89 octane 5% ethanol

[seadoobie]

Ok, so how safe is 89 octane with 5% ethanol blend for 2 stroke engines? (Its not the e-fuels that have the 10%+ ethanol.) They sell it at every gas station near where I live...cheapest gas we have. Its a good mid grade that I run in my cars and equipment on and they dont seem to have any problems with it. So how safe is this fuel to use in my 720's?

 

[LouDoo]

You should be better than O.K., since most gas is 10% alchol.

Here in KY we can still buy straight gas, but I understand most other states 10% is mandatory.

Last year I was running 91 octane, but because of gas prices I've been running 89 and the ski is running fine.

Lou

 

[06330i]

All the fuel in my area is 10% ethanol, so typically on my 720's I try to run atleast 89, 93 when prices permit. They do run ALOT better on 93.

 

[Dr Honda]

89 is fine... as long as you are using the right oil.

 

[seadoobie]

Cool! so should I add some seafoam to every tank to help keep moisture out..since ethanol absorbs water? and I believe I'm running the mineral based oil in it atm. It's what the last owner said he always used in it & I can still get gallons of it from the local marine shop here...or do I need to change to a different type? Also I found out today that it may be 10% ethanol in the gas and am looking into what the facts are...so what kind of difference will that make here?

 

[06330i]

Cool! so should I add some seafoam to every tank to help keep moisture out..since ethanol absorbs water? and I believe I'm running the mineral based oil in it atm. It's what the last owner said he always used in it & I can still get gallons of it from the local marine shop here...or do I need to change to a different type? Also I found out today that it may be 10% ethanol in the gas and am looking into what the facts are...so what kind of difference will that make here?

Adding seafoam to it couldn't hurt, as I just did for the first tank of fuel this season, really help clean out my carb jets a lot. I know that sta-bil sells an ethanol treatment that removes it from your fuel, we always used it on our older boats that ethanol free fuel. Works great.

 

[Dr Honda]

Cool! so should I add some seafoam to every tank to help keep moisture out..since ethanol absorbs water?

NO......... SeaFoam is a detergent, and will displace oil. DO NOT EVER use it in your Seadoo 2-stroke engine. The only things you should ever add to your fuel is Marine Stay-bil (blue bottle) or 2-stroke oil.

 

[Dr Honda]

a mineral oil is fine in your seadoo... but what kind is it? Most boat shops don't sell anything that a seadoo will like.

 

[06330i]

NO......... SeaFoam is a detergent, and will displace oil. DO NOT EVER use it in your Seadoo 2-stroke engine. The only things you should ever add to your fuel is Marine Stay-bil (blue bottle) or 2-stroke oil.

I'd trust Dr Honda on this, although I'm running it in mine right now with ZERO issues.

 

[Dr Honda]

I'd trust Dr Honda on this, although I'm running it in mine right now with ZERO issues.

People do run it in 2-stroke engines... and it's not going to be an instant death... but it can leave scaring/scuffing on the pistons. It's kind of like running a TC-w3 oil. It isn't an instant death... but you can severely lower the life of the engine.

 

[06330i]

People do run it in 2-stroke engines... and it's not going to be an instant death... but it can leave scaring/scuffing on the pistons. It's kind of like running a TC-w3 oil. It isn't an instant death... but you can severely lower the life of the engine.

That makes a lot more sense Dr Honda, I'm sure that probably 99% of the cleaning products for engines out there aren't good to run on a regular basis as most of the formulas are harsh.

 

[DEADRINGER]

Why only use blue stay-bil whats the difference between the red stuff?

 

[LouDoo]

The only difference that I can tell is the Marine Stabil (blue) is its more concentrated and costs more. Actually will cost about the same because you use less. I'm still using the red because I still have about 1/2 bottle left, as soon as I run out I'll buy the blue.

Lou