Finished with outboard, pull killcord or disconnect fuel line.,

S

steve yates

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Whats the current thinking with e5 unleaded fuel at theendof a tripwhen the ob may not be used for a month or so?
Should i disconnect the fuel line and let it run till all the fuel in the carb run’s out ? Or just pull thekillcord and forgetabout it?
ob is a marner 6 4 stroke with a separate 12l fuel tank ifit makesany difference.
 
I think it depends how soon you want to use your OB again. If it's soon, there's no advantage to running the engine dry, and it'll start quicker with a full carburettor. If it's a few days, then definitely run it dry.
 
Stemar said:
I think it depends how soon you want to use your OB again. If it's soon, there's no advantage to running the engine dry, and it'll start quicker with a full carburettor. If it's a few days, then definitely run it dry.
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but you refill the carb using the primer bulb before you try to start it.
 
Regardless ... the general consensus is to disconnect fuel and let it run dry.

I have a whole shed full of OB's ... and every single one - if I just stop the engine and leave it for days - will be a bi**** to start ..... but run dry ... next session - primer bulb ... pull and start ...

Even OB service guys I used in UK and later here say Run Dry ...
 
If you are leaving an outboard for a number of months before using again, I would recommend stop using E5, shortly to be E10, petrol and change to Aspen synthetic petrol. E5 has a shelf life of about 3 months, whereas Aspen has a shelf life of over 3 years. Yes it is more expensive, but is more reliable. It is used a lot in garden machinery and chain saws due to their irregular usage. I bought 10 litres recently and it cost £20, but considering how little I use I know it can still be used next year or the year after - so makes it far better value for money in the long term.
Aspen 2 | Aspen 4 | Premixed Petrol | Aspen Fuel
 
Run dry, even if using again the next day for many reasons.
I would say I flush in FW after each use but that would be a lie - the honest answer is "as often as possible, which is far more often than not"
I also run some fuel stabiliser through if not using the outboard for a few months (i.e winter in the UK), and will store the o/b in the garage over winter. Service prior to winter, except the impeller which is replaced in spring.
 
Concerto said:
If you are leaving an outboard for a number of months before using again, I would recommend stop using E5, shortly to be E10, petrol and change to Aspen synthetic petrol. E5 has a shelf life of about 3 months, whereas Aspen has a shelf life of over 3 years. Yes it is more expensive, but is more reliable. It is used a lot in garden machinery and chain saws due to their irregular usage. I bought 10 litres recently and it cost £20, but considering how little I use I know it can still be used next year or the year after - so makes it far better value for money in the long term.
Aspen 2 | Aspen 4 | Premixed Petrol | Aspen Fuel
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I blend gasoline ... not as often as I used to since the latest troubles ... but honest reply : E5 has been round for yonks ... E10 is common in EU and other ... with a lot of 'bull' written by supposed experts ...

I agree that Ethanol is not best component - but it serves its purpose.

Shelf life - that's media sales hype ... If its last seasons petrol - just mix it with fresh - she'll run fine. Run carb dry after use ... no need for making someone rich based on sales hype.

I have petrol that is last years and my OB's run fine ... in fact one OB still had half a tank left in over winter ... gave OB a shake ... threw in a few litres of fresh .. primed and 3 pulls later started - then we were having a ball on the river ...
 
Back in the day we would always shut off the fuel on the old Seagull a minute or so before we were "finished with engines" otherwise tilting the motor would spill petrol in the water.
 
I'm afraid I don't run the carb dry - Honda 2.3 - but I always use the Honda fuel additive. Never had trouble starting it, even after winter lay-up. I have just started to use premium petrol though and hopefully won't have a problem in the future. Also use same petrol in 22yr old Honda lawnmower.
(actually I had problems first time out this year but a new spark plug fixed it!) Serviced every year.
 
jamie N said:
With mine, I run the carb dry every time I stop it. To restart it takes 3 pulls on the starter. (Honda 2.3)
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Out of interest I was told by a mechanic that by switching off the fuel while running didn't empty the carburetor. Also a Honda 2.3hp

Is this the case?

Ink
 
Alan S said:
Back in the day we would always shut off the fuel on the old Seagull a minute or so before we were "finished with engines" otherwise tilting the motor would spill petrol in the water.
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That stirred the memory. It's been a few ye decades since I swore at a Seagull.
 
The concept of running a carb dry was correct for 2 stroke o/b where the petrol could evaporate leaving the oil in the bowl. With a 4stroke you have only petrol which if it evaporates will not leave much residue. Given that for so many years we ran cars with carburetor bowl and never tried to run it dry before parking I wonder why a 4t o/b is any different. ol'will
 
Last time I didn't run dry, after a few weeks disuse the (quite old 2 stroke) Yam 5 was seized: not completely, had to apply a screwdriver to the flywheel, then it ran fine. Never had that before, seems more likely it would be due to water getting in somehow. It wasn't inverted, left tipped up on the boat.
 
Ink said:
Out of interest I was told by a mechanic that by switching off the fuel while running didn't empty the carburetor. Also a Honda 2.3hp

Is this the case?

Ink
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Quite right. The manual for my old Mariner 4HP 2 stroke included a line about using the carb drain plug if leaving it for a while. As said above the main advantage is that the oil in 2 stokes doesn't dry out and clog things. Pure fuel doesn't leave a residue, so this step is unnecessary since both petrol and ethanol will make your engine cleaner if anything. By all means "run the system dry" but at least once I'd suggest then opening a carb up and seeing how dry you made it (generally not that dry!). A lot of outboards have problems, and the superstitious always blame fuel because it's the easiest thing to tinker with. Often though it'll be a filter, bad valve on the fuel line, spark, or some other thing usually down to a lack of maintenance or cleaning.
 
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