Gas for 4 stroke motors

Just wondering what everybody is using for gas in these newer 4 stroke motors. I know my motor does not use much gas at all. When I do go fishing my trolling motor is used more than my big motor. I had trouble when I tried to go out last weekend for the first time since late last fall. Motor didn't seem to want to run very well. I know it's because of old gas. So here I am out running around the lake trying to burn up $3.50 gal gas. Seems to be running pretty good now. I do use an additive made by Mercury. But just curious what octane everyone else is using in there 4 strokes ?

Thanks for any feedback !

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I know it costs extra up front but to me the long haul you come out to the good . a lot of folks disagree but in my boat motor (4stroke ) weed eater ,chainsaw and lawnmower I run 100% no ethanol from a dedicated pump!
noting I have sets long but I have seen what ethanol does after it sits!

I run zero Ethanol exclusively.

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Originally Posted by Slabprowler

I know it costs extra up front but to me the long haul you come out to the good . a lot of folks disagree but in my boat motor (4stroke ) weed eater ,chainsaw and lawnmower I run 100% no ethanol from a dedicated pump!
noting I have sets long but I have seen what ethanol does after it sits!

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:hesaid:hesaid

A few year ago I had to have the carburetors on a 150 Yamaha cleaned. At that time it was $300.00 that was all labor no parts. The elderly mechanic told me that he would see me again in about 15 months if I continued using ethanol. He said it was cheaper to buy 100% non ethanol than to pay him for cleaning the carburetors. Now I only buy non ethanol marine gas for all small engines I have.

Same here, for my Yamaha, strictly non ethanol and I use Yamaha brand fuel stabilizer. It may not be any better than any other fuel stabilizers but I like keeping it brand specific I guess lol.

Non ethanol for sure.


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I run 10% ethanol but usually fill my boat tank every month. If I was going to let it sit long, I would use 100% non ethanol fuel with a fuel stabilizer:ThumbsUp

I use non-ethanol for my Mercury. The closest place to buy it for me is about 8 miles away. I want burn anything else.

100% gas here as well for all of my small engines.

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Originally Posted by Slabprowler

I know it costs extra up front but to me the long haul you come out to the good . a lot of folks disagree but in my boat motor (4stroke ) weed eater ,chainsaw and lawnmower I run 100% no ethanol from a dedicated pump!
noting I have sets long but I have seen what ethanol does after it sits!

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I use pure gas in everything also. I’ve done multiple checks on my truck and average 2 mpg better mileage and the cost evens out.


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My old boat was 2 stroke but had a separate oil tank that mixed it as it was used. If I wasn’t going to be taking it out for a while I’d disconnect fuel line at ramp, let it run out then use the primer bulb to drain the tank into a gas can and put it in my truck. Once it started flowing it siphons itself.


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non ethanol

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Originally Posted by Fishnwiz

I use pure gas in everything also. I’ve done multiple checks on my truck and average 2 mpg better mileage and the cost evens out.

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While I don't disagree with you about using non-ethanol (I use it in my boat, lawnmowers, etc.), I'm not sure that it would even out in my area given the cost of non-ethanol. 2MPG would be what, roughly 10% better mileage? Where I'm at, non-ethanol is a LOT more than 10% more expensive than ethanol....I use 10% ethanol in my vehicles because I think it is cheaper in the long run and because I haven't heard as many horror stories about cars/trucks as you do about boats and small engines.

90 octane non-ethanol in the boat and all the small engines..seems to do the trick

True Fuel in a can for the chainsaw and weed eater

Regular pump gas in my 5hp Honda motor and it cranks and runs with no problems every time. That motor may sit for 4 days max while being ran the rest of the week so I may be an outlier.


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In my Suzuki 250SS I run mostly pump 87 octane per Suzuki. They recommend non-ethanol but with ethanol if I have to. I usually run a couple of tanks with then a tank without. I always use Stabil Marine additive.
No carbs here. All electric fuel injection. I do check my fuel filter bowl often for water. Might drain a cup full a season.


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Always non ethanol in everything except car and truck.I rarely ever have had trouble with mowers, tillers, saws, utv, or boat motors.

Thanks for all the feedback everybody ! I'm thinking I will be trying non ethanol.

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There is an app for your smart-phone called Pure Gas. It lists all the stations that offer ethanol-free gasoline.

Non-ethanol is only needed if your motor sits for months without being run. If you run it every week it is not needed.

Three things I don't see mentioned so I will point them out. First is the Gas Pump itself, if it has one hose for 3-4 grades and one is non-ethanol then pump the first gallon in your truck or a plastic can as the volume of gas it takes to displace the ethanol gas to non-ethanol could be at least a gallon. If you were pumping a gallon can for a weed eater you would basically be paying a premium price for ethanol gas. The new Wal-mart pumps here have a dedicated hose for non-ethanol.

Second thing is the VST Tank, a lot these new fuel injected engines have one of some kind. The alloy they are made from is "Dinner" to Ethanol that has been sitting in it for 6 months breaking down. The broken down fuel eats the tanks making a white, grainy, debris to plug everything up downstream. The Low Pressure fuel pumps fill the VST Tanks where some engines have the High Pressure fuel pumps using the fuel to cool the pump. Use the strongest dose Ethanol fuel stabilizer you can with a laid up boat full of ethanol. Also Yamaha has a product called "Ring Free Plus". This is one of the best preventive fuel treatments you can buy.

Lastly as I read in this post and something I was always dealt with in my business was not turning your fuel over in the tank. If you have a 35 gallon tank but only burn 7-10 gallons a trip you need to run the boat fuel tank down with Ethanol 4 times a year, with non-ethanol at least every 6 months.

I have been running 87 octane gas with ethanol since I bought my Yamaha SHO200 12 years ago. About 350 hours. Factory recommended . Never a problem in about 350 hours run time. And I run it fairly hard when running it.

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Originally Posted by "D"

I have been running 87 octane gas with ethanol since I bought my Yamaha SHO200 12 years ago. About 350 hours. Factory recommended . Never a problem in about 350 hours run time. And I run it fairly hard when running it.

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I am along with you my 2000 Optimax has never seen non ethanol fuel, roughly 1150 hours on it. What I see around here the cost of non ethanol never gets used much so who knows how long that non ethanol fuel has been sitting in the stations tank. Using a higher octane rating then the engine needs just produces more carbon build up, high octane burns slower then lower octane fuel.

It’s according how often you run your motor, my dad run ethanol gas in his with 0 problems, but he runs his motor 5 times a week, if your are only fishing 1 to 2 a month I would certainly run non ethanol gas. Just my 2 cents.

Newer 4 strokes are designed to run 10% ethanol fuel. In my little 9.9, I just run regular pump gas like the owners manual calls for.

I disconnect the fuel line and run the gas out of carb after every outing. I think a lot of issues come when letting gas sit in the carb for long periods of time


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If a motor won't run on whatever I can get locally for a good price, I don't want it. It's almost 30 miles to the closest non-ethanol station for me. All I have ever used in everything I own is 87 with up to 15% ethanol, chainsaws, mowers, weedeaters, etc. I have never had a carburetor plug up. Personally I think ethanol is a bit of a scapegoat, let the best gas in the world sit for a year and it will lose some volatility. Everything made in the last 15 years or so is designed with materials to withstand alcohol fuels.

Boats with large built in tanks are the worst about it, most people seldom run the tank down in a season, only topping it off now and then as needed.

I use just plain pump gas… 10% ethanol. I’ve got a 50hp mercury 4 stroke. I do, however, use a stabilizer: Stabil Marine. I keep it on the boat. Whenever I fill up the boat I do the math and put the stabilizer in for the fuel I pumped in, plus just a bit extra. Someone above said already that the ethanol has the most detrimental effects when it sits for long periods of time, months and months. It separates from the gasoline and will damage seals inside carburetors and fuel systems. I’ve used Seafoam for years on all of my small engines as a stabilizer and cleaner and have never had fuel problems other than fuel pumps that quit working. And I use all old and used mowers, blowers, trimmers, etc. Maybe I’ve just gotten lucky so far but I’ve not had any problems with the ethanol… *knocks on wood*


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Originally Posted by Slabprowler

I know it costs extra up front but to me the long haul you come out to the good . a lot of folks disagree but in my boat motor (4stroke ) weed eater ,chainsaw and lawnmower I run 100% no ethanol from a dedicated pump!
noting I have sets long but I have seen what ethanol does after it sits!

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my bud runs old motors on all his boats and only buys pure gas at the only place around that sells it ....
swears it keeps them running smoothly .....

I’m another that was told by the best marine mechanic I’ve ever known that I could buy the gas, however inconvenient it was, or pay him to fix the motor later. I took his advice and had 0 problems with an ‘88 150hp Mariner, that had lots of fuel system issues when I got it. I’ve used 100% in all my small engines since and no problems. All my motors don’t sit more than a month or so. No stabilizer other than a sea foam add in once in a while, just a 6 gallon tank for my 25hp 2 stroke. Since Buddy told me what to use, and he’s now gone from us, I’ve heard countless stories of fuel related issues from ethanol fuel.

Non-ethanol for me too. Here's the pure-gas link. Check your local state and area for locations.


Pure-gas.org - ethanol-free gasoline in the U.S. and Canada

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Originally Posted by dlwallison

I use just plain pump gas… 10% ethanol. I’ve got a 50hp mercury 4 stroke. I do, however, use a stabilizer: Stabil Marine. I keep it on the boat. Whenever I fill up the boat I do the math and put the stabilizer in for the fuel I pumped in, plus just a bit extra. ---- And I use all old and used mowers, blowers, trimmers, etc. Maybe I’ve just gotten lucky so far but I’ve not had any problems with the ethanol… *knocks on wood*

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My grandfather and I have been doing this for 30+ years (occationally run SeaFoam) with no fuel problems ever! All the engines (small and marine) work fine like day one. Some engines are from the 1980s and been ran really hard. Sometimes they have sat for a while during winter and never worried about it. Non-ethanol fuel is no where close to us that makes sense. On my boat I can visually see the fuel filter to check often (but never been an issue). If I did not have STA-BIL 360 Marine Ethanol Treatment & Fuel Stabilizer, we would probably only ever run non-ethanol fuel. The STA-BIL 360 works great!

Same as others have mentioned. In my Yamaha 200 SHO, I use 90 ethanol free, fuel stabilizer, and a little bit of Yamaha "ring free" additive. Might be overkill, but I'd rather do too much than not enough.