Just curious what everyone here uses for fuel treatment in their boat motors. Seems like people are in either the Sta-Bil or Sea Foam camp. Which do you use? If something other than listed, please state what brand you use and why
I use marine formulated Stabil and Yamaha Ring Free in every tank.
What about when you use non-oxy gas? Does anyone recommend useing a fuel treatment? I haven’t been but I did use marine grade sta-bil when I use to fill up with 87.
Ive been filling up with premium no ethanol gas and I run the mercury quick clean every other tank full.
I run Sea Foam in every tank in my older 2-strokes. I only add fuel stabilizer for the last run of the season before it gets put away.
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I use marine formulated Stabil and Yamaha Ring Free in every tank.
X2! I also use the supposed non ethanol fuel!
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What about when you use non-oxy gas? Does anyone recommend useing a fuel treatment? I haven’t been but I did use marine grade sta-bil when I use to fill up with 87.
Dom, why are you running Non-Oxy in your Yammi 60?
I alternate between the sea foam and marine grade stabil. Partly because of what is available when i need it. Figure I might be getting the best of each manufactures by alternating 
Nothing but non oxygenated fuel, and seafoam during the year, maybe one tankful will get the Ring free treatment and come fall I add stabil to the mix.
I checked “other” because you didn’t leave a muliple choice option.
Al
This is EXACTLY what I do.
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I alternate between the sea foam and marine grade stabil. Partly because of what is available when i need it. Figure I might be getting the best of each manufactures by alternating
On every other engine I have that does not consume a full tank in 30 days I run stabil
I checked other also. I use Stabil in the tank at the end of the year, but when I am running a lot of gas through the tank I just run gas. Now if i only went through a tank or 2 in a year, I would run Stabil all the time, but that is not the case.
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Gasoline or Diesel fuel treated with Star Tron
has a shelf life in excess of two yearsgreat info here: Star Tron
Primarily Seafoam, but I run strong doses of Ringfree, several times a year, always, always have at least one of the two in my tank.
I have been meaning for a couple years now to look into the Star Tron stuff, bang for the buck, iirc, providing its as good as Seafoam / Ringfree, it’s a clear winner IIRC.
All of you guys that continuously run aftermarket detergents through your outboards every tank or every other tank:
What are you trying to acccomplish?
Do you do this with your automobiles too?
I can see Seafoam to “clean out” the tarnish in fuel delivery systems and the carbs if they have been sitting with “old fuel” for over a year—-unused.
I can see running Stabil for fuel sitting longer than 3-5 months in a tank (over winter).
If you are having water containating your fuel that bad, why not save a lot of money and purchase a fuel/water seperator (if your engine doesn’t already have one).
If your motors are requiring that much alternative detergents in order to run correctly, I HIGHLY recommend having a marine mechanic perform some maintenance on your outboard.
Today’s fuels have very good detergents to tolerate the tighter, higher-pressure fuel injection systems, as well as the hotter burning motors.
Just seems like a waste of money diluting your fuel from it’s proper octane and detergents.
I run 91 octane non ethanol fuel. Stabil in the fall till storage. Seafoam once middle of summer. Been doing that for 20 years. First motor Yammy 60 2 stroke. Last 2 Yammy F150 4 stroke. Never a problem. Just staying away from ethanol fuel will save 95% of your problems.
End of the yr i put stabil in for the last few runs. Throughout allnlast summer i ran sea foam everytime i filled up. Noticed better idle and only went through one set of plugs while normally going through 4 or so each summer. Defnially worth it if ya find it at a decent price. Ive seen it anywheres from 6.50 a can to 11- 12 bucks
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All of you guys that continuously run aftermarket detergents through your outboards every tank or every other tank:
What are you trying to acccomplish?Do you do this with your automobiles too?
I can see Seafoam to “clean out” the tarnish in fuel delivery systems and the carbs if they have been sitting with “old fuel” for over a year—-unused.
I can see running Stabil for fuel sitting longer than 3-5 months in a tank (over winter).
If you are having water containating your fuel that bad, why not save a lot of money and purchase a fuel/water seperator (if your engine doesn’t already have one).
If your motors are requiring that much alternative detergents in order to run correctly, I HIGHLY recommend having a marine mechanic perform some maintenance on your outboard.
Today’s fuels have very good detergents to tolerate the tighter, higher-pressure fuel injection systems, as well as the hotter burning motors.
Just seems like a waste of money diluting your fuel from it’s proper octane and detergents.
Ok, I’ll tackle this, first off the owners manual says to run it every tank, secondly my Yamaha, is a ox66 motor and actually has an O2 sensor, if it gets crapped up, the motor won’t run right, often times you can clean it and your okay again, sometimes you need to replace them and they are big $$$.
I’ve also heard the leading cause of blown motors over time is carbon build up, I’ve also went so far to change my oil to pennzoil and the motor runs great, and my prop, is shiny, inside the hub where the exhaust exits, unlike the factory oil, which was leaving a nice dark sooty coating, on my prop.
Otherwise I totally agree with you today’s gas is pretty good, but the additives are cheap, and IMHO good insurance for a long future with a $14k, motor.
Long ago I inherited a poorly maintained boat and motor, after all too many tows and bad days on the water, I decided fishing is my hobby not working on boat motors, thus far, my last two boats have been darn near perfect.
I’ll run a can or two through my car and truck each year.
Start with non-ethanol gas. 1oz. each star tron, sea foam, and quicksilver quickleen per 6gal. of gas. 2 years no problems mercury 225 pro xs
Shaken or stirred?
I keep seafoam in all the time because some years my first tank has also been my last tank. I have some yamaha stuff I haven’t really used. Also might look into john deere variety they have under the counter. Hopefully next motor is EFI so I don’t have to worry about this subject. Don’t wanna get stuck rebuilding 4 carbs.
I also use Star Tron and try to use non-oxy if available.
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Gasoline or Diesel fuel treated with Star Tron
has a shelf life in excess of two yearsgreat info here: Star Tron
That is what I use,a little goes a long way.My 50hp Yamaha does not idle well with 89 octane or higher fuel.Tried it twice,why bother wasting money.Runs/idles best with 87.
Unless you have 10:1 compression ratio or higher,the premium fuel has little or no benefits.It could lead to increased carbon deposits,because it burns slower.
Mercury Quickleen in every tank for my Optimax
Around here the 91 octane is the only fuel without ethanol. No other options.
What are the advantages of Ring Free? Can you use it in any brand of 4-stroke (i.e. Honda)?
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All of you guys that continuously run aftermarket detergents through your outboards every tank or every other tank:
What are you trying to acccomplish?Do you do this with your automobiles too?
I can see Seafoam to “clean out” the tarnish in fuel delivery systems and the carbs if they have been sitting with “old fuel” for over a year—-unused.
I can see running Stabil for fuel sitting longer than 3-5 months in a tank (over winter).
If you are having water containating your fuel that bad, why not save a lot of money and purchase a fuel/water seperator (if your engine doesn’t already have one).
If your motors are requiring that much alternative detergents in order to run correctly, I HIGHLY recommend having a marine mechanic perform some maintenance on your outboard.
Today’s fuels have very good detergents to tolerate the tighter, higher-pressure fuel injection systems, as well as the hotter burning motors.
Just seems like a waste of money diluting your fuel from it’s proper octane and detergents.
Most boats have an open fuel system (non pressured) where motor vehicles have a closed fuel system (pressured). In an open system, gas with alcohol ( ethonal) attracts moisture, thus needing treatments with additives.
Even after 2 weeks in an open system like our boats, moisture can start to be a problem, so be pro active and treat the gas as needed.
I run seafoam and stabil and a 10 Micron filter and never have had a problem.
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