Gas for 4 stroke motors

[Clint]

There is an app for your smart-phone called Pure Gas. It lists all the stations that offer ethanol-free gasoline.

[Grainraiser]

Non-ethanol is only needed if your motor sits for months without being run. If you run it every week it is not needed.

[Rojo]

Three things I don't see mentioned so I will point them out. First is the Gas Pump itself, if it has one hose for 3-4 grades and one is non-ethanol then pump the first gallon in your truck or a plastic can as the volume of gas it takes to displace the ethanol gas to non-ethanol could be at least a gallon. If you were pumping a gallon can for a weed eater you would basically be paying a premium price for ethanol gas. The new Wal-mart pumps here have a dedicated hose for non-ethanol.

Second thing is the VST Tank, a lot these new fuel injected engines have one of some kind. The alloy they are made from is "Dinner" to Ethanol that has been sitting in it for 6 months breaking down. The broken down fuel eats the tanks making a white, grainy, debris to plug everything up downstream. The Low Pressure fuel pumps fill the VST Tanks where some engines have the High Pressure fuel pumps using the fuel to cool the pump. Use the strongest dose Ethanol fuel stabilizer you can with a laid up boat full of ethanol. Also Yamaha has a product called "Ring Free Plus". This is one of the best preventive fuel treatments you can buy.

Lastly as I read in this post and something I was always dealt with in my business was not turning your fuel over in the tank. If you have a 35 gallon tank but only burn 7-10 gallons a trip you need to run the boat fuel tank down with Ethanol 4 times a year, with non-ethanol at least every 6 months.

["D"]

I have been running 87 octane gas with ethanol since I bought my Yamaha SHO200 12 years ago. About 350 hours. Factory recommended . Never a problem in about 350 hours run time. And I run it fairly hard when running it.

[Bricks]

I have been running 87 octane gas with ethanol since I bought my Yamaha SHO200 12 years ago. About 350 hours. Factory recommended . Never a problem in about 350 hours run time. And I run it fairly hard when running it.

I am along with you my 2000 Optimax has never seen non ethanol fuel, roughly 1150 hours on it. What I see around here the cost of non ethanol never gets used much so who knows how long that non ethanol fuel has been sitting in the stations tank. Using a higher octane rating then the engine needs just produces more carbon build up, high octane burns slower then lower octane fuel.

[Danny Lang]

It’s according how often you run your motor, my dad run ethanol gas in his with 0 problems, but he runs his motor 5 times a week, if your are only fishing 1 to 2 a month I would certainly run non ethanol gas. Just my 2 cents.

[Slab Apprentice]

Newer 4 strokes are designed to run 10% ethanol fuel. In my little 9.9, I just run regular pump gas like the owners manual calls for.

I disconnect the fuel line and run the gas out of carb after every outing. I think a lot of issues come when letting gas sit in the carb for long periods of time


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[Atimm693]

If a motor won't run on whatever I can get locally for a good price, I don't want it. It's almost 30 miles to the closest non-ethanol station for me. All I have ever used in everything I own is 87 with up to 15% ethanol, chainsaws, mowers, weedeaters, etc. I have never had a carburetor plug up. Personally I think ethanol is a bit of a scapegoat, let the best gas in the world sit for a year and it will lose some volatility. Everything made in the last 15 years or so is designed with materials to withstand alcohol fuels.

Boats with large built in tanks are the worst about it, most people seldom run the tank down in a season, only topping it off now and then as needed.

[dlwallison]

I use just plain pump gas… 10% ethanol. I’ve got a 50hp mercury 4 stroke. I do, however, use a stabilizer: Stabil Marine. I keep it on the boat. Whenever I fill up the boat I do the math and put the stabilizer in for the fuel I pumped in, plus just a bit extra. Someone above said already that the ethanol has the most detrimental effects when it sits for long periods of time, months and months. It separates from the gasoline and will damage seals inside carburetors and fuel systems. I’ve used Seafoam for years on all of my small engines as a stabilizer and cleaner and have never had fuel problems other than fuel pumps that quit working. And I use all old and used mowers, blowers, trimmers, etc. Maybe I’ve just gotten lucky so far but I’ve not had any problems with the ethanol… *knocks on wood*


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[Ketchn]

I know it costs extra up front but to me the long haul you come out to the good . a lot of folks disagree but in my boat motor (4stroke ) weed eater ,chainsaw and lawnmower I run 100% no ethanol from a dedicated pump!
noting I have sets long but I have seen what ethanol does after it sits!

my bud runs old motors on all his boats and only buys pure gas at the only place around that sells it ....
swears it keeps them running smoothly .....