Thread: Sea Foam vs Sta-Bil vs Marine Sta-Bil - What is the best for boats??

The Fleetway station in Madison has 93 octane non ethanol but it is 2.99. Valero has 90 octane for 2.89 and I get 18 cents off with their credit card. So that’s what I run.


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[QUOTE=eagle 1;3741275]I was told not to put sea foam in an older motor that had never been treated . To much gunk created over past years . Was told it was ok if motor was using it from the start . I was told that 90 % of problems would not happen in the spring If you would crank your motor every two weeks during the winter . Some manuals say run the gas out before storing, some just the opposite. Easier to let my duck hunting friend use it . [/QUOTE

Inherited a 1978 15 hp seahorse from my granddad . It has been in family since new . Crap gas ran thu it it's whole life , rode hard and put up wet , weekly until about 10 years ago . We use it to run lines occasionally in small rivers around home now . Had typical carb/plug issues all the time from extensive idling, even using non ethanol . A very good 2 stroke mechanic told me compression was weak , and would likely never idle like I wanted it to . Started putting Seafoam , and marine Staybil in tank on EVERY fill up . havent had an issue since . Been about 5 years . I now use this recipe on all my small engines and am loving the results !!!

Motor idles like New now . Is compression still weak ? Likely, but who cares long as Motor is doing the job we need it too . Which is idleing around in stump filled rivers .

I guess im lucky. I’ve never bot fuel stabilizer or ethanol free gas (in the last 10 or so yrs) and never had an issue. 2 stroke 3 cylinder yamaha 30hp that is 20 yrs old this year.

Originally Posted by Dutchman

Motor idles like New now . Is compression still weak ? Likely, but who cares long as Motor is doing the job we need it too . Which is idleing around in stump filled rivers .

I bet the compression is fine. Lots of times the compression ring gets stuck with the fuel/oil varnishing and after you clean it the rings free up.


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As far as running fuel out of carbs, it’s probably ok on 4 stroke engines but not 2 strokes, the lubrication for the engine is mixed into the fuel. If you run the fuel out, you are also running the lubrication out.


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[QUOTE=rhuckaby;3746727]As far as running fuel out of carbs, it’s probably ok on 4 stroke engines but not 2 strokes, the lubrication for the engine is mixed into the fuel. If you run the fuel out, you are also running the lubrication out.

If the engine kills from a lack of fuel what would you need lubrication for?

[QUOTE=jig rig;3746803]

Originally Posted by rhuckaby

As far as running fuel out of carbs, it’s probably ok on 4 stroke engines but not 2 strokes, the lubrication for the engine is mixed into the fuel. If you run the fuel out, you are also running the lubrication out.

If the engine kills from a lack of fuel what would you need lubrication for?

The engine makes several more revolutions after the fuel runs out until the momentum stops.



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