which decarb method works best

[hitace]

i hered of 3 different decarbing methods.soaking the carbs.sprying and running sea foam through the carbs. and rebuilding the carbs.which one of these is the most effective.

 

[ezeke]

Re: which decarb method works best

Decarb as used here is the process of removing carbon from the firing chambers, pistons, rings and exhaust.

Spraying in the carburetors does nothing to the carburetors, but running the SeaFoam or similar product through the fuel system sometimes helps.

Here is a link to the FAQ:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=158076

 

[hitace]

Re: which decarb method works best

umm so which one out of the 3 would work best

 

[ezeke]

Re: which decarb method works best

I use the method recommended by Capt. Bob Dunkelberger. I do three treatments and run the boat on the water hard between each one. I like to look in the spark plug holes and see shiny pistons when I am finished. The BRP/Evinrude maintenance schedule says to decarb annually or every 100 hours.

http://www.evinrude.com/en-US/About.Us/FAQ/Maintenance.htm

 

[cadriver]

Re: which decarb method works best

I don't know how good is to remove carbon from an old motor, keep in mind some of that carbon is holding compression tight!

 

[ezeke]

Re: which decarb method works best

Get serious.​

The carbon is building up behind your rings and not allowing for the normal expansion and contraction of varying operating speeds and loads. It is wearing out the cylinders, not to mention the rings themselves.​

It is fouling the plugs, not to mention the waters you are running in.

Carbon is a great insulator, preventing the cooling system from doing the job of maintaining a constant temperature necessary for longevity.​

 

[Silvertip]

Re: which decarb method works best

Cleaning the carbs is not a decarb method. It is a process by which the carbs are disassembled, thoroughly soaked, cleaned, blown out with compressed air and reassembled with new kits.

 

[cadriver]

Re: which decarb method works best

What's the right way to remove carbon with Seafoam on small outboards?
spray into the carb or pour into the tank?
How can I clean the carb without removing it from the motor?

 

[iwombat]

Re: which decarb method works best

Cleaning the carbs is not a decarb method.

Removing the carbs for a rebuild is certainly de-carbing.



Sorry, had to.

 

[ob]

Re: which decarb method works best

I'm not sure that hitace understands yet.However ,after reading all the above responses there is clear concise general info on both decarbing the engine and cleaning carburetors.I can add nothing additional other than to have hitace carefully reread the entire thread.
Oh,and iwombat is technically correct.

About the decarbing,I mean.
Not that he had to.

 

[Kevin W]

Re: which decarb method works best

How can I clean the carb without removing it from the motor?

basically you can't.
For a real carb cleaning it needs to be removed, disassembled, soaked and all the tiny ports blown clean.

Seafoam decarbing cleans out the engine, rings, heads and any other carbon buildup.
it may remove a little gunk from the carb but it will not remove solid particles and varnish from the carb.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: which decarb method works best

CA Driver -- you can't clean a carb without removing it. Spraying cleaning agents into the throat of the carb cleans only the throttle bore. It gets nowhere near the "internal" parts that get gummed and varnished. That's why it needs to be disassembled.

 

[cadriver]

Re: which decarb method works best

Spraying maybe not, but what about in the gas tank?
the cleaner is going to take the fuel route through the whole carb?

 

[Kevin W]

Re: which decarb method works best

Alot of the reasons to overhaul a carb is to remove junk from the carb.
This stuff I call junk is rust, aluminum oxide pitts, chunks of varnished gas, parts of the fuel line, and sometimes parts of the cork float that E10 gas is eating etc.
It is not disolvable with anything that you can burn in your engine.
It needs the really nasty stuff that eats gaskets, rubber, and varnish to really clean it.
it also needs compressed air to remove the non-disolvable stuff..rust, aluminum oxide etc.

some gunk (oil based sludge) can be removed with additives but most of that can be disolved with a certain amount of gas anyway.

There are big differences between gunk and junk.

 

[iwombat]

Re: which decarb method works best

I've had really good luck with seafoam in the tank cleaning out moderately gunked up carbs. The key is, that each circuit - idle, midrage, and main have to be at least partially healthy for the seafoam to really work. It also means that the motor at least limps along at any given throttle. Give the seafoam a half tank and a couple of days and it may just clear things up.

If you've got a carb that is seriously gummed up and won't run properly at all, seafoam (or any other additive) will never be the ticket to a good running engine.

 

[ezeke]

Re: which decarb method works best

I have to agree with Iwombat here because it works. If you use a full sized water separating fuel filter, modern hoses, and good fuel with a fuel stabilizer, you may never have to rebuild a carburetor.

Don't want to bore people, but recirculation check valves cost around 14 bucks each. I put a handfull of failed valves in a jar of straight seafoam for five days and 9 out of 11 tested fine.

 

[iwombat]

Re: which decarb method works best

The stuff is next to miraculous on cleaning out a four-stroke carb via fuel mix. But, there you don't have all the mixed in oil to sludgify everything that much more. Same deal there - run a few gallons through and let it sit for a couple of days. Took a BSA out of a 9 year mothball that way just last month.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: which decarb method works best

BRP/OMC whatever name you want (and Mercury too) all make a "tuner spray" that is actually a de-carb spray. It is used with the outboard running and is sprayed in thru the carbs or has a fitting to fit fuel lines for injected models.

Yes Sea Foam will work and do the same thing.

There are actually 2 methods of de-carbonization..... via the spray or total removal of all the internal parts.

The main purpose is to free the rings of carbon and restore balanced compression.