www.iFourWinns.com

http://www.goldeagle.com/products/product01A7.aspx

With the E10 gas, I have been told that adding Stabil to every tank of gas will prevent issues with water separation, etc. Does anyone else do this for I/Os? I have done this for several years with outboards and never had an issue with crapped out carbs, etc. As this is my first I/O, just want to see what everyone does/recommends.

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1988 215 Sundowner 5.7L OMC

I dont use any stabilizer till i store my boat in the winter months. I just fill my tank after every weekend of use. never had issues. I have done this with my last 3 boats

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"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes "

1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
Previous boat:
1998 Sundowner 205

It depends on how often you use the boat. Ethanol in gas will settle and ethanol will absorb water. The stabilizer helps to keep it all mixed up.
If you use the boat every weekend I would not worry as you are burning the fuel faster than it can deteriorate. If it sits for a few weeks at a time I would use stabilizer. If you can find non-ethanol fuel even better.
Good luck Rob

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Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Overdoing
2001 Horizon 180

My current boat has TBI engines, but my last boat was carbed. With either setup, I can sense a slight decrease in performance when I treat the gas with Marine Sta-bil.

I treat the winter gas with it, burn it all up, fill up with fresh untreated gas, then change the fuel/water separators.

However, you might have to do a risk/benefit comparison. Or just use gas without ethanol.

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

We will use the boat just about every weekend, we are planning to splash for first time this weekend. Unfortunately, ethanol free gas is not available in MA, so that is not an option. Sounds like if I top it off with fresh gas after each use, I will be OK. Outboards have more exposure to water and moisture than I/O, so it sounds like water isn't as big a deal with I/Os.

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1988 215 Sundowner 5.7L OMC

I use Sta-Bil with every fill up, and so far so good. I do tend to use my boat 3-4 times a week tho. Also, you might be surprised to find non-ethonal gas in MA. Same rules/laws here in NY make it mandatory for gas stations, however, sometimes most marinas get it special delivered, altho it is pricey.

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

http://pure-gas.org/
No Ma. on the list.

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2002 Horizon 190 5.0gl

Thats a cool website. However, the Marina where I boat isn't on the list and I know they have ethanol free gas.

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

I don't go out of my way to get non-ethanol, but if it's handy I will.
Sta-bil goes in when it gets stored. No problems yet.


Pretty sure you can add it to the list.

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2002 Horizon 190 5.0gl

StaBil every fill for me.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Well, I never add anything in about 12 years; I think we are about 7% ethanol here now ( what a stupid, stupid idea, driven only by politics !). .Anyhow, Ethanol itself s soluble in petrol ( gasoline) in any concentration. It will never separate out. You could run 100% ethanol, your engine wouldn't like though it, no more that it would like diesel or acetone. However, in a gasoline/ alcohol mix water will dissolve in the ethanol and if it reaches a critical concentration, an ethanol/ water solution will separate out. Keep your tank full and don't fill up from dodgy fill stations with a low turnover of fuel.

Here we went from e-5 to pretty much all e-10 last summer. I could track the change by the amount of times my 4.3 vapor locked when the weather got real hot. I have taken all the steps for vapor lock, (insulate the lines, run the blower, changed the check valve yahda yahda). It locks when we have been running then go back to the beach or stop for lunch for a while. It will fire right back up and run until the fuel in the carb and the filter is gone then die. The fuel pump circuit is designed to run the pump for a couple of seconds when you turn the key on, with power supplied from the starter motor. Then it switches to power provided from the alternator, (If it determines that the engine is running) The ethanol laced fuel is evaporating from the lines while the boat sits, so the pump doesn't have time to fill them before the circuit switches. Not detecting the engine is running the alternator circuit does not come on and it runs out of fuel.
My answer was to install a circuit on a switch that bypasses the relay for a few seconds to refill all the parts. Once she starts we're all good to go.
I also use a Valvoline additive made for ethanol and have had some good luck.

Side note: My cousin is a dairy farmer and just about can't afford to feed his herd because the ethanol folks have driven the price of corn and grain so high!

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1999 180 Horizon LS 4.3 L GL Volvo SX
1994 Powerstroke
2002 Jeep Wrangler
not@work.gon
Happiness is an Empty Boat Trailer!!!

I'm using Marine Sta-Bil for storage every year and only once in a while when I feel up. We have some gas stations in our area with ethanol free gas but all of them are unbranded and out of my way. I usually pump Chevron and trying to stay away from brand less gasoline for obvious reason.

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2004 Four Winns H250

So it sounds like 50/50 split where half use it and half don't. Unfortunately, ethanol free gas is not available in MA. It looks like the closest state is CT that carries it...

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1988 215 Sundowner 5.7L OMC

It's not just about ethanol for some of us. I have pretty good access to pure gas and still use StaBil just in case anything comes up and the boat ends up not being used for an extended time. As far as ethanol goes, I figure that crap's going to do whatever it's going to do regardless.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic