New Guy Questions

[Johnny.Mac]

Hey everyone, I am a new boat owner and looking for a little advice and knowledge. The boat is a 1992 Bass Buggy 18 with a 1987 Johnson two stroke engine.

1. I have been putting my two cycle oil into a gas can then adding my non-ethanol gas and swishing it around to mix. Next I take that and pour it into my boats fuel tank. My question is, if I go straight to the gas pump and fill my tank up then add the appropriate amount of two cycle oil will the gas/oil mix properly?

2. Also I am trying to figure out how far I can go on a gallon of gas. Can someone please help me out using the stats above?

Thank you!

[illinoid]

I just go to the gas station, pump my gas, measure out my oil, dump it in the tank then use a little more gas to rinse out my measuring beaker and assume that by the time I drive to the river and launch it will be mixed. I usually only burn about half a tank of gas so I am starting with half a tank of pre mixed gas. When I mix oil for my chain saw or snow blower I put the oil in the empty can and figure by the time I put the gas in it will be mixed. This winter when I ran out of gas for the blower I realized I had about 10 gallons of pre mixed in the barn on the toon...only had to mix in a little more oil. You could probably guess about how much oil you will need and put almost that much in the tank first then top it off wit the little bit more you actually need.

If you fill your tank then go the distance you want to check mileage then go to the gas pump and fill again and you should be able to calculate mileage. I am not too worried about mileage, just gallons per hour, just want to make sure I have enough to get back to the marina or ramp where my trailer is.

[grouser]

I personally like to put the oil in first and then the gas. Why risk a motor failure with a bad mix? I also put in just a nat's azz less gas than needed, better to be a we bit rich then lean. If your having trouble guessing how much to put in to top off your tank, buy a second tank to mix in and top off from that. JMHO

[NonHyphenAmerican]

When I had a two stroke boat motor, I'd put the oil in, a bit rich on oil as suggested, and then I'd fill up with gas.

Between that action and any other action, I always figured the gas/oil would stay mixed.

I'd also mix in some Sta-Bil, as Sta-Bil'd two stroke gas lasts longer without going sour in my experience.

I still do that with my 2 stroke gas can for use in the weed eater/hedge trimmer/tree saw, the chain saw, and the blower.

I've never locked up a two stroke motor by doing it my way.

And I learned my way when working for a "Rental" place a couple of lifetimes ago in Hutch Kansas. If you'd ever needed it, we rented it. Learned a lot about a lot of different stuff working there.

Your mileage on that advice may vary.

[RcgTexas]

Unless something has changed your engine only needs that gas to oil ratio at higher speeds, So you are always mixing rich unless you are always operating at top RPM's. BUT rich is good as long as you don't start fouling plugs. I always mixed oil first then added gas. I also used measured cans of oil for six gallons at a time and put six gallons of gasoline in then added more oil, but I was using six gallon tanks.

You seem to have a handle on it, and the other guys gave you some good stuff too!