Recently my dad recieved a memo from evinrude/johnson saying to at least run middle grade fuel in your boat motor(89 octane). they said will all the ethynol being used it is breaking down the oil (2 stroke motors) and causing pistons to burn up. we've recieved about 10 motors in the past month for overhauls do to this. Also, they said if you have a 2stroke where you mix your gas and your oil to mix it 1 pint to every 5 gallons, instead of the usual 1 pint to every 6 gallons. Hope this helps everyone in the future.

Also if possible dont let your boat sit up a long time without fuel stabilizer because when ethynol evaporates it sweats inside your fuel tank causing you to end up with water in your fuel

Cool, thanks for the info.

How did you guys get this memo?

I know the big motors need mid-grade gasoline.

That is a given.

So far I have not had any problems with my Mercury.

But thanks for the info.

Maybe I will start to use mid-range gasoline, especially when it hits $4.50 a gallon!!!! :'(

Cool, thanks for the info.

How did you guys get this memo?

my dad has a boat shop

This is starting tomake sense to me. I thought I was just unlucky, but there might be something else going on. In the past 2 years I have had 2 outboards go down with burnt pistons.they are both Suzuki's and the manual stated to run 87 in them. I ran 87 in both( I used to run 94 in one back in the 90's when it was $1.30 a gal) and pre mixed in one 50-1. both where older motor, but ran great and never had any issues, then all of a sudden, bam, they blew up. one even seized. I also know 2 others that motors just went, burning pistion up, and these were smaller motors, one a 50hp and other a 35hp, both johnson's