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Fuel Stabilizer?
by Curt on 09 Feb, 2016 13:58
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Just wondering how many guys use fuel stabilizer for their outboards. And if you
do use it, what brand do you use?
I've been using Startron in mine since it was new. During the first season or two, it only got added toward the end of the season, before the boat would get stored for the winter.
Now, It gets added every time I put fuel in the tank. Doing this regularly seems to have helped me quite a bit, in light of the fact that I haven't had a single fuel-related problem with my boat, even with all the ethanol problems I've seen during recent years.
I'd be interested to hear how you guys handle this part of the maintenance thing.
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Reply #1
by JackJ on 09 Feb, 2016 13:59
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I use sta-bil and quickclean every fill up.
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Reply #2
by fishon-son on 09 Feb, 2016 17:26
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STA-BIL RED FOR ME..JUST AT THE END OF THE SEASON.AROUND FIRST WEEK NOV. I ALSO JUST BURN SUPER UNLEADED GAS.. THATS IT...150 PRO XS MERC.
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Reply #3
by Jig Man on 10 Feb, 2016 05:55
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I was told that Quick Kleen was all that I needed and to use it every time I put fuel in the boat. I was also told to change the water separating fuel filter yearly and to take it off at the 6 month period, dump it, then put it back. It's been working for 14 years so I don't plan to change anything.
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Reply #4
by JackJ on 10 Feb, 2016 09:20
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Same here JM, and no need to use over 87 octane gas, that it would just be a waste of money.
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Reply #5
by Curt on 10 Feb, 2016 12:47
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I run high octane gas for the first few weeks, after the boat has been sitting for the winter. Then it's regular for the remainder of the year.
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Reply #6
by Jig Man on 10 Feb, 2016 16:57
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Yep Jack. Mine has never had anything over 87 octane in it. When and if I have to hammer down that thing uses 1/2 gallon of fuel each minute.
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Reply #7
by fishon-son on 10 Feb, 2016 17:28
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I was told by my salesman on my walleye rig to run nothing but super unleaded..then when I traded that in at cabelas I was told the same thing by the sales guy..when I was talking to the guys that rigged the boat they also said to run super unleaded for your best performance..cabelas gave me a gas vocher for 25 gals.of super unleaded when I left with my boat..maybe its just something in Michigan..lol all my friends run the same...in there boats..so I don't know ..I guess if your down south or out west maybe you don't need it....
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Reply #8
by JackJ on 10 Feb, 2016 18:07
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Maybe it does have something to do with altitude or something that it may help, or a different brand motor. Right on Mercury's website it states 87.
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Reply #9
by fishon-son on 10 Feb, 2016 19:52
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wow always just ran it...thanks but I'm hooked on it...all my two stroke tools run super....
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Reply #10
by Jig Man on 11 Feb, 2016 06:37
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I run 91 in my small engines because that is what my small engine tech recommends. My old boss was the best Mercury mechanic within 200 miles of here. When I had the Optimax rigged on my boat he said 87 was what I should run so that's what I have been doing.
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Reply #11
by Curt on 11 Feb, 2016 09:26
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One factor that a lot of people overlook is ethanol. Octane is important, but ethanol can really mess up an engine if the fuel sits for too long, especially without stabilizer.
I was talking to the tech who repaired my snowblower a couple days ago and he said that instead of relying on stabilizer for his small power equipment, he will only use ethanol based fuel if he knows the equipment won't be sitting for very long. If a piece of equipment is going to be sitting, he will drain the tank of any remaining gas and then start it up to run the remaining fuel out of the carb.
Then, he adds a small amount of non-ethanol gas to the tank and starts the engine, letting it run for a minute or so. And then he shuts it off and leaves it just like that until the next time he wants to use it. He said he never has any trouble.
Personally, I think he would still be better off to add some kind of stabilizer to the tank to prevent the gas from gumming up in the carb or fuel lines.
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Reply #12
by Steve Heim on 11 Feb, 2016 11:13
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87 octane in my 08 V MAX and add Lucas ethanol treatment every time I add fuel. Anything over 87 is a waste unless you have had some serious mods done to your big motor that would need higher octane fuel. I've had this conversation many times with a good friend of mine. He owns a Marine dealership here in Kentucky. These days all fuel has a certain amount of ethanol added to it. The problem is that the seller doesn't have to post at the pump that the fuel contains ethanol until it's over 6%. Then they are required to put up signage stating the percent of ethanol the fuel contains at the pump which it's being dispensed. I personally use Lucas fuel treatments during the season and Stabil when I know I won't be fishing in the winter months sitting in the garage for a long period of time. The main thing is do what you know works.
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Reply #13
by JackJ on 11 Feb, 2016 11:18
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We have quite a few ethanol free gas stations around here. If I think its going to be the last fill up for a while, I use it, but otherwise I know i'm burning through it pretty fast so I don't worry about it.
My dealer told me the same anything over 87 you were just wasting your money.
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Reply #14
by Curt on 11 Feb, 2016 15:27
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Interesting info regarding higher octane fuel being a waste of money. When I used to be into hot rods I used to take the engine's compression ratio into consideration. But with outboards I don't think the compression is going to be high enough to warrant high octane fuel unless it's been reworked in some serious ways.