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Cheap gas warning!


Slyster

Question

I have a nearly new 15hp Johnson 2-stroke and just after two seasons and the motor died.. it was gummed up and needed a carb cleaning.. $90!

Why? Ethanol. And I even run the engine dry each time I come in. I didn't realize it was that potent. I'll be buying pure gas from now on.

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I wonder if there's some additive (Sea foam?) that would have helped the problem? I will certainly do none ethonal gas.. is non-oxygenated different? Where do you get it? Any common chain?

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You can get a list from the Mn hot rod association. A lot of those guys run non-oxgionated. You have to search for it. I ran it in by motorcycle for a while, it ran much better, but heck I had to drive 10 miles to get the stuff sometimes. There is a sation down White Bear ave, near hwy 36 that sells it. It is on the right hand side right past the bridge. Maybe close to you... Its a red gas station, haha I can;t remember the name, only can picture it in my head.

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Will do fishin4life... is non-oxy different than non-ethanol? A bit confused still... plus do any of 2-stroke enginer users add any additional additives?

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water in the gas is also a big problem for small motors. isopropel added to the gas will help evaportate any water, unless there is lots of water.

the jets on small outboards carbs are small, any water in the bowl will not be able to be pulled through and prohibit any gas from entering.

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I don't think there is any difference in non-ethanol vs. non-oxygentated. just the fancy "oxygenated" name that makes it sound better. Would you rather buy oxygenated fuel rather than diluted fuel. And if you live by a Fleet Farm I believe all of there gas marts sell NON-OXY premium, I could be wrong though.

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after having to have the carbs cleaned in the used boat i bought! the guy told me to always run sea foam in the gas to help keep the carbs clean. just a little extra preventive protection.

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Yep, just a side "benefit" of mandating ethanol, or corn syrup as I call it. Luckily they have a couple gas stations in Hutchinson that offer the non-ox gas. You have to pay for it, but it's worth not dealing with the ethanol "benefits" down the road.

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In my opinion I like to run non-ox in any engine that is seasonal such as boat motors.....ones that sit around for long periods of non-use. I really don't care much about my el cheapo push lawn mower, but I don't depend on that to get me back to the dock either! Having to use additives to counteract the consequences of subpar ethanol fuel doesn't make sense to me. Even non-ox gas is so poor this days that you almost have to use additives anyway.

Manufactures will tell you that it's fine to run the low-grade gas and you can do so if you please. I won't unless there isn't any non-ox available to me and absolutely have to run the ethanol blend. The day is coming where it probably won't even be an option anymore, but until then I'm sticking to my old-fashioned ways. It's worked so far so how can one change to a option that has a history of causing issues with engines? I haven't heard anything to convince me thusfar.

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Sly, do you normaly buy your gas at the same place everytime? I'm not exactly convinced that "oxygenated fuel" is the culprit. If it was I would expect my lawn mower, snow blower, weed wacker, leaf blower, auger, and pressure washer (all are at least three years old and get plenty of use) should be getting carb overhauls!

Non-Oxy is the same as premium without ethanol. I usually get it at the Marathon on Century.

Sea Foam will do three things. 1. It will clean the fuel system (or keep it clean) 2. It will absorb the moisture in the fuel system. 3. It will keep the upper end decarbonized.

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Yep.. gas at the same local station... Not sure why my other small motors don't gum up... perhaps the Johnson is more sensitve or something.. who knows.. all I know is I'm figuring out where to get no-ox gas and using seafoam from now on.. shouldn't be a problem.

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I'm curious if running the engine dry each time you came in didn't accelerate the formation of these deposits. This is just a theory here, hopefully others can comment also. In running it dry, it actually didn't run it dry but rather out of gas. There is some liquid left on the carbs, in the line etc just not enough to run the motor. Being as there is now some air as well in these areas I wonder if that helped the left over liquid evaporate which leaves some of the deposits in the carb and other places thus accelerating the gumming up? Leaving the gas in the carbs (aside from winter storage) prevents this evaporation and formation of some of these deposits? I'm just throwing out some ideas for discussion here. Please others comment.

I do run a mixture of seafoam in all my small engines all the time. I think it's good preventitave maintenance and like Airjer said does a bunch of other good stuff too.

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I'm glad you mentioned that gus. I was thinking the same in in the back of my mind. I would guess that if not storing the boat/motor it would be better to keep everything full, even if you only go out a couple times a month. I like to completely run them dry if I'm storing them.

Last fall I did run seafoam in both tanks before I stored it. I took it out to the lake and cruised for a little bit to make sure the seafoam made it to the carbs. I was planning on running the carbs dry when I got back to the launch but forgot. I didn't have any problems this spring.

My dad has a johnson on his boat and he is the poster child for minimal maintenance (no winterizing for that guy) and he has had no problems.

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Yep.. that's the place I found closest to me and got gas there just today! Hwy36 and White Bear Ave just across the street from MacDonalds. (On White Bear Ave).. only the 91 octane in no-oxy.

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