Fuel additives.

[fiker]

Since purchasing my boat a year ago I've added Stabil Marine formula religiously to each tank of gas.   
I've talked to several other boat owners who also swear by either Ring Free, or Sea Foam to help prevent carbon deposits.   It appears that Sea Foam is less expensive than the Ring Free.  Sea Foam can also be purchased at Meijer Thrifty Acres.

Questions: 
Do most of you use both the Stabil, and one of the other two additives? 

Is there a difference in performance between Sea Foam and Ring Free?

Should the Sea Foam/Ring Free be added to every tank of gas, or periodically to clean off deposits?

[Bender]

I usually use Star-Tron and sometimes Stabil Marine and usually use Ring Free unless I run out. I think that there is a new Ring Free version that treats ethanol too so maybe I will just try that to kill two birds with one stone. With the price of gas plus additives it is getting really expensive, or even more than it used to be.  I sure wish 100% gasoline was sold everywhere.

[dartag]

I use Merc Quick Kleen every other tank.  I am planning on changing all my fuel lines this spring.  been reading the horror stories on BBC about fuel line damage and Ethanol. 

[1javelin]

I religiously used to put Stabil in every time I filled up, even though I used premium fuel every time. Then I blew the engine, and looking at the tops of the pistons didn't convince me that the Stabil worked extremely well. Haven't used it since, not sure if I'm going to go back to it or not. Some real proof of one working well would be nice!

1jav

[fish hound]

I religiously used to put Stabil in every time I filled up, even though I used premium fuel every time. Then I blew the engine, and looking at the tops of the pistons didn't convince me that the Stabil worked extremely well. Haven't used it since, not sure if I'm going to go back to it or not. Some real proof of one working well would be nice!

1jav

Hey Jav,  did your OB need premium?  I've run it on and off and just recently learned that if your motor doesn't require 93, such as higher than normal compression from milled heads etc., it's actually bad.  Basically an octane rating is a resistance to burning, higher the number the harder to burn, so if  a motor doesn't need it to prvent detonation, it tends to leave a lot of carbon buildup.  Carbon holds too much heat, and causes bad things to happen.

I run seafoam in about every other tank, and do the shock treat with a small portable tank with .75 gallon gas and 16 oz of seafoam once a year.  You basically hook it up in front of the primer bulb, and start the motor.  Idle around the lake at 1000-1500 rpms for 10 min,  shut it off for 30 min, and repeat until its gone.  then hook the main tank up and run it.  Every time you start it after it sits when doing this, it just pours white smoke, that's the carbon burning off.  The other good thing about seafoam (or ring free, or Quick kleen) is that they help keep your injectors clean, which prevents a lean condition.  I also run stabil in every tank, but that's more for ethanol.

The Merc page on BBC has a "cocktail" pinned at the top that a very respected Merc tech suggests to run in every tank.

Matt

[EKennedy]

I only use Stabil when I over-winter a full tank.  I'm not one to add a lot of extra stuff to my gas.  Sea foam is a GREAT cleaner...but I haven't felt the need to do that yet to the OB on the boat...my engine runs great...and I only fill with 100% gas...never ethanol.  I really don't go through a lot of fuel anyway...not a lot of long runs lately.  Will probably change the plugs this spring...maybe due for a SeaFoam cleaning...maybe...we'll see what difference the plugs make.

[1javelin]

I ran the 93 mainly because that was the only fuel I could find at any station around here without the 10% ethanol mix. I'm going to look for a station with no ethanol in the 87 or 89 now, stuffs too expensive to be spreading the wealth.

1jav

[Waterfoul]

I ran the 93 mainly because that was the only fuel I could find at any station around here without the 10% ethanol mix. I'm going to look for a station with no ethanol in the 87 or 89 now, stuffs too expensive to be spreading the wealth.

1jav

If your motor doesn't require high octane, you should NOT run it.  It will actually cause damage in the long run.  It takes more heat and pressure to make high octane fire, and it actually causes more wear than if you were to just run the 87 it was designed to run on.

I run the Quick Clean about every other tank... and use ValveTech ethanol treatment in every drop of gas I put in my boat.  The ValveTech additive is the best rated ethanol treatment on the market.

[fish hound]

I ran the 93 mainly because that was the only fuel I could find at any station around here without the 10% ethanol mix. I'm going to look for a station with no ethanol in the 87 or 89 now, stuffs too expensive to be spreading the wealth.

1jav

I totally understand that mindset.  I've always heard that premium had a longer "shelf life" before going bad.  But think about how few people use it.  I wish I knew more about gas stations.  Are the tanks the same size for every grade, or are the higher grade tanks smaller due to less demand?  My brother has to run premium (250 XB), and is always asking what stations I think are moving the most volume of the good stuff and would have the freshest gas.  I never know what to tell him.  My OB is like a small child, it lets me know right away when it doesn't like what I feed it, and I usually don't go to that station again.  Slower hole-shot is usually the dead giveaway.

Matt

[SethV]

I use Merc Quick Kleen every other tank.  I am planning on changing all my fuel lines this spring.  been reading the horror stories on BBC about fuel line damage and Ethanol. 

I do the same.  With quickleen and stabil I have never had a fuel related problem.

[1javelin]

Matt,
  I can tell you the easiest way to find a station moving a lot of premium. They have higher end cars in the tanks all the time, like Vettes, BMW's, etc... A lot of the higher end vehicles specify 93 octane. I typically would think Shell or BP for those. Just an observation.
  Valve tech huh? Going to have to look into that. Does it just help with the engine, or does it stop the mush stage it puts your tank and hoses into?

1jav

[Waterfoul]

Matt,
  I can tell you the easiest way to find a station moving a lot of premium. They have higher end cars in the tanks all the time, like Vettes, BMW's, etc... A lot of the higher end vehicles specify 93 octane. I typically would think Shell or BP for those. Just an observation.
  Valve tech huh? Going to have to look into that. Does it just help with the engine, or does it stop the mush stage it puts your tank and hoses into?

1jav

Helps with the entire octane issue from tank to exhaust outlet. 

And if you talk to any certified mechanic for any brand motor, they will all tell you not to run high octane fuel in a motor not designed and meant to run on it.  Unless you've upped your compression in some way, you will see no benifits from it, and it can and will do harm in the long run.  Properly treated 87 octane is less damaging.  Just trying to help you out.  Our older motors will run fine on the E10 as long as you treat it properly.  High octane can actually give you worse performance, slower hole shot, less top end, and lower fuel mileage.  In the long run, adding the Valvetech and some quickleen now and then costs about the same anway.  I just keep both in my boat so that when I hit the gas station I just add it before the fuel goes in.  All mixed up perfectly every time.

[River Rat]

I run Ring Free in my Optimax w/ regular 87 octane and have been very happy with the outcome.  I run a shock treatment at the beginning of the year and it keep me going.  I know someone who can tell you that NOT using a product to keep your engine clean will lead to losing a cylinder during a tournament and a 5 cylinder Optimax is NO FUN on LSC...

[markgoetsch]

wow, I don't know what kind of moron wouldn't put at least quickleen or something with there gas ever!  That just doesn't make any sense.  But I bet from then on he put quickleen in everyother tank.

[Waterfoul]

wow, I don't know what kind of moron wouldn't put at least quickleen or something with there gas ever!  That just doesn't make any sense.  But I bet from then on he put quickleen in everyother tank.

Hmmmmmm.....   

[Firefighter Jeff]

  It starts to get confusing after a while.  I started using Marine grade Stabil, then was told by a marina rep that Star Tron was the best, now it seems he mentioned something else the last time I talked with him.  He's a friend, so I trust him but still.  Then recently I talked with a guy that worked at the plant that made Etecs and he said sea foam was the best choice concerning ethanol.  All I know is you have to have an additive if you run ethanol and other additives like Ring Free can't hurt.  It's a huge investment you are protecting  !!!! 
    I use an additive so I don't pay much attention..... are there many stations that still sell the gas without Ethanol???  I think I recall that in either Michigan or Indiana, they don't even have to label it as having Ethanol in it.
  That same marina rep I talked about mentioned he had a tough decision to make last Spring.  Go with more expensive regular gas or the cheaper gas with ethanol at the dock.  He went with the 100% gas. 

[River Rat]

wow, I don't know what kind of moron wouldn't put at least quickleen or something with there gas ever!  That just doesn't make any sense.  But I bet from then on he put quickleen in everyother tank.

Hmmmmmm.....   

Now all that right there will start the day with a good laugh!

[MadWags]

I heard Sea Foam is made from whale urin, is this correct?

[fiker]

I could be mistaken, but I don't think in Michigan anymore that they have to tell you if there's Ethanol in their gas or not.  

So, this is what I've gathered from this thread so far.  

1.  I should continue to use my Marine formula Stabil, (or another similar product) in order to combat the ill effects of Ethanol in my 87 gas.

2. Using a product like Sea Foam, Merckleen, or Ringfree is also necessary to reduce or eliminate carbon deposits that can cause engine damage. Some I've talked to add this wither every tank, but it seems that some of you only add it to every other tank.

Question:  I believe it is the Ethanol in the gas that cause things like fuel lines to deteriorate.  (correct?) So; if I've been using Stabil, then I shouldn't have to replace hoses.  Correct?

[Hooksetter]

I've always used Stabil and I've never had any fuel related problems over the last 15 years. After reading these posts I am going to run some Ring Free through the motor this year. Just to be on the safe side.

Willie