Re: Fuel useage good or bad for a 2 stroke.
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2018 11:58 pm
Just my 2cents about the use of premium or regular fuels.
Most boat fuel tanks are vented, so fuel breathes more than in a car, (cars tanks are sealed to reduce emissions)
So fuel will go off quicker in a boat that in a car, my recommendation would be if you use 91 octane fuel, use an additive to help the fuel retain that octane rating, You can also use a higher rated fuel (95 octane) with an additive to make the fuel last longer again, as it's the lack of the volatile chemicals and low octane that cause running issues
As fuel ages, it loses the most volatile chemicals first, which lowers the octane rating of the fuel, and starts to cause running issues including increased consumption, after that, the fuel starts to seperate, and leaves a gum residue in your tank and fuel system, this causes problems with filters, pumps, carby's/injectors etc.
In my experience, my fuel bill is the smallest cost of owning a boat, I use an additive over winter, and only use 95octane fuel in my boat, car, my lawnmower and wiper snipper (my mower and wiper snipper are 19 years old). For the sake of an extra 10-15 cents per litre I have peace of mind and they seem to run better, (smother idle and acceleration)
From what I've been told, premium fuels take a lot longer to get to the separation point and start gumming up your fuel system
I used to have a Ford Fairmont that I put on gas, I used gas most of the time and went through a tank of petrol every 3 to 4 weeks, I started have problems with running on petrol, rough idle, stalling, no power. Then the fuel pump died. I removed the fuel pump and it was covered in a dark brown gum, I ended up having to replace the tank, fuel pump and filter.Then I had to remove and clean the injectors, fuel rail ect. That's when I started looking for info on fuels
Most boat fuel tanks are vented, so fuel breathes more than in a car, (cars tanks are sealed to reduce emissions)
So fuel will go off quicker in a boat that in a car, my recommendation would be if you use 91 octane fuel, use an additive to help the fuel retain that octane rating, You can also use a higher rated fuel (95 octane) with an additive to make the fuel last longer again, as it's the lack of the volatile chemicals and low octane that cause running issues
As fuel ages, it loses the most volatile chemicals first, which lowers the octane rating of the fuel, and starts to cause running issues including increased consumption, after that, the fuel starts to seperate, and leaves a gum residue in your tank and fuel system, this causes problems with filters, pumps, carby's/injectors etc.
In my experience, my fuel bill is the smallest cost of owning a boat, I use an additive over winter, and only use 95octane fuel in my boat, car, my lawnmower and wiper snipper (my mower and wiper snipper are 19 years old). For the sake of an extra 10-15 cents per litre I have peace of mind and they seem to run better, (smother idle and acceleration)
From what I've been told, premium fuels take a lot longer to get to the separation point and start gumming up your fuel system
I used to have a Ford Fairmont that I put on gas, I used gas most of the time and went through a tank of petrol every 3 to 4 weeks, I started have problems with running on petrol, rough idle, stalling, no power. Then the fuel pump died. I removed the fuel pump and it was covered in a dark brown gum, I ended up having to replace the tank, fuel pump and filter.Then I had to remove and clean the injectors, fuel rail ect. That's when I started looking for info on fuels