oil well, it's manufactured in space ?

Happy Boating

 

[jbcurt00]

Once was off topic, twice is way off topic

Stick to tips for hassle free OB ownership, maintenance or operation

Thanks fellas