Premium Fuel

[Gator Slayer]

Looking at buying a new boat and the dealer is really pushing a fuel injected motor because they won't varnish or gum up. I've always used premium gas to prevent that and he says that I shouldn't use premium gas in a small motor. Is this true? He said it burns too hot. Are they that particular? Appreciate the insight.

[LMITOUT]

Nothing wrong with using the premium. I also used it in my carbed engine not because I was after the higher octane, but rather that I prefer to not use ethanol based fuel in my seasonal engines. Not all premium is non-oxy though....just those with the little sticker on the pumps that state that it's non-oxy.

My new boat has a 4-stroke and there is nothing in the owner's manual that says NOT to use premium. It also states not to use gas which contains ethanol in excess of 20% I believe. I know the regular pumps aren't 20% ethanol, but I figure 0% is better than any if they don't want 20% in it. Must be a reason they don't like it and I have to agree.

He may be pushing the injected engine just so you fork out more cash. Are there even any carbed engines available these days? I thought they were all fuel-injection now.

edit: I looked at the manual for my Yamaha and they actually say no more than 10% ethanol! So what's everyone going to do in a few years since the state mandated 12% without actually doing any research on what engines can run? I hope they still have non-oxy available or I'll be sending my repair bill into the governor's office. Another "feel good" bill from our boys and girls in St. Paul.

[Orlip]

I use premium non-oxy in all my small engine stuff. Snowblower, weed whip, chainsaw, ice auger, log splitter, garden tractor, leaf blower, Atv and I use it in my I/O. I have not had any issues in 5 + years.

[griz29]

The fuels with ethanol do alot of damaage to all the rubber seals and such in the small engine carbs IMO. I think its because they for one are not run every day and the fuel sits in the carbs for much longer periods of time than your car or truck. Just my .02 cents I used to do a lot of carb jobs when I was a small engine mechanic most the time the damage was done when the equipment sat during the off season.

[pfluemis]

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Looking at buying a new boat and the dealer is really pushing a fuel injected motor because they won't varnish or gum up. I've always used premium gas to prevent that and he says that I shouldn't use premium gas in a small motor. Is this true? He said it burns too hot. Are they that particular? Appreciate the insight.

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To state it in the most basic way, octane is the measurement of a fuels flashpoint. The tempature, or tempature range in which the fuel ignites. The higher the octane, the higher the flashpoint. Octane and compression go hand in hand becouse the more compression there is, the more resistance to preignition or detonation you need. Compression naturally creates heat, which in turn, raises the tempature of the combustion chamber. So, when in doubt, use higher octane fuel. The worse that can happen is your wasting a few cents per gallon becouse the higher octane is not needed. On the other hand, if you don't use the higher octane fuel when it is needed, catastrophic engine failure could result. Best thing to do is look up in the owners manual what fuel is required. Personally, I run non-oxygenated (no ethanol added) premium fuel in every small engine I have, excluding my garden tractor. Boat motors, chain saws, weed trimmer, pressure washer, snowmobiles, ect...

[Slyster]

I can tell you.. use NON-ethanol (non-oxy) fuel! (For sure true for 2 stroke motors and other small motors... and probably a certainty for all motors with carburetors... not sure about fuel injected etc... probably doesn't matter as much... but certainly wouldn't hurt!)

That 10+% "ethanol added" fuels KILL many boat motors.. (clogs them up)... my brand new 2004 Johnson 15hp 2 stroke was totally gummed up and dead in just 3 years. After cleaning.. I switched to pure non-oxy gas. Can't say yet.. but I doubt I will have any gumming problems now!

The guy who fixed it (a really knowledgeable outboard pro) told me this was from the crappy ethanol fuels sold everywhere these days. AND.. I had even disconnected the hose and let the engine die out after each day out... it didn't help!

Now I only use pure gas.. and yes.. there aren't too many stations that sell it.. but there happens to be one near my house in Maplewood (Just south of Hwy 36 on White Bear Ave)... the pumps have the sticker.

There is a HSOforum that lists all the area stations that sell non-oxy gas.. I don't know it offhand.. but someone will.. or you can google it!

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

The BP Amoco in Stacy right off I-35 has 92 Octane, 100% Gasoline.

Keep that Ethanol out of your engines!

[Orlip]

Maybe we should start posting which stations around the metro have pure gas so people know where to get it when they are out and about. I only know of the Fleet Farm in Lakeville.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Use the premium fuel!

Every engine mechanic that I have talked to said that premium non-oxygenated fuel is the only fuel that should be used!

Cliff

[Ebiz]

I used to buy it at the old Phillips station on 17th & Como down by the U. They quit carrying it a while back. Anyone know a place to get non-oxy fuel between the U and the New Brighton area?

[Pleasant]

Post deleted by Pleasant

[DTro]

Here's that list:

Non-Oxy Station List

[Pleasant]

Thanks D, It was not working out real well for me to get it up on the forum. I use non oxy in my collector cars so I had the list.

thanks again

Lynn J

[Orlip]

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Here's that list:

Non-Oxy Station List

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Cool thanks for the list. The boy wants to know how big that fish is in your avatar?

[DTro]

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Here's that list:

Non-Oxy Station List

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Cool thanks for the list. The boy wants to know how big that fish is in your avatar?

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It was 60" and approx 50-55lbs

[cliffy]

I have a 1999 Honda 4-stroke (75hp) boat motor that is carb..not EFI. I would strongly suggest following the owner’s manual on what gas is recommend for use. I just got mine back from the repair shop due to gas related carb problems...and it ran me 800.00 for repair cost. (I had them fix a broken gas gauge as well....so who knows what the total carb re-build cost). Spending a few more cents at the gas pump can save you a big lump of cash in the long run.

Cliffy

PS: So, if I understand this correctly, most use non-oxy gas in small engines..such as lawn mowers..etc. Do many of you use it in your larger engines such as 4-stroke boat motors..either carb or efi?

[Jeremy airjer W]

I use the cheap stuff in everything! lawnmower is going on 6 years. Forgot to winterize it last fall. Popped right off. The boat I use the cheap stuff all summer, I do however fill the tanks with premium and add seafoam and run a little through the carbs, Then let it run dry before I put it away for the winter!

The thing that will help more than using premium is to stabalize any fuel that doesn't get used on a regular basis. Seafoam is a great 4 in one product for this. Also any equipment that sits dormant for an extended period should have the carbs run dry, have the fuel stabalized, and stored with a full tank to reduce the chance for moisture buildup! Do this with all your engines and your chances of failure greatly decrease!!

[raymondk]

Another thing to consider is to get fuel that is somewhat fresh i ran into some trouble getting high octane real gas and I ran into alot of trouble i think it was real old It was a small station . after that I tryed real gas a few times and I didn't see any difference i also put a little seafoam in my tanks every once in a while and I have never had any problems with using any kind of gas i think they push the high octane thing to much in my opinion it is a waste of money .

[fishinchicks]

Just about every engine can run the 10% ethanol blend right now. I do not know what year the switch was made for each company, but you will not void your warranty by running the 10% blend oxygenated fuels. The biggest issue is basic maintenance, and storing your motors properly.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Mid-70's Evenrude, weed whacker, 2 lawn mowers, 70 Johnson VRO, gas auger, 2 chain saws, 38 John Deer "A", 72 Dodge RV, 93 Grand am, 92 Grand Am, 2000 Olds bravada....They all get the same gas. The gas they get is the cheapest stuff at the pump. Normally 87 octane with 10% ethanol. No problems yet. More than likely there will be no problems, either.

[HardH20Lover]

As I was reading this I thought there was no need to post. I kept reading and it seems to be heading towards using the cheap gas. As an Intructor in the Marine and Small Engine field, I can tell you if you use the cheap gas with ethynol in it you will be keeping my graduates in business cleaning your carbs. All small engines should have non-oxygenated fuel. If you insist on buying the cheap stuff for your lawnmowers, etc., put some STabil in it. But don't use it in your expensive motors Period.

[fishinchicks]

Are you sure about that? The older formulations - from 10 years ago would have been that way, but not now. You are perpetuating one of the biggest myths about ethanol. Briggs & Stratton, Honda, Toro/Lawnboy, Kohler, and Snapper all approve the use of E10 Unleaded fuel in their equipment.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Not trying to start an arguement here, but I gotta disagree with that one.

I've been using the cheap stuff for many many many many years in a whole lotta engines. The only time I ever had a carb problem was with a 99 Yamaha XTC 700 snowmobile and it was completely my fault. It sat 3 years. It doesn't matter what fuel blend was in it, it would have gummed. I agree oxy fuel will evaporate out faster but that does not mean it should'nt be used.

[ChuckN]

Almost all my engines are recommended to run on 87 octane, and I have absolutely no problems using it. Since 87 is ethanol blend in MN, most of the engines are designed for the blend anyways. I've put premium in some motors, like my high performance snowmobiles, and they simply do not run well at all. Since they were designed to run 87, 92 octane will not combust as well.

But, I do agree to someone's post to use Stabil and Sea Foam additives during storage. Additives should always be used if the engine sits for extended periods of time.

[DinkADunk]

In order for products like Stabil or Seafoam to work (stabalize fuel) they need fresh gas. So add the stabalizer product of your choice WHEN you buy the gas. Adding a stabalizer to old fuel is just throwing money away.