Old engine varnish

Karma G · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:36 pm Post subject: Old engine varnish

I have acquired a '06 2.5 outboard that has sat in in garage for three years with fuel in the tank and without being run. I am pretty sure it is heavily varnished.
Any suggestions on the best magic elixir to remove the varnish and secret and successful processes would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance

Terry

journey on · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:06 pm Post subject:

I always use lacquer thinner, but carb cleaner is just as good, though more expensive. Some dis-assembly required.

I'm not sure to what parts you're referring, but I'll bet the fuel pump and carbs need cleaning as well as the gas tank. Get a new fuel line & filter.

Boris

katkt · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:27 pm Post subject:

Seafoam.

We had problems getting the boat in the water for awhile, and had one motor start popping and sputtering. The seafoam cleared it up.
They recommend getting it into the carb via the fuel system, and when it starts to smoke, shut the motor off for abit.....15 to 30 minutes. Then start the motor up and run it until it doesn't smoke anymore.
I changed out the fuel filter on the problem motor(spin on in the cockpit), and filled the new filter with seafoam prior to installing it. I added a couple of cans to the tank also.

You can get it at auto parts stores. I buy mine at O'reilly's

Dump the old fuel in the lawn mower, refill the tank with new fuel and add some seafoam to it. Try and figure out away to get the seafoam directly into the fuel system....if a guy had an extra fuel line with a primer bulb, and the fitting that hooks to the motor, you could drop the other end in the can of seafoam and use the primer bulb to suck the seafoam out of the can thru the line and into the carb.
You could start the motor on the seafoam, when it runs and starts smoking shut it down, hook to the regular tank, and when your done waiting, start it and let it run.......don't forget the muffs.

Here's a vid

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6187290865726229173#

A young man painting my eaves on the house last year recommended it to me.

Gordon

thataway · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:08 pm Post subject:

I have had better luck with carb cleaner than Sea Foam with varnish. The advantage of the Carb cleaner is that it is in a spray can, and you can spray it into the passages, etc. You still may have to dissamble it to get all of the jets clear.

Karma G · Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 3:31 pm Post subject: Old engine varnish

Thanks for the suggestions, all. I'll be starting the project as soon as this current downpour ends. 6" in 2 hours is way too much.
Terry

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 1:34 pm Post subject:

A very good product for cleaning and maintaining the fuel system is BG's 44K. It breaks down varnish so it can be burned off in the combustion process, avaoid "chunks" of stuff going through the system.

Chester · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:56 am Post subject:

We had an issue with one of the engines stalling at idle and running poorly at low throttle. A bottle of Techron fuel additive cured the problem.

Karma G, is your motor running OK?