plugs & octane?

[zzreb]

hey guys......I have a 95 Force.....40 horse.....Champion or NGK.......mid-grade or 87 octane.....<br /><br /> hate to be so basic...but I have been through the ringer lately with this thing.....manual says 3 oz. per gallon.......50/1 ratio says 2.56 oz. per gallon.....<br /><br />comments please?<br />ZZ

 

[JB]

Re: plugs & octane?

Yo, ZZ. Most of us get a "50:1" mix by putting a pint (16oz.) to a six-gallon tank or half pint (8oz.) to a three gallon tank. That produces a 48:1 mix if there are exactly six or three gallons in the tank. Depending on the tank, there is usually a little more or a little less. In my 24 gallon tank I use half a gallon of oil and 24 gallons of unleaded regular (86-87 octane). I get the tank completely empty by using an "auxilary" 6 gallon tank when it runs dry. Then I fill the big one completely.<br /><br />All that may be "so what?". If your manual says 3oz. per gallon (32:1) use a 32:1 ratio. I ruined a chainsaw that called for 32:1 by using left over 50:1 mix in it, so I feel qualified to warn you against doing the same to a much more expensive machine.<br /><br />One last thing: Make sure your manual is referring to U.S. gallons, not Imperial gallons. I don't know the exact conversion, but an Imperial gallon is more than the U.S gallon.<br />Good luck.<br />JB

 

[zzreb]

Re: plugs & octane?

thanks JB......I have been going by the manual......but when ya hear something "new" from a dealer.....makes me wonder a little bit....kinda like the plug thing.....one says Champion...the other says NGK.....<br /> as for the gas/oil mixture ratio......instead of using a 6 gallon tank......I have been adding 6 gallons at the marina,& adding my oil mixture right there.....& I have been going by the manual......3 oz. per gallon.....& yep...it's US gallons.....but here's whats got me scratching my head a little.....the manual also calls for a 50:1 mix.....on the same page.....lol.....& as you know.....they are not the same.......<br /> I do know this.....she smokes a little more than she's suppose to with a 3 oz. per-mix....<br /> Yesterday I put a fresh 6 gallons in..& went with the 2.56 oz. per gallon......& she ran better than she had in months....specially low in.......<br /> thanks again.....now if I can determine which plugs I wanna use.....lol.....

<br /><br />ZZ

 

[JB]

Re: plugs & octane?

Y'know, ZZ, I wonder if they meant to tell you to use 32:1 for break in and 50:1 after that. My Son's 2000 Merc 90 book had him use premix (50:1) plus the oil injection for break in, then the injected oil only afterward. Often the books on foreign-made products make slips like that. Maybe Mariner did too.<br /><br />On the plugs: I have never noticed a difference betwee plugs of different manufacturers in the same heat range, but I have heard experts swear that one or the other is far better. Guys like DHadley, ODDD1 et al know a lot more than I do on that subject. I use Champions by habit.<br /><br />Good luck.<br />JB

 

[zzreb]

Re: plugs & octane?

thank you again,JB.......