Fuel Lesson Learned

[brewster16]

I've owned and operated my dinghy for many years and, at times, have had lots of frustration at difficult starting of my 5hp. Engine too cold, engine too hot, not enough fuel, too much fuel, too much choke, not enough choke....you get the picture. Recently I took out the carburetor to clean it (yet again) and a friend recommended that I replace the carburetor and begin ONLY using ethanol free fuel. In addition he recommended running it dry prior to ending of weekends. I have had no problems ever since. It starts each and every time with 1 pull and idles beautifully. I hope this advice helps any other frustrated dinghy owners out there.

 

[scoflaw]

I'm sure running it dry had more impact on the issue than E-free.

 

[HawkX66]

I'm sure running it dry had more impact on the issue than E-free.

Agreed, but on engines that sit for any length of time I only run ethanol free in them. Anything with a carburetor benefits from ethanol free in my opinion on a daily basis also. That stuff creates a mess in all the jets and orifices in a carb. Small engine carbs are the worst.

 

[scoflaw]

Agreed, but on engines that sit for any length of time I only run ethanol free in them. Anything with a carburetor benefits from ethanol free in my opinion on a daily basis also. That stuff creates a mess in all the jets and orifices in a carb. Small engine carbs are the worst.

What kind of mess? E-free is unavailable at my northern location and never a problem with my carbed cars, motorcycles, or yard equipment. Alcohol actually cleans quite well.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

Ethanol gas will absorb water so even if you unplug the fuel line and run it out of gas you still have a gas tank sitting absorbing water. Those little motors can't handle the water in the gas like a large car engine. I used ethanol free gas for years around the house for my lawn stuff. I've completely switched over my lawn equipment and snowblower to battery powered. This happens with all of the portable generators. People fail to run them out of gas after the power comes on and then find they won't start during the next power outage. Saw that a lot in Florida.

 

[HawkX66]

What kind of mess? E-free is unavailable at my northern location and never a problem with my carbed cars, motorcycles, or yard equipment. Alcohol actually cleans quite well.

You're not alone. My brother, Mech Engineer and works at New England Dragway during the summer as a tech, says the same thing. Me? If I had a nickel for all the chainsaws and mower type equipment I've fixed for people, when I lived near you too, that had the ethanol gas turn to shite in the lines I'd be rich. Holley 4 barrels hate the stuff after sitting for a while from what I've seen. I have about 25 parts Holley's in my garage I can show you that I haven't rebuilt yet.

 

[Shoyrtt]

What kind of mess? E-free is unavailable at my northern location and never a problem with my carbed cars, motorcycles, or yard equipment. Alcohol actually cleans quite well.

I also have a problem finding ethanol free fuel in Southern California. I can buy race gas, but the locations are not convenient. I have a fuel injected outboard that is not good to run dry, so I have had good luck with this Lucas product to treat the fuel.

 

[HawkX66]

I also have a problem finding ethanol free fuel in Southern California. I can buy race gas, but the locations are not convenient. I have a fuel injected outboard that is not good to run dry, so I have had good luck with this Lucas product to treat the fuel.
View attachment 114103

For anything I don't run ethanol free in that I want to protect, I use Stabil in double doses. I've never had a problem since doing that. I think those kinds of products are like oil when it comes to debating the benefits of one over the other though...

 

[Lazy Daze]

Brewster, thanks for posting that - it's NEVER a bad idea to run E-free. I don't think you'll find anyone that will contend that.

On the flip side, there are sometimes more than one way to skin the cat. For example, I don't have "easy" access to E-free. So for the past 15 years, I have run ethanol gas with healthy doses of Startron (I'm religious with that) in all of my equipment... old OB motors, newer OB's, snow blowers, chain saws, weed whackers, etc, etc. I have NEVER had a carb/fuel problem and I also NEVER drain. Not even for extended layups. Point is, find a way that works for YOU and keep doing it! If you're unsure, the safest way is the E-free.

 

[Pirate Lady]

I'm sure running it dry had more impact on the issue than E-free.

Agree. i always run it til after closing the fuel valve until it runs dry.
some may recall mine recently went thru a fit. it doesnt like stabil. so i only get half a gallon at a time in the fill can, and it seems to like that

 

[Fill Ess]

You're not alone. My brother, Mech Engineer and works at New England Dragway during the summer as a tech, says the same thing. Me? If I had a nickel for all the chainsaws and mower type equipment I've fixed for people, when I lived near you too, that had the ethanol gas turn to shite in the lines I'd be rich. Holley 4 barrels hate the stuff after sitting for a while from what I've seen. I have about 25 parts Holley's in my garage I can show you that I haven't rebuilt yet.

That brings back memories ... going up to Epping when the old man was drag racing.

 

[HawkX66]

That brings back memories ... going up to Epping when the old man was drag racing.

Me too. I miss it and my Dad. Here's one of him at NED a "couple" years back...

 

[MonacoMike]

What kind of mess? E-free is unavailable at my northern location and never a problem with my carbed cars, motorcycles, or yard equipment. Alcohol actually cleans quite well.

Ethanol is a curse to boaters, especially for older vessels. That cleaning you describe will foul a carb. Mechanics in our area will tell me that a big portion of their service is fuel related issues caused by ethanol fuel.

Sorry you do not have E-Free fuel in the communist utopia you live in. In freedom parts of the country we have a choice and I choose not to use it whenever possible. My 2005 Suburban fuel gauge stopped showing full in 2011, there is a post about it on CSR, in 2018 I switched to E-Free and after a couple of tanks the gauge started working and the truck ran appreciably better.

I got stuck buying a tank of E-10 for my 2019 Yamaha 15hp. I figured it was made for it so no big deal, I did my normal stabilizers in the gas and put is away for the winter. In the spring, no start, had to ultrasonic clean the carb, as a quick manual clean didn't cut it.

These issues are very common.

https://www.pure-gas.org/

 

[brewster16]

https://www.pure-gas.org/
Yup...even in the communist states E-free is available! By the way any local general aviation airport has E-free aviation gas which works perfectly fine.

 

[MonacoMike]

https://www.pure-gas.org/
Yup...even in the communist states E-free is available! By the way any local general aviation airport has E-free aviation gas which works perfectly fine.

It is telling that they do not allow ethanol in aviation fuel because of the risk to operation…

 

[brewster16]

Exactly!