I tried to do a search on here but couldn't find anything. I'll be purchasing a boat soon and was wondering if I should run fuel additives/treatments in the motor. I've heard some people say they always do and others that never do. Just wanting some opinions on here. 

Seafoam 

Just now, Tygaiser7 said:

Seafoam 

Everytime you fill up?

I always put blue stabil in every time I put gas in the boat. I've used Sea foam once and that's when I started having some motor issues. It probably has nothing to do with the Sea foam but now it's in my head. People do love that Sea foam though!!

I use startron to treat my gasoline when I use ethanol gas

3 hours ago, clark9312 said:

Everytime you fill up?

Seafoam every fill up. Its $6 and treats 16 gal. 

I use the Yamaha product Ring Free because that is what the dealer told me to use when I bought the boat in 2002.   Still use it, nearly every time.

3 hours ago, clark9312 said:

Everytime you fill up?

 Approximately 1oz per gallon

Startron is what my dealer told me works.  Yes, he sold it, but also told me I could get it cheaper elsewhere and highly recommended it.  I add a little about every other fill up on my cruising barge with a 4 stroke and every time on my two stroke hunting/fishing boat.  

If you are lucky enough to find, use, and afford ethanol free gas then you may want to put an additive in a couple times a year to keep your fuel and system clean and fuel lasting longer. If you use gas with ethanol in it, use an additive with every tank. Ethanol is hell on smaller engines. I have used Startron and Seafoam and both seem to work well. I suggest using additives for all small engines including lawn equipment, especially if using ethanol gas. Car & truck engines are now designed to handle ethanol fuel. I still use an additive in my vehicles a couple times each year.

23 hours ago, Tygaiser7 said:

Have you guys ever tried the Lucas marine fuel additive?

For what it's worth.  I have several gas powered toys.  Lawnmowers, an edger, a chain saw, trimmer, etc.

Every year, after being stored for the winter, I had to put new fuel in the lawn edger.  It would not start on old fuel, no matter what.  I started putting stabil in all the fuel I buy except for our two vehicles.  No more problem with the edger.  It will start right up on last year's fuel.

Additives also help to prevent the deterioration of fuel lines that result from unleaded gas.  Take your pick.  Stabil, Startron, Sea Foam, whatever.

On May 6, 2016 at 6:22 AM, Tygaiser7 said:

Seafoam 

X2 - I use Seafoam in every gas engine I own.

Seafoam about 3 or 4 times a year. I use non ethanol gas.

Marine Stabil every fill up for the last 15 yrs in my '96 Nitro. Just had carbs apart this winter for the first time in 20 yrs and they literally looked like new inside. Not changing a thing.

 

 

startron marine fuel stabilizer,best stuff i've ever used. plus I only use ethanol free gas. 

Is there a difference for 2 or 4 stroke as far as the use of fuel additives? Sorry for all the questions guys. I just constantly hear of fuel/ethanol related problems. 

I use Yamaha Ring Free on my Yamaha and so far seems to do the job. Boats only a little over a year old, so time will well.

Startron in every gas-fueled engine I run.  Ethanol-laced gasoline SUCKS!

 

Tight lines,

Bob

Startron and Quick Kleen for my Mercury.

I use the blue Stabil. I've put it in both my boat and my truck, and left them sitting during a year long deployment, and they both ran just fine when I got home. 

19 hours ago, desmobob said:

Startron in every gas-fueled engine I run.  Ethanol-laced gasoline SUCKS!

 

Tight lines,

Bob

Wait till the government forces us to use E15. Its coming. I even saw a a NASCAR team advertising it on their car this weekend. How screwed up is that?

I run ethanol free gas, but I run a can of Seafoam through it about every month or so. 

High-octane, ethanol free gas for every fill-up. It's worth the extra quarter or two per gallon.

Seafoam continuously at about 1 oz to 4-6 gallons, which is weaker than the recommended dose of 1:1. A few times a year I will run it at full strength to smoke out and de-carb the engine.

Lucas continuously at the same rate, which is also weak.

Marine Stabil continuously at the recommended dose.

This continuous, relatively weak cocktail has worked like a charm.

If you're really curious about additives I'd highly recommend the bob is the oil guy forums.

It's like the bass resource for all things oil/additive/car related!