Thread: It's not crappie

Sounds like the day turned out ok....hope you and the boys enjoy a fine meal

Originally Posted by Lkconwayguru

Gindog, steer clear of ethanol enriched gasoline, it is hard on your equipment. Pure gas all the way for small engines even more so for two stroke small engines.

Well buddy of mine just bought a 2010 Ranger with a 200 Merc. The dealer told him last year when he bought it new, sat on lot for a year, that these Mercs are rated for the Ethanol but deff. use the stabil. I used to build those darn E plants up in the midwest and if you run it out quick the ethanol will burn but if you let it set and separate it's terrible for an Engine. If I'm going to go a lot I don't mind using it and my biggest problems were solved with my Merc 150 when I replaced the starter on the motor. Now if I can ever scale back in my oil (Smokes Terrible and Starts Rough) I'll be in good shape. Yes, I know smoke is a good thing but not if it fouls plugs and is rough starting. I was told to go with a 16OZ to every 6 Gallons ratio but that seems to be strong! Ain't nothing wrong with those Cats though. I kept a mess of Spots last 2 trips cause the crappie wasn't nowhere to be found.

Originally Posted by constructskeeter

Well buddy of mine just bought a 2010 Ranger with a 200 Merc. The dealer told him last year when he bought it new, sat on lot for a year, that these Mercs are rated for the Ethanol but deff. use the stabil. I used to build those darn E plants up in the midwest and if you run it out quick the ethanol will burn but if you let it set and separate it's terrible for an Engine. If I'm going to go a lot I don't mind using it and my biggest problems were solved with my Merc 150 when I replaced the starter on the motor. Now if I can ever scale back in my oil (Smokes Terrible and Starts Rough) I'll be in good shape. Yes, I know smoke is a good thing but not if it fouls plugs and is rough starting. I was told to go with a 16OZ to every 6 Gallons ratio but that seems to be strong! Ain't nothing wrong with those Cats though. I kept a mess of Spots last 2 trips cause the crappie wasn't nowhere to be found.

16 ounces to every 6 gallons is a 50:1 ratio, that is the standard ratio for running in a 2 stroke outboard. The variable ratio oil mixing systems lean and richen the oil by rpm's. 50:1 is rich for idling around but is required at full throttle to keep from popping the power head and throwing a piston and rods thru the side of the engine block.

Well I've already decided to add at least another gallon of straight gas to the next mix or maybe even 2. Prolly just one cause I don't wanna have engine damage but the sluggish starts need to be fixed too. Everybody tells me I'm running too rich, least i'm not hurting my motor I guess doing so.

There no way I could afford a new motor or even fix much more on mine right now. I been running some of that gas stability stuff. But have been running ethanol gas. I well be running the real gas for now on.

gin, if i were you i'd keep running the blue marine stabil in any gas you run through your outboard. you can never tell for sure just what gas you are getting even though they tell you it's ethanol free. i run the blue stabil and seafoam in mine and i buy from a station that says it's ethanol free. i won't take the chance of a big repair bill.

Originally Posted by olduckhunter

gin, if i were you i'd keep running the blue marine stabil in any gas you run through your outboard. you can never tell for sure just what gas you are getting even though they tell you it's ethanol free. i run the blue stabil and seafoam in mine and i buy from a station that says it's ethanol free. i won't take the chance of a big repair bill.

I will not use any cleaners because many have alcohol.Never use anything but straight gas cause , ethanol can separate and eat up older fuel lines ! My motor injects oil into the motor. All old motors that used mixed fuel I had used 50/1 ratio like Guru said.

I had the oiler on mine but a boat mechanic told me he recommended un-hooking it due to if the alarm don't go off your screwed. He said just mix it on your own is better. I stick to that 50:1 ratio but when your sitting there trying to crank it 4 or 5+ times before she starts then sitting in a cloud of smoke that would rid the whole lake of skeeters it's time to mix a bit of straight gas with your next fill up. For others who battle this same problem spark plugs aren't too terribly expensive so I generally change them out least once a year and that along with the sea foam will help.