Fuel Grades-gctid404385

[Guest]

I'm looking for advise on the grade of fuel I should use, I just bought a 2008 185 with the 3.0L TKS engine, in talking with both other boaters and some service shops I have been told that I should always run premium grade by some, others say the engine was designed to use regular grade and the premium provides no benifit, some say the the lower grades can contain 10% ethanol and that it does not store well, others say I should always add stabilizer so the ethanol is not an issues, where others say the ethanol will break down anyways and release water into the fuel. I have been running premium grade ethanol free so far but the price difference between that and regular is considerable, in my area it is $1.31 a liter vs $1.48.

I don't want to sound cheap, if premium is required, then thats the cost of doing business, but if it is not why pay the extra cost. Has anyone tried running with regular grade and if so did you notice any difference.

Would appreicate any advise.

BC Steve

2008 185 BR 3.0L tks Alpha 1

15 ft Flat bottom river boat 50 hp jet

[Chief_Alen]

Regular gas and don't add anything to it. When you store it for the winter run the carb dry. I also store the boat with the tank empty.

[Guest]

Just use regular fuel, using premium is a waste of money, if you're worried about ethanol, use an additive like Startron (TSC has it on sale this week). Premium does not increase the power of your motor, it actually burns slower (it is meant for higher compression engines so they don't prematurely detonate). I only use premium in my sleds, but they are meant to run on it, whereas the boat and car are desigenex for 87 octane, and that's what they get, the price of gas is high enough, no need to spend more.

One last thing, if you are using your boat regularly, the ethanol won't be much of a problem, but as I said before, if you do have concerns, just add a bit of Startron.

[JimMc]

Your engine should not need the octane of premium gas. If you can get Ethanol free regular that is ideal.

As it is a trailer size boat then store it with an empty tank in the winter. Fuel stabilizer is great if your use is infrequent. If you are using the boat regularly and moving fuel through it there is less of a worry. When gas with Ethanol sits around it can draw in moisture.

You don't indicate where you are located.

[Guest]

Thanks all for the advise, I'm in North West British Columbia and the only ethanol free fuel here is the premium, I think I will take your advise and save the cash, I'll deal with the ethanol issue before storage at the seasons end.

Thanks again

BC Steve

[Guest]

Normally I would say use the octane in the manual - but my 2005 3.0L has always run best on 89/92 octane. I get run on and knock with the recommended 87 octane. Everything I run is E10. If you run E10 in your 3.0L you will need to up the mixture a bit since the E10 runs leaner.

You don't need to put any snake oil in the gas and the ethanol boogyman isn't an issue either. You can store as much or as little as you want for the winter and it starts up just fine. We've had E10 for 20+ years.

So I guess the answer is - see what works in your boat.

[Guest]

Down here in Australia our fuel grade is more improved that what you guys have got over there

Standard 91ron

Premium 95ron

Ultimate 98ron

in my 2006 3L I find that with anything less than 95ron I experience run on problems after a long fast run (eg. a slalom ski run ect.) So I tend to use 98ron or if I'm feeling tigh *** 95.

Experiment around and see what works best for you. at the end of the day boats aren't a cheap investment and if your worried about the 10c per litre perhaps you shouldn't have bought one.

[Guest]

kidafa wrote:
Down here in Australia our fuel grade is more improved that what you guys have got over there

Standard 91ron

Premium 95ron

Ultimate 98ron

in my 2006 3L I find that with anything less than 95ron I experience run on problems after a long fast run (eg. a slalom ski run ect.) So I tend to use 98ron or if I'm feeling tigh *** 95.

Experiment around and see what works best for you. at the end of the day boats aren't a cheap investment and if your worried about the 10c per litre perhaps you shouldn't have bought one.

Octane is computed differently in the US and Canada. We use AKI which is (RON+MON)/2 which is why you see different numbers - we compare our 87 Octane to your 91

"regular" gasoline in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US 91ÔÇô92 RON 82ÔÇô83 MON = 87 (RON+MON)/2

"Premium" or "Super unleaded" gasoline in US (10% ethanol blend) 97 RON 87-88 MON = 92-93 (RON+MON)/2

[Guest]

God I feel stupid at times, but always know when I come here looking for help, it is available. mon

[Guest]

Mastertech doesn't recommend premium, but premium is the only ethanol free gas in town.

My motor isn't set up for ethanol.

[JimMc]

Ethanol Boogyman

Hmmm ask the guys with the old Bertams that are needing to have fiberglass fuel tanks replaced what they think of E10.

[Guest]

oldjeep wrote:
Octane is computed differently in the US and Canada. We use AKI which is (RON+MON)/2 which is why you see different numbers - we compare our 87 Octane to your 91

"regular" gasoline in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US 91ÔÇô92 RON 82ÔÇô83 MON = 87 (RON+MON)/2

"Premium" or "Super unleaded" gasoline in US (10% ethanol blend) 97 RON 87-88 MON = 92-93 (RON+MON)/2

Thanks for clearing that up, I was going to say the choices here are between 87 to 92, never heard of anything higher without adding booster. I am going to try the regular and see what happens, as to the ethanol the only fuel here without it is Shell Premium so I will be watching for the typical water in the fuel stumble and poor starting I have had before in both trucks and boats. Do most people use a water seperator on a gas engine in a boat, I know that Bayliner puts them in on all diesels but not on gas engines.

BC Steve

2008 Bayliner 185 BR 3.0 L TKS

[Guest]

kidafa wrote:
Down here in Australia our fuel grade is more improved that what you guys have got over there

Standard 91ron

Premium 95ron

Ultimate 98ron

in my 2006 3L I find that with anything less than 95ron I experience run on problems after a long fast run (eg. a slalom ski run ect.) So I tend to use 98ron or if I'm feeling tigh *** 95.

Experiment around and see what works best for you. at the end of the day boats aren't a cheap investment and if your worried about the 10c per litre perhaps you shouldn't have bought one.

It's not about the dime Mr Gates, it's about finding out whats right for the drive.

[Guest]

FWIW, in the automotive world for the newer engines it usually is a waste of money to use premium fuel because of the knock sensors and the computerÔÇÖs ability to adjust timing as necessary to compensate for low grade fuel. My old 70ÔÇÖs El Camino with a Chevy 350 and no sensors always ran better on mid-grade or higher gas.

That said, I was just looking through the original factory owners manual for my 1988 OMC Cobra 3.0L and it states (paraphrasing) use 89 octane fuel (base timing is 4*BTDC), if 87 must be used base timing must also be changed to 1*ATDC to compensate for the lower grade fuel.

So if your engine is computer controlled that could make the difference. Also the newer engines may be setup by the manufacturer to run on 87, so as was mentioned earlier use whatever the manual suggests and no more is necessary.

[Guest]

JimMc wrote:
Ethanol Boogyman

Hmmm ask the guys with the old Bertams that are needing to have fiberglass fuel tanks replaced what they think of E10.

We're not talking about old boats here, we're talking about modern bayliners - which do not have fiberglass tanks and have no issues running ethanol like most things made in the last 20+ years.