Older Mercruiser Question

[Brianh]

I have a 1973 Aristrocraft Nineteen with a Mercruiser 140. The label says leaded fuel only and I was curious as to what others on here thought about is using a lead substitute is really needed. Right now I have been using one but it does get old.

 

[Don S]

Re: Older Mercruiser Question

Most people just run todays fuel with no problems.

 

[Adirondack]

Re: Older Mercruiser Question

I have a 71 with a 140. Been running unleaded in it for 30 years. No problem.

 

[cannonford57]

Re: Older Mercruiser Question

here in the sunny south we have been having a lot of probs with the ethanol and god knows what else we buy as gas these days attacking the inside of the fuel lines causing them flake off tiny pieces of rubber into the system...amazes me how some of this ignites.....just a though.

 

[TJDave]

Re: Older Mercruiser Question

I had a '73 Mercruiser 165 with the same label. I also have been putting unleaded premium in it for years with no issues. I have never bought lead additive. Runs perfect.

 

[thumpar]

Re: Older Mercruiser Question

My '82 says the same thing but with (or 89 or better unleaded) printed under it.

 

[Brianh]

Re: Older Mercruiser Question

here in the sunny south we have been having a lot of probs with the ethanol and god knows what else we buy as gas these days attacking the inside of the fuel lines causing them flake off tiny pieces of rubber into the system...amazes me how some of this ignites.....just a though.

I'm in the South to and have seen first hand how destructive this new blend of fuel can be. I saw that within minutes of being emersed in a ethanol blended fuel that a brand new rubber hose's exterior was turned to jello.

 

[Don S]

Re: Older Mercruiser Question

Let's put this thread into perspective, you asked about the new fuels bothering your engine, which it doesn't. But the E fuels do have cause problems with some hose materials, some fuel tank materials, and even causes water in the fuel problems. But it doesn't hurt the engine itself due to not haveing the lead substitute you were asking about.

 

[Adirondack]

Re: Older Mercruiser Question

Let's put this thread into perspective, you asked about the new fuels bothering your engine, which it doesn't. But the E fuels do have cause problems with some hose materials, some fuel tank materials, and even causes water in the fuel problems. But it doesn't hurt the engine itself due to not haveing the lead substitute you were asking about.

I'm not quite sure when unleaded gas came to be. It was that long ago. If you have had your cylinder heads refreshed since then the leaded fuel requirement should no longer apply. A good machine shop should have replaced the valve guides with hardened guides to facilitate the unleaded fuel. That to my knowledge is the only concern with unleaded fuel on older engines.

 

[Aloysius]

Re: Older Mercruiser Question

not hardened guides, hardened seats.

 

[Banditz]

Re: Older Mercruiser Question

I am in the south as well, Charlotte NC. I cant tell you guys very quickly that just because you find a mix fuel at one pump, doesnt mean they are at every pump. By law the station has to show or let it be known how much of a mix they are running. So I just go to pumps where there is no mix. Simple as that. And to be frank, its almost always the truck stops or like there of that run the mix. Stupid people see a few cents cheaper at these places and they stop! Not realizing that the two cents a gallon cheaper they pay, means the loss of sometimes as much as 10% or more of fuel mileage. Not to mention if their car is set up to burn it or not. So pay a little more, and check the pumps for the mix they use or if its pure gas. Oh yeah, and dont even bother with asking the attendent.....they will look at ya with a deer in the head light look everytime. I actually had one respond with all we sell is gas. We dont have no such thing as a mix. Theres no oil in our gas. LOL