should I run the motor out of fuel everytime

[reddog349]

Ive always been told after flushing my outboard to pull the fuel line and run it out of fuel.I have a couple friends who say not do and it may cause damage .<br />I am no wrench head so the answer is beyond me.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: should I run the motor out of fuel everytime

A lot of people think that by doing that they are emptying the carburators. When in fact they are not. You are however running your cylinders dry and leaving them without protection (lube).

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: should I run the motor out of fuel everytime

Do it. It can not damage the engine. Others will tell you it is unnecessary and can dry the cylinder walls, but if there is no gas...the engine will not run....ergo....no damage. I'm sure that someone had a friend, who had an uncle, who knew a guy, that heard at a bar, that some guy named...Bubba, ruined his engine that way. In fact I'm sure that someone probably has blown one that way. I'm also sure that it is much more likely that you will be struck by lighting while dancing on top of your motor cover while singing "Hit Me Baby One More Time"<br />The certainty of cleaning your carbs outweighs the tiny risk. In my opinion..which is shared by many and scoffed at by...more than one.

 

[roscoe]

Re: should I run the motor out of fuel everytime

The question is why would you do this?

 

[Snowdrggn]

Re: should I run the motor out of fuel everytime

Roscoe,<br /> So I can lay my motor in my vehicle without as much gas dumping in the cowl? (Inflatable with 15hp)<br /><br />Cheers,<br /> Snow.

 

[roscoe]

Re: should I run the motor out of fuel everytime

Snow... that makes sense for a small or portable motor. But I know people that do it with their big motors.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: should I run the motor out of fuel everytime

Main question is - why do it?<br /><br />If you're using your motor regularly, there isn't any point. If you're laying it up for the winter, then maybe it has value.<br /><br />Guaranteed that most folks here just leave their fuel lines connected all season, because they can't see any good engineering reason for doing otherwise.

 

[JB]

Re: should I run the motor out of fuel everytime

What engine do you have, reddog?<br /><br />I think that running her "dry" is relatively harmless for single carburetor engines because all cylinders run out of gas/oil at the same time and the carb bowl is pretty well empty. If the engine is going to be stored for a while, fog it.<br /><br />On multiple carb engines it is a different story. One carb may go dry before the other(s) and its cylinders will pulled through without lubrication. That can result in damage. On these engines I think I prefer to drain the carbs.

 

[malagaoth]

Re: should I run the motor out of fuel everytime

if you don't empty the carbs isn't there a risk that the oil residue from the gas/oil mix will gum up the carb?

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: should I run the motor out of fuel everytime

Originally posted by garydoole:<br /> if you don't empty the carbs isn't there a risk that the oil residue from the gas/oil mix will gum up the carb?

If you don't use it for a long period of time, absolutely. If you plan not to use it for a long time, fog it, add a generous amount of STA-BIL to the gas. Run it long enough for the STA-BIL to get to the float-bowl. That's about as good as it gets.

 

[reddog349]

Re: should I run the motor out of fuel everytime

I have a 70 hp evinrude I just purchased and I had always been told to do it to prevent gum up and such. Generally my motor sits no less then 2 weeks between uses in the summer/spring but sits all winter .I do fog the engine for winter storage.<br /> <br />I noticed when I didnt run my evinrude 40 hp dry she tended to be harder starting the next day.When I did run it dry she started great the next day.

 

[Navigator]

Re: should I run the motor out of fuel everytime

reddog349,<br /><br />Of course this only applies to 2 stroke engines. It wont harm a 4 stroke in the least since the gas mixture does not "oil" the mechanicals.<br /><br />I'd only run them dry if I wasn't planning on using it for more than 3 weeks. If I use the boat on a steady regular basis, there is no need to waste the gas.<br /><br />Nav