Some time ago I read an article about some an additive to help clean out an outboard engine and make it run better. Unfortunately, I did not make a note of the product. Can someone help? Tom
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I have a 1999 Johnson Sailmaster that's always run great and I really don't do much to it except in the Fall, I run the engine in a barrel of water, fog it with the same spray fogging oil that I bought in the 90s, and store it down my cellar. I also drain the lower unit, and if I have any left over gasoline, I add Sta-bil to it. This year I'm going to replace the plugs with new ones. There really isn't a heck of a lot that you need to do to the two stroke outboards. I don't know of any kind of additive out on the market that can make them run better. I'm using Penziol 2-stroke oil in my gas. I'm sure that the additive that they put in the gasoline can make them run bad. It attracts water, and you need a special filter to separate the water from the gasoline. My friend Wayne throws his gasoline away at the end of the year, but I can't bring myself to do this with todays gas prices. He claims that the 4 stroke outboards need the lifters adjusted after a while. There was something else that he had mentioned about the 4 stroke outboards, and I can't remember it. At any rate, whenever he puts his boat up for the day on the mooring, he always pulls the gas line off the engine while it's running and lets the carburetor go dry. I never do this myself, except in the fall when I fog the engine. This year, I really should change my water-pump and also the thermostat. They've never been changed since I bought the engine new. These two things can really cause some problems when they go, especially the thermostat. They may have a carburetor cleaner that you can spray in, to make it run better. Try a spray fogging oil like Engine-Stor. You need to run the outboard in a barrel or run it with the ear muffs on the garden hose. You just spray the fogging oil into the carburetor while it's running and gun the engine a little when you spray it. If that don't work, then maybe the carburetor might need to be rebuilt. That's a job that I don't even want to get into. I'm not even crazy about changing the water pump on that engine. The water intake fitting is probably frozen with corrosion. Ah decisions, decisions. Good luck. I hope that I was able to give you some ideas. Joe
clean motor
chevron/tecron can be added to the gas to help clean the carb plugs and heads, remember the outboard is just a single cyl 'car' motor, only much smaller.
chevron/tecron can be added to the gas to help clean the carb plugs and heads, remember the outboard is just a single cyl 'car' motor, only much smaller.
I've got to hang on to it
Chuck! I can't afford to buy another one right now. If I do though, it will be an Evenrude. I've had very good luck with both Johnsons. I really think that a lot of it has to do with this Ethanol. That stuff is screwing up everything that it touches, but I won't get into that here. My friend Dave has a Tohatsu or a Mitsu on his 86 O'Day 222, and his engine was cutting out on him. I really don't know how he ever made out with it. I'm not too fond of the Japanese engines but the Yamaha and Honda seem to be great engines. I don't know Chuck; If this gas situation gets any worse I'm going to say "the heck with the outboard," and build myself a long sweep oar for my boat just like Lin and Larry Pardey did for their 24' cutter, Seraffyn. He Hee! Tom, I meant to tell you that my friend Wayne adds Sta-bil to his gas tank whenever he fills it. He has an old 1985 Johnson Sailmaster 9.9 that has had a few issues in the past, but seems to run well. He does all his own outboard repair. I need to pick his brains too, if I'm going to try to replace the pump and thermostat on mine. If I remember correctly though, he bought a kit and rebuilt the carburetor on his outboard.
Chuck! I can't afford to buy another one right now. If I do though, it will be an Evenrude. I've had very good luck with both Johnsons. I really think that a lot of it has to do with this Ethanol. That stuff is screwing up everything that it touches, but I won't get into that here. My friend Dave has a Tohatsu or a Mitsu on his 86 O'Day 222, and his engine was cutting out on him. I really don't know how he ever made out with it. I'm not too fond of the Japanese engines but the Yamaha and Honda seem to be great engines. I don't know Chuck; If this gas situation gets any worse I'm going to say "the heck with the outboard," and build myself a long sweep oar for my boat just like Lin and Larry Pardey did for their 24' cutter, Seraffyn. He Hee! Tom, I meant to tell you that my friend Wayne adds Sta-bil to his gas tank whenever he fills it. He has an old 1985 Johnson Sailmaster 9.9 that has had a few issues in the past, but seems to run well. He does all his own outboard repair. I need to pick his brains too, if I'm going to try to replace the pump and thermostat on mine. If I remember correctly though, he bought a kit and rebuilt the carburetor on his outboard.
Chuck, you can try a Mercury Marine service center
From what I understand, the small Nissan, Tohatsu and Mercury all come off the same production line. A lot of people assume the Tohatsu is the original manufacturer but when I was working on my old Mercury outboard I found some markings on the engine that said "Marubeni", which is a big Japanese industrial firm. Anyway, since your Nissan is identical with same model Mercury, parts and service should be available through a Mercury dealer. I tend to agree that modern gasoline mixtures are a big part of the problem getting an "emissions compliant" outboard to idle and run well. Blending alcohol or MTBE into the fuel has the effect of making carbureted engines run leaner (alcohol has only half the combustable energy per unit volume as gasoline). We tend not to notice this in our cars because they adjust the fuel/air mixture according to measurments made with the oxygen sensors. A simple motor, like a small outboard, is not that sophisticated and can run crappy as a result. The owners manual for my Nissan 3.5 basically forbids fuel containing alcohol (not that we have much control over that anymore) and advises that under some conditions the choke will have to be partially on even when the engine is warm.
From what I understand, the small Nissan, Tohatsu and Mercury all come off the same production line. A lot of people assume the Tohatsu is the original manufacturer but when I was working on my old Mercury outboard I found some markings on the engine that said "Marubeni", which is a big Japanese industrial firm. Anyway, since your Nissan is identical with same model Mercury, parts and service should be available through a Mercury dealer. I tend to agree that modern gasoline mixtures are a big part of the problem getting an "emissions compliant" outboard to idle and run well. Blending alcohol or MTBE into the fuel has the effect of making carbureted engines run leaner (alcohol has only half the combustable energy per unit volume as gasoline). We tend not to notice this in our cars because they adjust the fuel/air mixture according to measurments made with the oxygen sensors. A simple motor, like a small outboard, is not that sophisticated and can run crappy as a result. The owners manual for my Nissan 3.5 basically forbids fuel containing alcohol (not that we have much control over that anymore) and advises that under some conditions the choke will have to be partially on even when the engine is warm.
Thank you for the link, Ed K !
They have some beautiful products on that site. The only problem with having a long sweep oar on your boat is, where would you keep it so that the river pirates can't lift it. It's too long to stick in the cabin, and it would be a pain in the butt to take home when you leave your boat on the mooring. I suppose that I could build one that can be taken apart. I was going to build a sweep oar years ago for my Sturdee Cat, and even bought the oar locks, but I never got around to doing it. I had no engine on that boat and didn't need to register it. Hey Chuck, I know what we can do! We'll get rid of our outboards and have that old German cabinet maker in Toledo Ohio build us a couple of 10' sweep oars! He did a great job turning out that spinnaker pole that he made for you last year. It's like a piece of beautiful furniture! Hee He! Joe
They have some beautiful products on that site. The only problem with having a long sweep oar on your boat is, where would you keep it so that the river pirates can't lift it. It's too long to stick in the cabin, and it would be a pain in the butt to take home when you leave your boat on the mooring. I suppose that I could build one that can be taken apart. I was going to build a sweep oar years ago for my Sturdee Cat, and even bought the oar locks, but I never got around to doing it. I had no engine on that boat and didn't need to register it. Hey Chuck, I know what we can do! We'll get rid of our outboards and have that old German cabinet maker in Toledo Ohio build us a couple of 10' sweep oars! He did a great job turning out that spinnaker pole that he made for you last year. It's like a piece of beautiful furniture! Hee He! Joe
Hang loose for a little while longer
Chuck, Spring will be upon us before we know it. I can hardly wait to uncover the boat and get started. I need to get her jacked up and dig a hole under the keel so I can let the centerboard all the way down. I also need to put that plastic slippery stuff on my trailer keel board. How did you put your's on? Did you screw it on somehow or glue it? I had carpet on it when I first installed the sandwiched keel boards. It lasted one season and the rug got ripped by the keel. So I removed it. Joe
Chuck, Spring will be upon us before we know it. I can hardly wait to uncover the boat and get started. I need to get her jacked up and dig a hole under the keel so I can let the centerboard all the way down. I also need to put that plastic slippery stuff on my trailer keel board. How did you put your's on? Did you screw it on somehow or glue it? I had carpet on it when I first installed the sandwiched keel boards. It lasted one season and the rug got ripped by the keel. So I removed it. Joe
Just a piece of laminate ( Formica )
Joe, Then contact cement. the water base stuff cause it's what I had . Thought of putting laminate on the bottom of the keel too but so far havn't needed to. That would make really slippery especially with a little grease too.
Joe, Then contact cement. the water base stuff cause it's what I had . Thought of putting laminate on the bottom of the keel too but so far havn't needed to. That would make really slippery especially with a little grease too.
Outboard tune-up reply
Tom and Chuck, I was just watching "Shipshape TV" this morning, and they had a lot of useful info for all of us. There's an additive called Star-ton that may help your engine problems. Also, I was lucky to tape this particular show because it had a lot of useful info on how to replace an outboard water pump. I'm also going to look into ordering generic parts by Sierra Ind., for my outboard, which they claim to be just as good and cheaper than original factory parts. Check out the Star-tron.com link. It may be cheaper in the long run than buying $15.00 gas filter replacements for your outboard. Also, you guys may want to go to Shipshape.com and check out their site too. Joe
Tom and Chuck, I was just watching "Shipshape TV" this morning, and they had a lot of useful info for all of us. There's an additive called Star-ton that may help your engine problems. Also, I was lucky to tape this particular show because it had a lot of useful info on how to replace an outboard water pump. I'm also going to look into ordering generic parts by Sierra Ind., for my outboard, which they claim to be just as good and cheaper than original factory parts. Check out the Star-tron.com link. It may be cheaper in the long run than buying $15.00 gas filter replacements for your outboard. Also, you guys may want to go to Shipshape.com and check out their site too. Joe
hummmm ?????
Star Tron Is Ideal For All Engines, Including: ATVs, Cars, Trucks, Boats (2-cycle & 4-cycle), Lawn Mowers, Generator, Heavy Equipment, Snowmobiles, RVs, WeedEaters, Personal Watercraft, Diesel Engines So isn't 4 cycle same as 4-stroke? Being a Star-Brite product,,,, wonder why they didn't mention outboard motors??? Hummm am I being to picky? They do say boats though, I guess I would not use an outboard on my lawn,,, A daaaa.
Star Tron Is Ideal For All Engines, Including: ATVs, Cars, Trucks, Boats (2-cycle & 4-cycle), Lawn Mowers, Generator, Heavy Equipment, Snowmobiles, RVs, WeedEaters, Personal Watercraft, Diesel Engines So isn't 4 cycle same as 4-stroke? Being a Star-Brite product,,,, wonder why they didn't mention outboard motors??? Hummm am I being to picky? They do say boats though, I guess I would not use an outboard on my lawn,,, A daaaa.
tune up
Try the product SEAFOAM. My local auto parts dealer has it in stock. Also, Replace the spark plug with the manufacturers specification. (It is not uncommon to get a used engine with the WRONG plug in it so don't just buy the same plug that's in the engine unless you know it is the correct one.) Replace or clean the fuel filter. Inspect your fuel tank for dirt, water, rust and clean or replace if needed. Inspect your fuel supply line for degradation of the rubber. In may be flaking and sending debris into your carburator. Use FRESH gasoline with Seafoam.
Try the product SEAFOAM. My local auto parts dealer has it in stock. Also, Replace the spark plug with the manufacturers specification. (It is not uncommon to get a used engine with the WRONG plug in it so don't just buy the same plug that's in the engine unless you know it is the correct one.) Replace or clean the fuel filter. Inspect your fuel tank for dirt, water, rust and clean or replace if needed. Inspect your fuel supply line for degradation of the rubber. In may be flaking and sending debris into your carburator. Use FRESH gasoline with Seafoam.
Seafoam
Thanks David! That sounds like great info, to me. Only, I just can't seem to bring myself to throw gasoline away. I put Sta-bil in my leftover gas last year. Do you think that might help the gas, along with adding some fresh gas to it? My friend Wayne throws his old gas away too, but I've been using my old gas for years and haven't experienced any engine problems. She's a 99 Johnson 8 two stroke. I'm planning on changing the water pump and thermostat in a week or two. I haven't changed the plugs in two years, so I'm going to do that to. I'll give that Seafoam a try. Last year, I emptied my gas out of my tank into another gas container, and washed my gas tank out with water. I hung it upside down in my shed to dry out over the winter. So that should be pretty clean. Joe
Thanks David! That sounds like great info, to me. Only, I just can't seem to bring myself to throw gasoline away. I put Sta-bil in my leftover gas last year. Do you think that might help the gas, along with adding some fresh gas to it? My friend Wayne throws his old gas away too, but I've been using my old gas for years and haven't experienced any engine problems. She's a 99 Johnson 8 two stroke. I'm planning on changing the water pump and thermostat in a week or two. I haven't changed the plugs in two years, so I'm going to do that to. I'll give that Seafoam a try. Last year, I emptied my gas out of my tank into another gas container, and washed my gas tank out with water. I hung it upside down in my shed to dry out over the winter. So that should be pretty clean. Joe
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