2stroke outboard engine.

[Geoff A]

I need some advice please. What petrol to use in an old Yamaha 2HP 2stroke outboard engine. It has not been started for about 6 or 7 years. The last time I ran the engine I would have turned the fuel tap off and let the engine run until the carburettor ran out of petrol. My main worry is what petrol to use before adding the 2 stroke oil? I recall reading that the E10 petrol can damage rubber seals and o-rings in old engines. Thankyou all for any advice given.

 

[freespiritdavid]

I run my Suzuki 2.2 on E5 fuel

 

[Plum]

I need some advice please. What petrol to use in an old Yamaha 2HP 2stroke outboard engine. It has not been started for about 6 or 7 years. The last time I ran the engine I would have turned the fuel tap off and let the engine run until the carburettor ran out of petrol. My main worry is what petrol to use before adding the 2 stroke oil? I recall reading that the E10 petrol can damage rubber seals and o-rings in old engines. Thankyou all for any advice given.

After that length of time I certainly recommend you open the float chamber and ensure it is spotlessly clean in there. I left mine for may years with an empty float chamber and there was a little aluminium oxide powder in there that blocked the jets when I put fresh fuel in. I also recommend, if you are only going to use the engine occasionally, using Aspen fuel (Aspen Alkylate Petrol | Alkylate Fuel | Aspen Fuel) that you can buy from garden centres. It does not go off, has a long storage life. In my experience, it is worth the extra cost.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[LadyInBed]

Certainly clean out the float chamber. What state is the plug in, it might be worth investing in a new one.
What mix do you use? I use E5 100:1 on my Mariner 3.2 but lots use 50:1.
When turning it over, don't get in a sweat pulling too hard / fast, medium speed steady pull work for me!

 

[PetiteFleur]

Definitely use E5 fuel - I had problems last year with all my 2T and 4stroke small engines. Cleaning the carb and tank made a tremendous difference. I can't keep up with my lawnmower now! E5 also has a very 'petrolly' smell, whereas the old fuel didn't smell at all.

 

[ashtead]

Plus 1 for aspen -try to remember to use for last cut in lawnmower which is far less temperamental than your average 2s outboard carb. For reasons which escape me stihl engines for blowers,chainsaws etc seem far more resilient than your average 2 stroke outboard.

 

[Crazy-Diamond]

+2 for Aspen, splendid stuff. My Suzuki 2hp 2str loves it. Very clean running, total reliability, starts first pull every time, and the wife does not complain about the smell, unlike petrol.

 

[neil_s]

Not had any trouble with E10 in my Merc 2.5 two stroke.

 

[Geoff A]

Thank you all for your replies. I wiil certanly look for a local Aspen fuel agent and give it a try.

 

[lustyd]

Thank you all for your replies. I wiil certanly look for a local Aspen fuel agent and give it a try.

and then when you see the cost, will probably use E10 and have no problems at all

 

[ashtead]

Aspen is for the discerning gardener or tree surgeon who can offload the cost -I think a 5litre can was in the £teens hence usage for Final Cut of season or in the chain saw and the same last season run might be applied to the OB. The boat next to us said he evaporated off the water from normal fuel ? for his OB and this might be another solution. I think its one for future studies though when retired to fill in units of time.

 

[QBhoy]

Super unleaded for sure. For all the fuel they use, definitely wise to. The e10 has caused much more issues than I thought it might do, with these wee things.
That’s a great wee engine you have there. Hold on to her ! almost will to bet money on her starting within a a few pulls, without doing much more than fresh fuel (flushed through the carb bowl drain)…throttle open and choke on for the first pull..if she shows signs of firing…choke off and throttle open…bet she goes thereafter

 

[lustyd]

Has it though? We get roughly the same number of threads on here as always and the same superstitious responses based on very little evidence while the majority with well maintained engines just get on with it. E10 isn’t new fuel it’s just new to the uk.

 

[QBhoy]

Has it though? We get roughly the same number of threads on here as always and the same superstitious responses based on very little evidence while the majority with well maintained engines just get on with it. E10 isn’t new fuel it’s just new to the uk.

I definitely verged on the same thoughts until fairly recently. But certainly it is now known to cause issues to a gathering number of fuel system components. Just last season I started to witness this first hand on local boats. Then worst of all on my own 2016 mercury outboard. Of the three issues it caused on my engine, worst of them was the deterioration it caused to the quick connect fuel fitting seal. Also found that after a couple of weeks of not using the boat (not like me)…fuel managed to travel through the water separating (that has an alarm) as normal, then obviously through the secondary engine in line filter…but whilst sitting in the FSM module stagnant…it then turned to crap and separated. Associated with tbis is also issues caused from the hp fuel injection rail fine filter insert getting blocked too.
its real, I’m afraid.

 

[Koeketiene]

I also recommend, if you are only going to use the engine occasionally, using Aspen fuel (Aspen Alkylate Petrol | Alkylate Fuel | Aspen Fuel) that you can buy from garden centres. It does not go off, has a long storage life. In my experience, it is worth the extra cost.

+1 for Aspen.
It costs a bit more, but the long storage more than makes up for it.

 

[GrandadPig]

The amount of fuel my OB’s use in a season Aspen is not too expensive in the great scheme of things. Great in the chainsaws and strimmer, even after sitting for months they all start and run properly

 

[lustyd]

The amount of fuel my OB’s use in a season Aspen is not too expensive in the great scheme of things. Great in the chainsaws and strimmer, even after sitting for months they all start and run properly

So do everyone else's though, so hardly a justification for the additional expense. Similar to the argument for gold HDMI cables - the quality is always great when you use them

 

[GrandadPig]

My point was that I use very little outboard fuel in a year and the ease of starting, lack of blocked jets and no smell is well worth the small annual expense. A shelf life measured in years not months is the point I think.

 

[lustyd]

A shelf life measured in years not months is the point I think.

Normal petrol lasts years. Normal petrol doesn't block jets and starts easily on well maintained equipment. Normal people don't sniff their fuel

 

[GrandadPig]

Not going to get into an argument. I give you joy of your long lasting fuel!