Fuel + outboard motors

[silverseal]

For the past 20 years I have used a Seagull outboard and 20 or 25 to 1 mixture petrol to oil.. without problems. I recently bought a new Suzuki 2.2 2 stroke outboard, which in 1 hours ruuning has cut out and failed to restart 3 times. Having taken it back under warranty I have been told that I have to use 50:1 to run it in and 100:1 once bedded down. I mixed 50:1 and dont believe it is the mixture causing the sudden cut outs. I have been told that the 2 stroke mixture is " only good for 3 weeks, because of the the "modern unleaded fuel". I have been told that once over 3 weeks old the fuel is "unreliable" and should be put into a car and used that way. Having regularily stored fuel over winter and have never had a problem with the Seagull, is this true or a old wives tale? Are modern 2 stroke that fussy over the fuel they use? (if so why did Seagull go out of business?)

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[VicS]

I reckon you have been subjected to a whole cartload of male bovine excrement.

I have regularly used 2T fuel kept from one year to another, but I always store it in completely full metal cans to prevent exposure to light and air. Also to avoid loss of lighter fractions through the walls of polythene containers and diffusion of air in through the walls. I'm not sure if the the former is possible but I am sure the latter is. I also filter the stored fuel before use. The only time I had problems was when I didn't bother with the filtering.

I think, however you have no alternative but to comply with the dealer's instuctions. The engine will of course still cut out because it is probably the ignition module that is at fault. These are not cheap so if they can avoid changing it they will but once you have complied with their instructions take it back and ask for a full refund!

The question of "stale" fuel has been raised several times before and discussed at length with some expert input from Nigel Luther so a search should find plenty of info to keep you going.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>Ne te confundant illegitimi.</font color=purple>

 

[Hardley]

I keep petrol for months.
Don't use the O/B a lot, so petrol/oil in tank can be months old and my engine starts first pull every time and runs like a dream
I think you are being given the runaround by your dealer.


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[Talbot]

It is possible that 25:1 mix is causing the cutouts on your engine, cause the plug is getting fouled. But this is very easy to confirm. The age of the fuel is 90% old wives tale - yes it does get stale, but 6-9 months is fine, couple of years might be a different story.

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[Gunfleet]

I use a can of unleaded in my Honda 2.2 which was filled a year ago (it's for when I can't be bothered to row out to the mooring or the ebb is in full spate). No problems and I've still got half a tank to go.

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[jerryat]

Entirely agree Vic! Never heard such a load of rubbish as our friend has been given!
Like other posters, I've had fuel more than a year old work perfectly well in my Yamaha 2hp and that is 50:1 also. I am loath to put 2-stroke mixture in my car anyway, as I understand this does not do the catalytic convertor a lot of good. That might be an old wives tale too though!

Might be that the problem lies in a speck of dirt in the carb that settles when the motor's rested, but is stirred up when new fuel is being pulled through. Worth Silverseal draining the carb and checking all is clean as a first step.

Totally agree re complying, then taking it back for an exchange or refund. These are good reliable little engines and are not 'prima donnas' requiring heaps of finicky care, so you may well be correct re the ignition.

Hope you get it sorted Silverseal, but don't let the dealer off the hook in the process. They have a responsibility to you that many try to side step these days i'm sorry to say.

Good sailing,

Jerry

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[nickjaxe]

Like the other guys say petrols ok for months, are you using a good quality outboard oil and not the cheap stuff for lawnmowers, you could also try a new plug, good luck, to save giving the dealer an excuse, I would tell him the fuel is days old, even if its weeks or months old.

Nick.

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[LadyInBed]

What a load of b-lox! My Suzi 2 starts first time every time.
I’m careful about mixing fuel - a 35mm film container filled to the brim holds 30 ml of oil, just right for mixing 3 ltrs at a time.

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[chippie]

Check out your consumer legislation and talk to the dealer from that angle.

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[ex-Gladys]

I've jsut fimished running in our Tohatsu 3.5. Instructions say 25:1 for 5 hours, fuel consumption approx 1l per hour therefore 1 fuel can full for running in. The fuel used was a can of 25:1 mixed up for our old Seagull over a year ago. The outboard has not missed a beat on this treatment. I suggest you mention Sale of Goods Act to dealer

<hr width=100% size=1>Larry Botheras

Anderson 26 "Amber"

 

[mirabriani]

My experience points to agreement with Talbot and beg to differ with Botheras
I have a Tohatsu 3 1/2 After running in I used Synthetic moto cross oil on 100 to 1
with no problems. Except one time, I accidently made a mixture of 50 to 1 and it ran poorly and would not start easily. Do they get used to a particular diet?
I agree unleaded does "go off" but in my experience only after about a year.
I put mine in the diesel, cannot see that the small quantity of petrol and oil does any harm, don't people use upper cylinder lubricant any more?
Regards Briani

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[Birdseye]

Fuel does age and the lighter fractions evaporate. But his will cause problems with the Seagull long before the modern Jap because of the difference in ignition systems and the increase in compression ratio. So if you can start your Seagull using that petrol it should work in the Jap motor.

Like others here, I keep my old petrol from year to year, and whilst it would be dishonest to say the engine runs as well on year old as new petrol, it still does run and doesnt stop.

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Sorry, you will usually find older technology much more tolerant of changes in fuel. The Seagull was designed in an age when petrol was a lot lower octane than now. Modern carbs have several tiny passages in them that a single water droplet or a bit of petrol "varnish" will block. The old Seagull villiers or amal carb won't be affected. If you have a spark, if mixture gets through it will go bang. Quality of ignition is less of an issue.

<hr width=100% size=1>Larry Botheras

Anderson 26 "Amber"