Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

I have a 1985 85 Force Outboard on a Bayliner Trophy Fish & Ski. The
label on the boat, by the fuel filler hole, states "Use Leaded Regular
gas..."

I thought Leaded fuel went out in the mid 70s. Why then do I need Leaded
fuel on a 1985 motor?

--
It's no good unless it makes your eyes water.

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

Why then do I need Leaded
fuel on a 1985 motor?

A 2-stroke motor does not rely on lead for lubrication. Dont sweat it.

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

In article ,
obull (CCred68046) wrote:

Why then do I need Leaded
fuel on a 1985 motor?

A 2-stroke motor does not rely on lead for lubrication. Dont sweat it.


But why does it ask for Leaded?

--
It's no good unless it makes your eyes water.

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

"Jeepers" wrote in message
...
I have a 1985 85 Force Outboard on a Bayliner Trophy Fish & Ski. The
label on the boat, by the fuel filler hole, states "Use Leaded Regular
gas..."

I thought Leaded fuel went out in the mid 70s. Why then do I need Leaded
fuel on a 1985 motor?


Is there any chance the label is not original and
was added by some other owner of the boat?

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

In article ,
"Gary Warner" wrote:

"Jeepers" wrote in message
...
I have a 1985 85 Force Outboard on a Bayliner Trophy Fish & Ski. The
label on the boat, by the fuel filler hole, states "Use Leaded Regular
gas..."

I thought Leaded fuel went out in the mid 70s. Why then do I need Leaded
fuel on a 1985 motor?


Is there any chance the label is not original and
was added by some other owner of the boat?


I don't thinks so, it's an original package, boat and motor. I am the
second owner.

--
It's no good unless it makes your eyes water.

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

In article ,
wrote:

But why does it ask for Leaded?

Your engine talks? Be firm. Tell it it's getting unleaded or nothing. That'll
shut it up!

No, the engine doesn't talk, the LABEL does!

--
It's no good unless it makes your eyes water.

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

Jeepers wrote:

I thought Leaded fuel went out in the mid 70s. Why then do I need Leaded
fuel on a 1985 motor?

You don't.

The lead in gasoline was added to reduce knocking. Mixing lube oil in
gasoline for use in a 2-stroke engine lowers the fuel's knock
resistance. The manufacturer designed the engine to perform to
specifications with the use of leaded regular gasoline mixed with the
specified proportion of 2-stroke oil and therefore recommends that grade
of fuel.

Since leaded gasoline is no longer available you will have to use
regular or better grade unleaded fuel that matches the octane value of
the old leaded "regular" gasoline.

Rick

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

excerpt from: http://www.radford.edu/~wkovarik/lead/overview.html



"When you fill your car up at the gas pump, you may notice that you are
using "unleaded" gasoline.

Lead is not something that comes with gasoline that has to be taken out --
it was deliberately added by the oil industry to boost "octane" or
anti-knock ratings for fuel. It had to be phased out by government order,
for public health reasons, starting in 1975, and concluding in 1986. It was
also banned in various European nations in the 1990s. It is still having
serious public health impacts in developing nations, and a complete global
phase-out has long been advocated by the World Health Organization and all
other international health organizations."



excerpt from: http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/fuel...etin/unld-gas/



Marine Engines:

There is concern about older four-stroke cycle engines in marine service,
which were designed prior to the introduction of unleaded gasoline
(pre-1974). Under severe duty, these older engines could have valve
recession problems. If these engines are in severe duty service, owners
should consider installing hard seat inserts or using lead substitute
additives to minimize valve recession. Products like this have been found
effective in minimizing valve recession.

Mercury, who is a major supplier of Stern Drive Engines for marine use,
advises that their engines are automotive based and have hardened exhaust
valve seats. Most of Mercury's outboard engines were developed with unleaded
gasolines, and Mercury's only concern is with octane number.

All of Outboard Marine Corporation's current four-stroke cycle engines were
designed for unleaded gasoline and valve protection additives are not
needed. Additives are also not needed for their two-stroke cycle engines,
however, some of them may have the need for octanes higher than 87(R+M)/2.

The newer Volvo Pinta Stern-Drive four-stroke cycle engines are designed for
use with unleaded gasoline. Some of the older engines are not. We would
suggest owners contact their dealer for advice if they have an older engine
in severe service.

Yamaha outboard engines operate satisfactorily on unleaded gasoline. At
least one model, a high performance Model 225, requires a minimum 89(R+M)/2
gasoline.

Outboard Marine Corporation has issued a Service Letter for General
Information #53, August 1985, subject: Gasoline Lead and Alcohol. This
bulletin is very comprehensive on their position regarding unleaded gasoline
use and has extensive guidelines relating to their minimum octane level
desired. This should be available from Johnson and Evinrude dealers.

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

In article ,
"Stanley Barthfarkle" wrote:

If these engines are in severe duty service, owners
should consider installing hard seat inserts or using lead substitute
additives to minimize valve recession.


Mine doesn't see sever duty unless going all out across a big lake is
severe duty. I used lead additive in the tank for my first fill up (I
just bought it) due to the label. Was Iwrong in doing so? Do I not need
to add lead? I have no idea what sort of valve inserts this engine has.

--
It's no good unless it makes your eyes water.

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

In article t,
Rick wrote:

Jeepers wrote:

I thought Leaded fuel went out in the mid 70s. Why then do I need Leaded
fuel on a 1985 motor?

You don't.

The lead in gasoline was added to reduce knocking. Mixing lube oil in
gasoline for use in a 2-stroke engine lowers the fuel's knock
resistance. The manufacturer designed the engine to perform to
specifications with the use of leaded regular gasoline mixed with the
specified proportion of 2-stroke oil and therefore recommends that grade
of fuel.

Since leaded gasoline is no longer available you will have to use
regular or better grade unleaded fuel that matches the octane value of
the old leaded "regular" gasoline.

Rick


Could lead additive affect it's performance? So you are saying I don't
need to add additive, just use a bit higher octane?

--
It's no good unless it makes your eyes water.

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

Jeepers wrote:

Could lead additive affect it's performance? So you are saying I don't
need to add additive, just use a bit higher octane?

Don't waste your time or money on additives. Plain old pump gas with an
octane of 89 or 90 will work fine. The old "leaded regular" was around
that octane so you will be fine.

Lead is nothing but a contaminant in 2-stroke engines anyway. Too much
lead as in the old high octane avgas would lead to "whiskering" of the
spark plugs and ignition problems.

Rick

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

Jeepers wrote in message ...
In article ,
obull (CCred68046) wrote:

Why then do I need Leaded
fuel on a 1985 motor?

A 2-stroke motor does not rely on lead for lubrication. Dont sweat it.


But why does it ask for Leaded?

Older 4 strokes needed lead for the valve seats ...

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

In article ,
(Matt Lang) wrote:

But why does it ask for Leaded?

Older 4 strokes needed lead for the valve seats ...


I understand, thanks. It's a new to me boat, my second. The last one
needed leaded, but that was in '88. This one's label said it did, but I
was fairly sure it didn't. However "fairly sure" has gotten me trouble
before, I want to be SURE.

--
It's no good unless it makes your eyes water.

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

As stated before - use mid grade gas and you will be fine. On 2 stroke
engines you have no valves to worry about. However, you do have preignition
issues to worry about. The lead helped w/ this.
When leaded fuel went away - outboard manufacturers recommended you use at
least 90 octane fuel in the older engines or change the head gaskets to a
thicker gasket to reduce compression to prevent preignition.
Some will say use the cheap stuff but no more than you burn in a boat - the
10 cents a gallon is cheap insurance in my opinion.

--
Tony
my boats at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

"Jeepers" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Stanley Barthfarkle" wrote:

If these engines are in severe duty service, owners
should consider installing hard seat inserts or using lead substitute
additives to minimize valve recession.


Mine doesn't see sever duty unless going all out across a big lake is
severe duty. I used lead additive in the tank for my first fill up (I
just bought it) due to the label. Was Iwrong in doing so? Do I not need
to add lead? I have no idea what sort of valve inserts this engine has.

--
It's no good unless it makes your eyes water.

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

In article 0O1Jc.50496$WX.15047@attbi_s51,
"Tony Thomas" wrote:

As stated before - use mid grade gas and you will be fine. On 2 stroke
engines you have no valves to worry about. However, you do have preignition
issues to worry about. The lead helped w/ this.
When leaded fuel went away - outboard manufacturers recommended you use at
least 90 octane fuel in the older engines or change the head gaskets to a
thicker gasket to reduce compression to prevent preignition.
Some will say use the cheap stuff but no more than you burn in a boat - the
10 cents a gallon is cheap insurance in my opinion.


Cool, will do.

--
It's no good unless it makes your eyes water.

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

In article , Jeepers
writes:

I thought Leaded fuel went out in the mid 70s. Why then do I need Leaded
fuel on a 1985 motor?

I don't know if this applies, but I have a 1985 Merc in-line 6. I don't know
if this is a mechanic's urban legend of what, but here goes:

Shortly after we got the boat in 1995, one of the pistons came up pitted.
$700.00 later, the mechanic told me that the pitting was from the use of
unleaded regular (87 octane) fuel and that the motor had been designed to use
regular leaded fuel (which was still available, he said, for marine use at that
time).

He recommended using premium fuel to avoid future problems. As of the last
tune up, last year, everything was still okay.

Frank Bell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A. Top Posting.

Q. What's the most annoying thing on Usenet?

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

In article ,
ost (FRANKWBELL) wrote:

In article , Jeepers
writes:

He recommended using premium fuel to avoid future problems. As of the last
tune up, last year, everything was still okay.

Thanks!

--
Dance like it hurts.
Love like you need money.
Work when people are watching.

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

Old Wives Tale. The only difference in an engine designed for leaded vs.
unleaded fuel is the way the bottom of the valve guide is cut. For leaded,
they cut a square shoulder into the bottom so the lead that collects on the
stem gets scraped off and rolled up into a donut to lubricate the valve. For
unleaded its cut with a taper to prevent gauling the valve. The pitting is
caused by detonation which can be controlled either by retarding the timing
a bit or using a higher octane fuel.

"FRANKWBELL" wrote in message
...
In article , Jeepers
writes:

I thought Leaded fuel went out in the mid 70s. Why then do I need Leaded
fuel on a 1985 motor?

I don't know if this applies, but I have a 1985 Merc in-line 6. I don't
know
if this is a mechanic's urban legend of what, but here goes:

Shortly after we got the boat in 1995, one of the pistons came up pitted.
$700.00 later, the mechanic told me that the pitting was from the use of
unleaded regular (87 octane) fuel and that the motor had been designed to
use
regular leaded fuel (which was still available, he said, for marine use at
that
time).

He recommended using premium fuel to avoid future problems. As of the
last
tune up, last year, everything was still okay.

Frank Bell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A. Top Posting.

Q. What's the most annoying thing on Usenet?

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

In article ,
(Matt Lang) wrote:

He is probably right about useing premium or at least mid grade but
for your 2 stroke its not about lead its about octane...

I had a 68 Merc I6 and it ran great on mid grade. Also make sure not
to use fuel with alcohol or octane boost.

Matt

Thanks! The boat is at the doctor right now. Intermittent rough running,
I think I have a bad coil or bad fuel line, something. Plus it needs a
new prop and a tune.

--
Member AAAAAAAA
American Association Against Acronym Abuse And Also Ambiguity.

Leaded or Un-Leaded?
 

Jeepers wrote in message ...
In article ,
(Matt Lang) wrote:

He is probably right about useing premium or at least mid grade but
for your 2 stroke its not about lead its about octane...

I had a 68 Merc I6 and it ran great on mid grade. Also make sure not
to use fuel with alcohol or octane boost.

Matt

Thanks! The boat is at the doctor right now. Intermittent rough running,
I think I have a bad coil or bad fuel line, something. Plus it needs a
new prop and a tune.

Mine run bad for a while .. it was leaking fuel lines after the fuel
pump... also the fuel pumps were old and weak ...