MagDarter Posted June 27, 2018 Report Share Posted June 27, 2018 New to boating here. Will be using my 4 stroke every couple weeks. Want to know if it’s okay to run the carbs dry on low RPM to ensure my carb stays clean. Is it okay to do that? I simply disconnect my fuel hose, and keep the engine on low RMP with my ear muffs and water attached. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good2Go Posted June 27, 2018 Report Share Posted June 27, 2018 I would suggest doing this in the fall as part of winterizing. After every use seems excessive. Likely more important to run fresh water through your engine to clean out the salt after each use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
757saltwater Posted June 27, 2018 Report Share Posted June 27, 2018 Agreed above. Since it's a four stroke it's has a fuel pump. You will be working your pump dry also which isn't a good thing. Pumps aren't cheap either . It's cheaper to rebuild a carb then re place pump. If u do run dry make sure next time out you are priming the engine with gas before anything .aka primer build. Otherewise you are putting extra work on the pump which was not made to prime the engine like a car. Boat motors was design a little different. If you use the f pump to prime the gas you will Burn it up after a while and have a nice $600 plus part to repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagDarter Posted June 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2018 Thank you for the input fellas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicaneries Posted June 27, 2018 Report Share Posted June 27, 2018 Buy yourself a small 3 gallon outboard tank and separate fuel line, fill this tank with non ethanol fuel, I use VP SEF (small engine fuel), it’s pricey .. approx $15 gallon but it will last quite a while, as you’ll only use a few ounces at a time. Run this fuel as you flush your engine, or when you winterize/fog the outboard, ethanol issue solved and the fuel is already stabilized. I’ve used this method for years and have zero fuel related issues on any of my boats or lawn equipment (last tank of the season) non ethanol fuel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter D Posted June 27, 2018 Report Share Posted June 27, 2018 I treat gas with anti-ethanol and gas preservative with each fill up and inject engine with carb treatment each fall before storage. I leave carbs filled. Have had no problems with spring start up. I now also replace water separator each spring. As mentioned earlier, running the engine with ethanol free gas sounds like a good move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makorider Posted June 27, 2018 Report Share Posted June 27, 2018 I'm a big fan of running carbs dry for storage...but if you're using it every few weeks don't even bother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnDe Posted June 27, 2018 Report Share Posted June 27, 2018 The exception to this rule is the small outboard with built in tank. I have a 4 hp 4s Yamaha with the fuel shutoff on the front. I learned the hard way and according to the service department that replaced, not rebuilt the carb - it is imperative to shut off the gas supply and run it till it stalls out if you are not using it for more than a week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagDarter Posted June 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2018 4 hours ago, Chicaneries said: Buy yourself a small 3 gallon outboard tank and separate fuel line, fill this tank with non ethanol fuel, I use VP SEF (small engine fuel), it’s pricey .. approx $15 gallon but it will last quite a while, as you’ll only use a few ounces at a time. Run this fuel as you flush your engine, or when you winterize/fog the outboard, ethanol issue solved and the fuel is already stabilized. I’ve used this method for years and have zero fuel related issues on any of my boats or lawn equipment (last tank of the season) non ethanol fuel. How long can this non-ethanol fuel last? Reason I’m asking is because normally, they say that you should use fresh gas every so often to keep the motor running well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicaneries Posted June 27, 2018 Report Share Posted June 27, 2018 I was told 1 year after opening, 2 years closed factory can... I buy 2 gallons every year, dump them into a 3 gallon outboard tank, use that for all of my flushing of my outboards and to winterize, use the remainder in my lawn equipment as the last tank of the season, haven’t had a fuel related issue in the 7 years I’ve done this. $30 is expensive for 2 gallons of fuel, but one carb problem on a weed wacker will easily set you back double. Cheap insurance, in my opinion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FizzyFish Posted June 27, 2018 Report Share Posted June 27, 2018 the real question here is, are they really dry after running till the engine stalls? If they have drain plugs, opening them, is a much better way to prevent fuel related issues. " I did my worst, but I did it well " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicaneries Posted June 28, 2018 Report Share Posted June 28, 2018 Also remember if you’re dealing with any outboard that requires 2 stroke mixed fuel, running the engine out of fuel is also running the engine without lubrication, excluding 4 strokes and oil injected units. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonesipher Posted July 6, 2018 Report Share Posted July 6, 2018 On 6/27/2018 at 5:51 PM, FizzyFish said: the real question here is, are they really dry after running till the engine stalls? If they have drain plugs, opening them, is a much better way to prevent fuel related issues. It's the only way to insure they are indeed empty. If it is EFI it is better to keep them wet with proper ethanol treatment. You’re not some crazy uncle you know! I'm so glad I don't live in the fact-less bizarro world you live in...just sayin'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkus Posted July 17, 2018 Report Share Posted July 17, 2018 (edited) I had a 1995 Honda 4 stroke on my skiff and never ran it dry with the carbs but I was only on portable tanks no moisture I treated heavy with marine stabil never ever had a problem.. now I have fuel injected Yamaha four stroke still treat and never run a fuel injected motor out of fuel! Edited July 17, 2018 by mkus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rook49 Posted July 18, 2018 Report Share Posted July 18, 2018 I only use non-ethanol gas in all my small motors including outboards. There's a gas company near where I live that sells non-ethanol gas. You can find non-ethanol gas in your area at these websites. https://www.pure-gas.org/extensions/map.html? https://www.pure-gas.org/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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