Fuel Additives - How Often / What Strength?

[BassThumb]

What are your thoughts? How often and at what strength we should be running additives in our gas in a 2 stroke outboard motor? Lucas and Seafoam are the two I've had my best experiences with. Do you use a weak mix constantly, or do you believe in using a heavier concentration for a short period of time?

My neighbor, who I consider to be an expert mechanic and heavy machine operator, swears up and down that if you run Seafoam, Lucas, and Marine Sta-Bil in every tank at about 1/6 - 1/10 the recommended strength, your motor's plugs and carbs will be as clean as a whistle and it will run great. I did this all of last year and my motor responded very well.

Thanks, Joe

[bass or bass ?]

I use Marine Sta-Bil at the recommended ratio on every tank full in my 1967 Evinrude 80hp and it always starts instantly and runs great.

[FL_Sharpshooter]

I have heard from a few sources that sea foam is the best stuff on the market. After having the boat's carburetors professionally cleaned, they recommended to only try filling up your boat's tank to what you will use/burn during that trip. Also remember to unplug the fuel line and run it dry. You should only be adding a stabilizer type after you are done with every trip. It helps to keep the gasoline from separating. I use the recommended amount.

[South FLA]

I use both Sea Foam as a carbon buildup cleaner and Sta-Bil as a stabilizer. I only use Sta-bil after a day's trip and mix it in, so if I pump 20 gallons and use 10 running around all day, I used the recommended dosage for stabilizing the 10 gallons when trailering back. I use Sea Foam when low on fuel or every third tank at the cleaning/shock dosage. If you own a two stroke I would recommend a high quality synthetic 2 stroke oil such as Amsoil Interceptor Synthetic, that has plenty of detergents in it. I used a bore camera the other day to inspect my cylinders and valves and they were SHINY. Lastly, if you can get non-ethanol gas use it, but make sure you still use stabilizer for winter storage or if you are going to not use the boat for more than a month.

[Wayne P.]

I use Seafoam with 2 oz. per gallon of gas. I get a 5 gallon can of gas and treat that, then use it in my lawnmower, ATV, small outboard, power washer, and chain saw. When I had a fiberglass bassboat, I used the same mixture in the boat tank and added the same ratio as I filled up. Basically I use it all the time all year.

That mixture ratio takes care of carbon, and stabilization. Some of my stuff sets unused for up to a year and they start up with no problem.

[Bass_Fanatic]

Ive heard that Seafoam only treats the gass that it is first poured into. For example, if you have 5 gallons of gas in your tank and pour seafoam into it before you fill up, it will only treat the first five gallons, whereas if you use it after fillup it will treat the whole tank. Not sure if its true, so someone with more knowledge shed some light on this if ya will.

[Wayne P.]

Bass_Fanatic, this is what the Seafoam company has to say about what your "heard"

Wayne

I would have to say that this would be myth. Sea Foam is a pure petroleum product and will blend throughout the entire tank of fuel no matter when it is added to the fuel.

Jim Davis

Sea Foam Sales Co.

Technical Service Advisor

ASE Certified Automotive Technician

[GTrombly]

I always put 1 ounce of seafoam for every gallon of gas and then spray a can of it in to clean it out every once in a while.

[Kowen117]

I use Marine Sta-Bil at the recommended ratio on every tank full in my 1967 Evinrude 80hp and it always starts instantly and runs great.

x2 every tank. I never added any until I had to spend $400 in repairs because of ethanol.

[SDoolittle]

Anybody else use Star Tron?

[Bass_Fanatic]

Bass_Fanatic, this is what the Seafoam company has to say about what your "heard"

Wayne

I would have to say that this would be myth. Sea Foam is a pure petroleum product and will blend throughout the entire tank of fuel no matter when it is added to the fuel.

Jim Davis

Sea Foam Sales Co.

Technical Service Advisor

ASE Certified Automotive Technician

Thanks Wayne!

[BassThumb]

I always put 1 ounce of seafoam for every gallon of gas and then spray a can of it in to clean it out every once in a while.

Do you mean spray it in the cylinders, like a fogger?

Does anybody else fog with Seafoam? Sounds like a good idea.

[GTrombly]

Where do you spray the Seafoam? Do you mean in the cylinders, like a fogger?

Anybody else use Seafoam as a spray?

Yeah like a fogger, spray some to kill the engine then remove plugs and spray inside then let sit overnight and watch the gunk come out in the morning.

[Craiger12]

I fogged with Seafoam this past fall. Boat ran great the first time I had it out this year.

[Sam]

SeaFoam in gas tank.

SeaFoam in the oil.

Sta-Bil Ethonol in gas tank.

Never used a spray product.

Worried about having ethonol going up to 15% in the future.

[Crestliner2008]

Anybody else use Star Tron?

Been using it for 6 years now with no problems, no worries. Use it in my outboard, lawnmower & snowblower. Great stuff for this ethanol crap they've forced down our throats.

[Sfritr]

Sam

Seafoam in the oil?

That one I have not heard of. If you treat the gas and have a two stroke doesn't the additive mix at some point anyway?

[GTrombly]

They sell seafoam in a spray can, it is easier to get it into the cylinders.

[boystcroix]

I use the fogging Sea-foam also , spray it in the carb till you kill the engine then let it sit for 10 min or more. Refire the motor, it'll smoke like crazy for a bit. You may want to change your plugs after doing this sometimes they get pretty fouled. I also use Sea foam in my Dodge truck. Suck about a third of a can into the intake through the brake booster vacuum line and let sit then refire. It cleans the carbon build up, although you could just drive it like you stole it al the time too!

[bass or bass ?]

Been using it for 6 years now with no problems, no worries. Use it in my outboard, lawnmower & snowblower. Great stuff for this ethanol crap they've forced down our throats.

It's only going to get worse. The ethanol lobby cares nothing about the welfare of the citizens of this country, only about making their clients (and themselves) obscenely rich at our expense! Extremely inefficient fuel, poor mileage per gallon, and damaging to most motors. What a deal!!!