Need to know the Fuel hose's internal diameter?

[Ken_Boater]

Hello. This summer I bought a 2006 Sugar Sand jetdrive boat driven by a Mercury 2005 2-stroke outboard engine (OE427816), 210 horsepower.
I want to follow Mercury's advice for putting it up for the winter (engine fogging) by running a higher ratio oil+fuel mixture directly through the carbs from a small external tank and a hose. But I need to know the I.D. of the hose to use -- that is, the same size fuel hose from the boat's regular fuel tank that I'm going to exchange for the one from the external tank when I run it. I don't want to take off the regular hose to measure it until I'm ready to swap it.

Anyone know what that hose size would be?

Thanks in advance.
Ken

By the way, I'm also going to fill my tank for overwintering with ethanol free (E0), 100 octane gas, that I can buy from the local general aviation airport. This is also the fuel I'm going to put (with the extra oil and additives) in the little tank for fogging. Anyone know a reason why using this aviation gas may be a bad idea. It seems good to me, because with the cold temperatures the boat will face in storage, I shouldn't have the water separation problem -- I'm going to also treat it with BioBor EB, Techron, and Marine Sta-Bil.

 

[ondarvr]

I have a 2005 Merc 2 stroke, it has 87 octane E-10 and no additives in it, I just turn off the key. The following season I turn the key to start and motor away.

So whatever you do will work.

 

[dingbat]

My main tank holds 98 gallons of fuel. Every year, the boat is stored with whatever fuel is left in the tank at the time. Usually 3/8 to a 1/2 tank.

I just throw in a bottle of regular stabil in the tank before the last outing of the year and call it good. Top off the tank(s) with fresh fuel in the Spring and go boating

 

[Chris1956]

When you winterize the motor, you will be running at idle or slightly above. The fuel line diameter therefore, doesn't matter, as they are sized for full throttle operation.

I think what you are doing is overkill, BTW. Treat the fuel in the tank with some stabilizer, or fill it and then treat it. Run the motor on the flusher and let the treated fuel get to the motor. Spray some fogging oil into the air intakes and get a good smoke going. Turn off the motor, let her drain, grease the fittings, change the gear oil and spray the powerhead with some anti-corrosion stuff and put her away.

BTW, gasoline is not subject to biological issues, unlike diesel fuel. Therefore additives beyond a stabilizer are unnecessary. Heck, the value of the stabilizer is questionable. Regular fuel for storage is fine, IMO. The alcohol absorbs any water in the fuel, up to a point. I change the water separator yearly, to get rid of the water. You should get one, if you do not have one.

 

[Bobbywolf]

I want to add that avgas is a bad idea. 100LL stands for low lead, but it has many thousand more times the amount of lead than in automotive fuel, which is essentially lead free nowadays.

Stick with pump gas. The higest octane is usually ethanol free.

 

[Chris1956]

Bobby, Lead in gasoline was supposed to cool the valves in 4 cycle motors, As such, lead makes no difference to a 2 cycle motor.

Also, the higher octane makes no difference as well, as the motor is designed to run on 87/89 octane.

 

[Bobbywolf]

The lead was used to lube and cushion the valves, which used to be unhardened. It also reduces burn rate, upping the octane rating. in a 2-stroke designed for pump gas all it will do is foul your plugs much faster.

Ethanol free gas is the best bet. Around here that is only available in the high octane option.

 

[Ken_Boater]

When you winterize the motor, you will be running at idle or slightly above. The fuel line diameter therefore, doesn't matter, as they are sized for full throttle operation.QUOTE]

I know the fuel line is sized for maximum required flow, but because I am attaching a new fuel hose, the diameter does matter -- I want the correct size so that it won't leak fuel. Even with a clamp, the wrong size either won't fit on if it's too small, or it will leak if it's too large (a clamp will do only so much) -- the right size hose is critical.
Thanks.

 

[Mercurylips]

Ken- Take a small hose to an auto parts store and they will fix you up with the correct hose. Automotive hose will be just fine.

 

[Bobbywolf]

Yea just cut a chunk off the old one and take it with you.