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Keeping carb clean
- Thread starter nickelz
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Spimothy Leary
Well-Known Member
never used stabil but I think it depends on how frequently you ride, when i'm running i ride weekly so my fuel never sits long.
somepeople really like seafoam, some dont. some people really like juist a regualr carb cleaner additive put into your gas. it really depends on the person. i myself, just add carb cleaner before the carb gets too bad. aroun donce every year. but again, different people will say different things. but like Doc said, carbs will need servicing eventually.
Dr Honda
Well-Known Member
NEVER... in a 2-stroke !!!! It can kill the engine.
I think what Dr. Honda was saying that any of these "Carb Cleaners" including sea faom are a cleaner and are designed to remove varnish and deposits from the fuel system. These are for our purposes a solvent and when they remove varnish and deposits in a 2 stroke they can remove the little bit of oil film that is in the fuel/oil mix as the fuel/oil/carb cleaner mix reaches the crank and cylinders unlike a 4 stroke. There goes your crank and piston lubrication. Remember that there is actually very little oil in these engines so anything that is removing/cleaning that oil film can lead catastrophic failure. Much like a$@ holes we all have an opinion so use at your own risk. I prefer regular Sta-Bil for storage but if we had ethanol here I would probably use their marind formula.
Wow... Thanks! Real helpful post! Now that you say that it really does all make sense. Does anyone know of any let's say ( 2-stroke safe carb cleaners?)
Dr Honda
Well-Known Member
no !
Anything that can clean... can destroy the oil. (assuming you are looking for a pour-in band-aid)
mikidymac: Thanks... I've typed that about 50 times this spring.
Tony when I saw the comment about Seafoam I could see the hair stand up on the back of your neck all the way from Kentucky.
I did want to make a comment about carbs., I re-did the carbs. on my 96GTI last winter, it's the first time they had ever been cracked. I did check the carb. filters when I replaced the fuel lines a couple of years ago, and except for being dirty there was no green goo, they were in good shape.
The carbs. were in great shape very clean the ski has relatively low hours and most of the gas purchased was at the marina, no alcohol, I did re-build them but I was amazed how little they needed after 16 years.
Maybe Harry Trumann was correct, "if it ain't broke don't fix it."
Lou
I did want to make a comment about carbs., I re-did the carbs. on my 96GTI last winter, it's the first time they had ever been cracked. I did check the carb. filters when I replaced the fuel lines a couple of years ago, and except for being dirty there was no green goo, they were in good shape.
The carbs. were in great shape very clean the ski has relatively low hours and most of the gas purchased was at the marina, no alcohol, I did re-build them but I was amazed how little they needed after 16 years.
Maybe Harry Trumann was correct, "if it ain't broke don't fix it."
Lou
SabrToothSqrl
Well-Known Member
I imagine you can use carb cleaner, when the carbs are OFF the engine... then it will dry and not get into the block, correct?
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Dr Honda
Well-Known Member
Well... that's totally different.
When they are off... yes... you need a solvent of some kind to clean them. BUT... you can't run it though the carbs, with the fuel.
RodInEscondido
Well-Known Member
Doc, seems I recall you making an observation in another thread about how crappy the new carb cleaners are. Were you speaking of the aerosol cans or the gallon cans into which you soak the carb/parts or something totally different?
thanks,
Rod
Dr Honda
Well-Known Member
That would be the parts dip. (in the gallon can)
In my shop, all I use is carb spray, and compressed air to clean the carbs.
(digging up an old thread here)
So, Dr. Honda, you don't recommend using any fuel additives? I put high grade fuel in my Ski and having just re-built the carbs want to make sure I keep them as clean as I can (one was almost completely gooped up from the previous owner - though I suppose that may have been from the gray fuel lines which have now been replaced). Either way, how do you recommend keeping it clean and combating the ethanol?
riding high
New Member
What do you say about a product like Mercury Quickleen. Good, bad, or indifferent in these engines??
after I posted that I found some other older threads explaining how since SeaFoam is a solvent it's not wise to use it in a 2-stroke. Pretty much answered my question. Seems like it's 50/50 on whether or not to use SeaFoam. If you all say not to, I'm fine with it. Just want to make sure the carbs stay clean. The guy at the local Seadoo dealership was trying to sell me some Seadoo Carb Spray/Cleaner? Is this a good idea?
Quicksilver Quickcare might be O.K., as it's a competitive product to Marine Stabil, Quickleen definitely not. As long as it's readily available I'm sticking with Marine Stabil.
Lou
black charger
Member
I've been using Seafoam in my outboard for years,and know lots of others who do the same.None of us have had any problems with it.If you look at the MSDS for it you'll find that there is alot of pale oil in it for lube.
I was also wondering if it was safe to use in a 1995 XP.
I was also wondering if it was safe to use in a 1995 XP.
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