Ethanol free but 87 octane

Unless you have changed the timing that boat should jhave no problems whatsoever on87 octane.

Maybe I'm just lucky . I have used regular pump gas the cheapest I could find in my boats and cars since the early 80s . With lead without lead with ethanol and without., I haven't had any engine problems or fuel related problems . I beginning to think all this concern about fuel is similar to finding Bigfoot or man made global warming. I hear lots of talk about it but not much on fact..

I've been using octane booster from Klotz Racing:

http://www.klotzlube.com/ecommerce/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?IID=17

Great stuff. I've used it in dirt bikes, high-performance chainsaws and my Ski Nautique. I keep a bottle in my tow vehicle to use for just such a purpose.

Stock pcms from the 80's had low compression (mid 8's) so with conservative timing I agree with joe- 87 should be fine.

Higher octane doesn't add more power, it is harder to combust so it keeps you from detonating when adding compression and/or timing. An engine will usually run best on the lowest octane gas it can safely run.

As far as fuel issues go, I don't know if ethanol is to blame or not (no e-free around here) but my boats will NOT start in the spring on 6 month old gas. They'll usually run it, but the initial start requires a fresh shot of gas down the carb to get it to kick. My tractors and power tools don't seem quite as sensitive but they definitely start easier with fresh gas. I would imagine that fuel quality can vary from region to region.

No issues. She ran great.
On the way back home to fire up the grill for Mother's Day Dinner with Mom.

74Wind wrote: The marinas on my lake have non-ethanol so I have no issues.

I'd say the only issue is their cost!! I too have non ethanol available at the marina but haven't used it for I'd say 20 years. The gas tote is a wonderful invention!!

8122pbrainard wrote: 74Wind wrote: The marinas on my lake have non-ethanol so I have no issues. I'd say the only issue is their cost!! I too have non ethanol available at the marina but haven't used it for I'd say 20 years. The gas tote is a wonderful invention!!

Yeah a bit more but I don't trail my boats and am not gonna tote a bunch of gas cans over there in my trunk.

TRBenj wrote: As far as fuel issues go, I don't know if ethanol is to blame or not (no e-free around here) but my boats will NOT start in the spring on 6 month old gas. They'll usually run it, but the initial start requires a fresh shot of gas down the carb to get it to kick. My tractors and power tools don't seem quite as sensitive but they definitely start easier with fresh gas. I would imagine that fuel quality can vary from region to region.

This is exactly what I have experienced for the past 5 yrs or so, always treat my fuel before layup also. As a result I now store with as little fuel as possible and add a fresh 5 gallons in the spring. Always run 87 and only from the Big names like Shell, Mobil or BP Amoco.

Tim, all - I found this thread helpful as I laid up with full tank year before last and struggled to start. After reading this I won't bother with that in future, but for now I am about to launch full tank again. If throwing a shot down carb, how much & when? Not a fan of jacking w/ carb but don't want a backfire either..
Thanks

Then again Pete...getting gas at the Pit Stop up the street and see they now have a big rack of VP Racing Fuels in convenient 5 Gallon cans. Maybe I should pick up a few cans. What do you recommend. .the 110 octane or the 113?


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