Comments on: Outboard motor problems? It’s the gas, stupid! (ITGS!) Well, maybe..

By: chuck

chuck — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:09:03 +0000

I just spent over $300 having a carb overhaul on my ATV. When I picked it up from the repair shop…the mechanic said the same thing. STOP using the oxygenated (ethanol) gas. It totally gums up the carbs. His shop has had three times the number of carb overhaul than previous years. His opinion is that gas companies are dumping more than the 10% as per state requirement. And any gas that sits around (ATVs, lawnmowers, outboard motor tanks, etc.) is like putting gelatin into your motors.
By the way, be prepared for even more problems, the 10% ethanol will be going up to 20% soon. State Legislature threw a bone to the farmers…disregarding the problems that a lot of engines are going to have.

By: g.emahiser

g.emahiser — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:36:29 +0000

You are on target with the gas issue. In International Falls, we have stations that have non ethanol gas, and people in the know understand the difference… tourists come up there with their O/B engines and think they can use anything that pours. Keeps our repair people busy. Don’t recall hearing many of them being offering good advice on how to avoid it in the future. Hummm. Price of leaving home, I guess.

Oh, did you REALLY leave the dock without oars? You are bold.

By: richard

richard — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:57:38 +0000

my engine starts and runs slow but labors when i speed up,does not quit but only runs slow. I am thinking it could be very old gas. it is a 2004 mercury 25 hp.

By: protaras

protaras — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:27:26 +0000

i’ve had a lot of problems with my motor..hate it..

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 19:18:26 +0000

You are right on about the gas. I have an 88 johnson 30 hp. worked great at cabin every year with normal winterizing. We (she) sold cabin to invest in future??? anyways, within one year my motor began to bog down in the lake…not the driveway with old barbage can full of water, only in the lake when I would punch it. An old biker down the road saw my frustration and the cans of carb cleaner ect.. He walked up (with his beer) and asked the same question you were asked. “Used gas from Standard (BP) did’t you? I said yea I try to get good gas like gas from Standard. He laughed, took a big swig of his beer and said, It’s that *&&###*$$* alcohol. I looked at his beer and said I totally agree. I quit drinking over 20 years ago. He laughed asked if I can rebuild my carberator myself? I said yes. He said that I needed to go to White Bear Lk. at a parts place (can’t remember the name) and get a carburetor rebuild kit. I called aroud and he was right, only place that had it. Then he told me as he walked back down my driveway, “Don’t ever put that *&&##$@#** gas in anything smaller than your truck!” I rebuilt carb. Only use gas from a Shell station, “Alcohol free just like me.” Never seen the problem again going on three years now. It does cost MORE, but not in the stress/worry/hassle factor.