Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

[ngt]

I'm getting told two different things and was wondering what the majority thought.

So what do you do when you get home from a trip?

 

[JB]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

I run single carbs dry. Multiple carbs I either do nothing or drain the bowls.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

The problem with running the carbs dry is that the only lubrication the engine gets is from the oil in the gas, one carb almost always runs dry before the other so you have a cylinder not getting lube.

I have always drained mine with the plug to avoid damaging the engine, get some Stabil or Sea Foam in the gas tank and you are good, but draining them is important since it keeps varnish from building up over the winter..

 

[Vanover]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

I run stabil in all of my gas tanks for my boat. All the time. I do nothing and have not had any issues at all with any of my 2 or 4 stroke motors.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

I do nothing other than use stabilizer in the fuel mix.

 

[ngt]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

pretty mixed results...

I'm going to go with using stabil or seafoam in the gas maybe every other tank or so, and just using the drain screw to get the gas out when I get home. Kind of the happy medium since there's no clear cut answer here.

 

[itsaboattime]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

You should'nt run multiple carbed outboards dry. As stated before, the upper carbs run dry first and it causes the upper cylinders to run without lubercation until the lower carbs run dry.
modern outboards are made to sit with the carbs "wet". If you are talking bout setting it up for storage or for the winter, just put some seafoam or sta-bil in the tank and run it for bout 5 min so that it gets into the carbs. That should take care of any varnishing issues you may be worrying about.
I have never drained my carbs and I have never had any issues with varnish.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

you simply cant run most modern carbs dry, its gonna leave that last 1/4 inch or so of fuel in the fuel bowl.
however most modern carbs have a device called a DRAIN.
some are just easier to access than others.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

Well I just hate to use the phrase "I've been doing that for 40 years and haven't had a problem yet", but some times it applies. When it's recommended practice I find it easier to say, but when it's just some Bubba's idea it is less enticing....LOL.

I got my first outboard in the 1950's when my Grandpa gave me his old one. He always insisted on "running it dry" when done for the day. Sure, they don't completely empty, but a lot of it is gone. Back in the day, that was not just Grampa's way, but its what the dealers recommended as well.

I've done that with every single OB motor I ever owned - single, dual and triple carbed models. Sure, one of those carbs will run dry first and starve the cylinder of oil (for a few seconds). But if the gas was properly mixed, that cylinder will be quite oily already.

My current "daily use" outboards consist of 3 Evinrudes - a 1953, a 1965 and a 1984. The '84 has over 600 running hours, the rest I didn't chart them. Only the '53 was bought used. ALL of them have been run hard, but NONE of them were ever put away wet...LOL.

My latest daily use OB is a 2007 POS Yamaha that has had cold starting issues from day one. My dealer suggested leaving the carbs wet and keeping the fuel line attached. (He's also the 60 year Evinrude dealer that recommended running them dry in the past). That didn't help so I now run this one dry as well. Now it starts "reasonably" well, so I'll continue with that practice.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

Draining the carb is something you do before storing the boat for a long period, it sounds like you are doing this everytime you take the boat out which is totally not necessary, it can sit with gas in it all year as long as you use the boat at least once or twice a month btu draining them everytime you go out is not needed.

I believe everyones answer is for winterizing not day to day use.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

Without a crystal ball (mine is in the shop ) it is really hard to answer your question.

Knowing what motor you are working would help out.

2 stroke? 4 Stroke? Brand? Size?


I personally prefer to drain my fuel out.

 

[ngt]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

Without a crystal ball (mine is in the shop ) it is really hard to answer your question.

Knowing what motor you are working would help out.

2 stroke? 4 Stroke? Brand? Size?


I personally prefer to drain my fuel out.

My motor is a 2007 Tohatsu 9.8hp four stroke. I am totally new to boats and motors and was thinking there was a general answer..yes or no. I go fishing on this boat at least once a month.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

Run it dry...To get the last of the fuel out just tickle the choke.

 

[wellsc1]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

My mechanic said to run the carbs dry on my Yammy 90 TLRB. I learned an expensive lesson after the carbs got clogged from gum/varnish from gas evaporating after each time using the boat. It's oil injected so oil is still getting to the engine.

Besides, think about the times you run out of gas while at high speed when the engine needs the most lubrication. Does your engine blow up? At idle, the engine needs less lube than at high speeds.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

I run stabil in all of my gas tanks for my boat. All the time. I do nothing and have not had any issues at all with any of my 2 or 4 stroke motors.

Ditto......

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

I do nothing more than turn off the key, nothing in the gas, never run them dry...what problems do I have...none. By the way, most of what I use is E10.

What does all this prove...most people have no problems no matter what method they use.

So just do whatever it is that makes you feel good and appears to work for you.

The method that would work the best is to use a stabilizer when you plan to leave it sit for an extended period of time (not two weeks). Running it dry does NOT empty the carb, so you need to drain it (them) for it to do any good. I rarely it do it correctly.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

i recently took my carbs off on my old merc. two carbs by the way.

i ran the motor dry and when i took the carbs off of the motor i flipped them upside down and fuel still came out. enough to gum a carb up


stabil is the best choice.

run them dry is just the peace of mind (mind trick)

 

[eclark53520]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

Stabalize the fuel and leave it.

Even draining the fuel bowls will leave a film of fuel which will evaporate and leave varnish.

 

[itsaboattime]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

Stabalize the fuel and leave it.

Even draining the fuel bowls will leave a film of fuel which will evaporate and leave varnish.

exactly.

 

[whofan]

Re: Should I or should I not run the carb dry??

Run stabil and do nothing. One year I drained the bowl on my snowthrower. That was the only time I had to take a carberater apart to clean it. Left mine full of fuel since so the gas doesn`t dry out and varnish up. No problems, Stabil is the answer.