Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

[cajuncook1]

Guys,

I need your advice on this matter. I usually take the boat out about twice a month for fishing or just a ride. At the end of the day, should I run off the excess fuel in the motor to prevent gumming of the carburetor? I have heard pro and cons for this question. (1984 Evinrude 15hp). Would any of you distinguished gentleman have an informative opinion on this matter?

As always, thank you for your time!!

 

[JB]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

My opinion, with which not all agree, is to run single carbs dry at the end of the day, but to drain the bowls on multiple carbs.

This prevents a multi-carb engine from running some cylinders dry while other cylinders finish burning off their carb(s).

 

[Daviet]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

Sometimes my engine gets run every couple of days, sometimes every couple of weeks. I run sea foam in my gas all of the time.

 

[cajuncook1]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

Sometimes my engine gets run every couple of days, sometimes every couple of weeks. I run sea foam in my gas all of the time.

Interesting! What additive to fuel ratio do you use and does the motor smoke a little when adding the seafoam routinely?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

I run fuel stabiliser more or less constantly. Never had an issue yet. Mix ratio is on the bottle.

 

[Daviet]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

I follow the instructions on the can, can't rember the exact amount. It does not cause any excessive smoke. Sea Foam is a gas preservative and helps with carbon build up. At the end of the year, after I fog the engine, I pull the bowel drain and make sure all the gas is out of carb. I use sea foam in all the engines I have, lawnmowers,chainsaw,outboards, and even in my motorcycle. If you run a search you will probably find a lot of material on it.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

Sea foam is the greatest...it tells you the ratio on the can..sold at most walmarts and auto zones. no more gunky carbs...also good to decarb your engine with..

 

[cajuncook1]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

So, adding seafoam or fuel stabiliser will keep cylinders lubed, but not gum up the carburetor. So, running off the excess fuel is not necessary with use of the above additives.

Interesting, thanks for helping out.

 

[Daviet]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

I wouldn't worry about "running off excess fuel", but make sure and drain your carb at years end as part of winterizing.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

Im one that is in disagreement.
If you run it dry then you are also running it out of oil and that is never a good thing.
Seafoam or Sta-Bil and call it good.

 

[freetime99]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

Yes, leave the fuel in the system but make sure it has Stabil or equivalent in it.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

Same thing with the lawn mower, weed whacker etc. I see folk around here running their mowers till they stop and then storing them for the winter. They are the same people that I see spending an entire weekend trying to start them in spring. Usually somebody suggests they bring it to me and that's when we clean the fuel system out and they cut the grass again.

 

[psteurer]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

There is a lot of conflicting advice because there are a lot of different types of motors. I have a 2008 4 stroke Honda 50 hp. The Honda dealer I bought it from told me to run it out of gas every time you are going to not use it for a week or more. I checked with another Honda dealer and he said the same thing. I also have a 1989 2 stroke Johnson 20 hp with one carburetor. I run it dry every time after non use for more than a week.

So from what I understand, it does not hurt to run a 4 stroke dry or a 2 stroke with one carburetor dry. If you have a 2 stroke with more than one carburetor, then one carburetor will run dry before the others. When that happens, the cylinder without fuel is not being lubricated for a short period of time until all the other carburetor runs out of fuel. With the lack of lubrication, that's when the trouble can start.

 

[F_R]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

Im one that is in disagreement.
If you run it dry then you are also running it out of oil and that is never a good thing.
Seafoam or Sta-Bil and call it good.

There is one thing wrong with that theory. When it runs out of fuel (oil) the motor quits. So how can it run without oil? It can't.

 

[psteurer]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

Good point but I don't think it would run out of fuel at exactly the same time in a multi-carb 2 stroke What would happen is one carb would run dry before the other. With a two cylinder 2 stroke as an example, the motor is still firing on both cylinders but only one has fuel. I believe JB said it best in his 2nd post to this string: "...drain the bowls on multiple carbs. This prevents a multi-carb engine from running some cylinders dry while other cylinders finish burning off their carb(s)."

 

[F_R]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

Good point but I don't think it would run out of fuel at exactly the same time in a multi-carb 2 stroke What would happen is one carb would run dry before the other. With a two cylinder 2 stroke as an example, the motor is still firing on both cylinders but only one has fuel. I believe JB said it best in his 2nd post to this string: "...drain the bowls on multiple carbs. This prevents a multi-carb engine from running some cylinders dry while other cylinders finish burning off their carb(s)."

No arguement there, and I agree on multi-carb motors that is theoretically true. However, the biggest factor is not running without oil, but that the motor will probably stall and quit running when the first carb runs out, leaving the other one (s) still having fuel in it. So, what has really been accomplished? Nuttin'.

One last word...if running out of fuel is really such a harmful thing, then what happens when you are out skimming across the lake and that 6 gallon tank they gave you runs dry? Maybe, if you don't have another tank.....

 

[arnettjs]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

Im one that is in disagreement.
If you run it dry then you are also running it out of oil and that is never a good thing.
Seafoam or Sta-Bil and call it good.

Couldn't agree more. I used to run it until it died then someone on another thread said the exact same thing, in that some of the cylinders will die off first (no fuel) but continue pumping with no lubrication. I no longer run it dry but do put the muffs on it and run it once a week if I can't get to the lake.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

I run Stabil Marine(Walmart $20/quart) all the time, a bit more when motor won't be run for extended period of time. I drain carbs regularly which I believe removes more of the fuel than just "running them dry" due to the location of the jets. Drain carbs onto clean white rag to see what's in them. With drain plugs out, pump your primer bulb to "flush" carbs with fresh gas. Draining carbs is very easy after you do it once and it's a great way to eliminate these water/ethanol contaminated fuel problems. Maybe install a fuel/water seperator(Walmart $27) if you don't have one already. Good Luck!

 

[cajuncook1]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

I run Stabil Marine(Walmart $20/quart) all the time, a bit more when motor won't be run for extended period of time. I drain carbs regularly which I believe removes more of the fuel than just "running them dry" due to the location of the jets. Drain carbs onto clean white rag to see what's in them. With drain plugs out, pump your primer bulb to "flush" carbs with fresh gas. Draining carbs is very easy after you do it once and it's a great way to eliminate these water/ethanol contaminated fuel problems. Maybe install a fuel/water separator(Walmart $27) if you don't have one already. Good Luck!

To install a fuel/water separator, should that be done between fuel pump and the carburetor or from fuel line going from the tank to the fuel pump??

Thanks

 

[jeff_smith_0423]

Re: Run off excess fuel (Should this be done?)

This just happened to a coworker of mine- he scored a cylinder / threw a ring and now has to get his powerhead rebuilt / replaced. 1996 Evinrude 88 hp.

This topic has been beat to death in pretty much every forum on this board.....