Should you disconnect and run the gas out of your outboard motor? Is this bad on the carburetor?
I have never done this but have a friend that dose.

ttt

It's good for carbs, bad for cylinders & pistons.

Top carb(s) run dry first, then those cylinders have no lubrication till the others run out. 2-cylinder engine, probably ok.

Instead, I make sure to crank her & warm her up to operating temp ever couple or three weeks, and put seafoam it the tanks.

Most carbs, the drain plug is front & center at the bottom of the carb bowl if you want to drain 'em.

I never pull mine. Never had a problem. Now where's that piece of wood???

I've never had a problem with mine, I don't know where this ideal came from.

It's a potential solution to the problem of gas turning to varnish and clogging up the carburetors of neglected boats...

How often do you use your boat?

Best thing to do is use fuel conditioner or stabilzer in the gas. My older carbs a screws where the orifices are and I can drain them through there is I feel it is going to be that long before I fish.

Like David asked how often do you run your boat? Some of us run year round so our gas never sets too long to create gum or varnish. If you set it up during winter use that fuel conditioner before winter.

For what it's worth.......

I asked the same question when I picked up my new Tracker with 50hp Merc. The answer I got was:

On older motors where gas was premixed, and some of those with early oil injection, needed to be run out because the oil was mixed at a pre-determined ratio which never changed. No matter how fast or slow the oil was always mixed at the same ratio. Consequently older engines at idle were always over oiling.

He said the newer motors are metered to inject oil based on engine speed - low speed/less oil and high speed/more oil so it wasn't necessary to run the gas out everytime you trailer.

I'm not a boat motor mechanic, but it sound right to me.....and I haven't had any problems....

Sounds like you could learn from this friend because when the varnish loads up in your carbs it makes for a rough idle and eventually rebuilt carbs.

I bet he is also the type that also tilts his motor up before pulling out of the ramp also. (I know of someone who lets it drag the ramp)

Slewft, Have you hit anymore stumps lately? Is your new lower unit holding up?
Remember in the future that when your lower unit hits something at high speeds and the throttle shifter is stuck to not force the throttle to neutral � it will cost you more in the long run. (also, for future reference, going full throttle at Lake Fork out of the Boat Lanes is only for the Skilled Boaters�.)

P.S. You should take his advice in the future since he has never had to replace a lower unit�����..

Never run it out of gas. It is your lubrication as well. Use sta-bil to keep the gas fresh. It won't gum up the carbs even if left sitting for 6+ months.

I never run mine out.

Never run mine out either. No problems so far.

I've been asked many times, "how do you winterize your boat"? I chuckle, and say "I use it"!