Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

[Laddies]

Re: Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

Every spring we make good money cleaning the fuel systems that were not run dry or were improperly treated with stabil, so please just leave the fuel in the systems

 

[BillP]

Re: Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

Originally posted by Laddies:<br /> Every spring we make good money cleaning the fuel systems that were not run dry or were improperly treated with stabil, so please just leave the fuel in the systems

Those motors may have been brought in "every" spring but I'd bet most that were plugged sat longer than 6 mos. I've been storing ob motors for decades without draining carbs. I quit doing that in the mid 1970s. Never a problem when sitting 6-9 months...and I don't use Stabil. This is an overly hyped up problem...just like transom savers are.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

For the last forty plus years I have recommended that people run the fuel out of their engine after every single use. While it will not eliminate having to clean your carbs it will decrease the frequency with which you have to do it. <br /><br />As Rodbolt pointed out, it doesn't usually get out every single drop.<br /><br />As Laddie pointed out, not running the system dry will cause you to visit your local service center more often.<br /><br />As BillP pointed out, some people don't have a problem if they don't run them out. <br /><br />As Peat pointed out, some people drain them out and do not damage their engines.<br /><br />I believe every single person as to how they do not drain them or run them dry, and never have a problem. I also believe them when they say someone, somewhere had premature wear from running them dry. <br /><br />But, I have witnessed tens of thousands of engines that were not run out of fuel that developed dirty carburetors and had to be cleaned. Some in as little as two months...Some as long as four years.<br /><br />What I have never seen was an engine that was damaged from running it dry. The idea that running it dry could cause a cylinder or bearings to get hot seems legitimate. But, in practice it will not happen. No fuel, no explosion, no heat, no damage. Could a multi cylinder engine be so horribly adjusted that one carb emptys so much faster than the others that you could get damage just from the friction. In theory, possible...Reality, no. As Cyclops2 pointed out, at an idle you will just not generate that kind of heat.<br /><br />My best advice...Run it out or drain the carbs by hand. Or, help Laddies pay for that new caddy he was thinking about <br /><br />I also have to admit that I am a bit of a hypocrite here. I have not run the fuel out of an engine way too many times and I have sometimes gotten away with it...But more often I haven't

 

[Laddies]

Re: Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

BillP, I don't use stabil on any engine, I don't even sell the stuff if a customer wants to bring it I will use it in their systems and put a disclaimer on the work order.<br /><br />Elvin, I have ran them dry for 45 years and never damaged an engine either, in fact of you load the engines up with the choke like was original recommended the extra fuel oil mixture will actually help protect the engine from rust over short periods of storage Bob

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

I have never had an engine gum up on me, and I have been on both sides of the fence on this one, "BUT"!!!!!<br /><br />I purchased a used complete induction system from Ebay last year for my 87 Merc 150. Got it real cheap. Complete from the reeds to the fuel pump and carbs. Even had the trim solenoids still on it and all the hoses. I have absolutly no history on it at all.<br /><br />Point being:<br /><br />This unit was gummed up something awefull but it seemed to be oil residual, it was oily, gummy and greenish blue. I had a very difficult time cleaning it all up.<br /><br />So, it can happen. I guess this really doesnt help as we dont know the history.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

Laddies, what is the correct versus incorrect way to use Stabil?

 

[Laddies]

Re: Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

I belive the safest way to use it is leave it in the can. (this will probable get things going) Many years ago when the product first can on the market we used it at a marina that I worked at, we stored stored a couple hundred boats with a normal rate of about 2% having to have carbs cleaned in the spring (we ran them dry) The following spring we had to clean a little over 50% the manager was very unhappy and called the products manufacturer, their representive said we had used the product improperly, so we tryed it again the following winter with alot of management looking over our shoulders on about 100 boats with about the same results (maybe we were just to stupid to use, it he!! I don't know) but we quit using it and we back to running them dry and the problem went away

 

[agitator]

Re: Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

I too have run motors dry for 40 plus years with never an adverse result. Scuffed cylinders due to lack of lube due to this practice is a myth.

 

[NBE]

Re: Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

I used to do it all of the time but haven't lately mainly to not wanting to hold up the traffic at the boat ramp. <br /><br />With a drive-on trailer I don't want to disconnect the fuel hose and then run out of gas before the boat is on the trailer. I also don't want to aggravate the already aggravated people waiting in line behind me when I am sitting there with the boat on the trailer waiting for the motor to run empty. <br /><br />I guess the simple solution would be to do it at home on the muffs. Another post trip duty. I always thought it better to do it than not....but in the end it's what works best for you and whatever makes you feel comfortable.<br /><br />Going to have to ask you all.......what type of motor and about how long does it take for you to run the gas out of it? I'm figuring about 3-5 minutes for my mid-eighties 50 Merc?

 

[BillP]

Re: Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

Very interesting tidbit posted earlier...QUOTE"But, I have witnessed tens of thousands of engines" UNQUOTE. <br />...10,000 engines is 1.46 motors with plugged carbs, everyday, 7 days a week for 40 yrs. Sounds like a lot of experience...probably a world's record. <br /><br />Like I posted earlier I don't run them dry anymore. What I didn't post is that I used to run them dry for at least 15 years before that. Running them dry never seemed to cause damage either but on motors that sat a year the carbs always had crusty varnish inside...every year. This stopped happening when I stored them without running dry. <br /><br />As rodbolt mentioned, all the gas doesn't run out on some carbs. My opinion is those type carbs just get dry faster and plug up faster. I have no other explanation why my carbs plugged up when run dry and don't plug up when not run dry. <br /><br />The last time I put a motor up and knew it was going to be stored for several years I drained the carbs and got everything out. That's the only way I would do it otherwise. <br /><br />I also had one motor that was put up in my shop almost 10yrs without running or draining the carbs. It was put up with double oil and choked to stop. The idea was to leave a film on the innards. When I brought it out to use again the first thing I did was take the carbs and clean them. The only deal here was they were perfectly clean and the jets were too. Go figure?

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

From the mid 60's up to 2000...With anywhere from 30 to 80 engines coming in each week for service. From 2002 through today, maybe a grand total of 2000. About 80 percent of all service work is fuel system related. In rough figures that would make it around 80,000 engines with fuel system problems. My best guess is that about 60,000 of those would be related to dirty carbs. It sounds like a ridiculously inflated number...even too me. But, if anything, it's a conservative number. Very few people have the longevity for this field. I started out at the age of five..cleaning carbs , back in dear old dad's shop. We didn't call them service departments way back then.

 

[timmathis]

Re: Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

Tell them like it is INOB'S......

 

[Jan Z]

Re: Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

There are a lot of differing opinions on this issue for many different reasons but what worked well 10, 15, even 20 years ago will not necessarily work now with today’s engines and today’s gasoline. <br /><br />Lead went away, so did MTBE now it’s ethanol and ethanol does some funny stuff in boats as in it’s hygroscopic (As in it attracts/absorbs water), also cleans out all the crud in your tanks and lines and the extra water will cause corrosion in carbs. <br /><br />This is why my boat mechanic (Certified Yamaha) strongly advised the use of a fuel stabilizer to keep the water absorption under control.<br /><br />Therefore, the bottom line is fuels have changed so the way we deal with them needs to change as well. <br /><br />Use a fuel stabilizer (I use Stabul) have a good fuel water separator (Raycor ten micron) and drain the carbs with the drain screws rather than running it dry. <br /><br />JMHO

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

And then...There was that

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

I ran my merc 650 dry this weekend, on the muffs, and it was a terrifying experience (for a novice). When it started to run lean, at the end, the motor revved way, way up for what seemed like eternity - it eventually died as the fuel ran out. I felt like I was strangling a screaming kid or something.

 

[TD_Maker]

Re: Run Engine out of gas before leaving dock?

I run my V-4 Johnson dry every time I use her. When I get back to the house, I put on the muffs, disconnect the fuel lines, and run the engine until she dies. This way, I flush the salt out of my engine, and I do not have to worry about gas/oil plugging the carbs. Been doing it this way for twenty years. I guess I better stop.