OMC Ocean Runner Carb Cleaning - Routine Maintenance?

[gwinnibarge]

Hi All,

I am wondering whether carburetor cleaning on a 1998 OMC 150 hp should be performed routinely or can/should it wait until its not running well.  If it is to be preformed routinely, how frequently and what would you do? 

This will give me something to think about while looking out the windows at the snow on the ground.

Thanks

[Capt. Bob]

Well, I can't speak for the pistonheads but when I think of carb cleaning, it's more on the line of rebuilding with cleaning being one part of the process.

You remove and disassemble the carb so as to clean all the circuit passageways along with the jet and needle seat orifices. In doing so, you replace the various gaskets/seals that go with the carb and the float needle (sometimes the float also) so no, I don't see that as routine maintenance as in the sense of say, changing the lower unit fluid, T- stats, impeller or spark plugs.

You could however run some of the various fuel treatments through it while the snow is melting. I would think that you have probably exercised that bizarre ritual that boat owners perform north of the Fla/Georgia border called winterizing so.....

My theory is the old and tired "if it ain't broke don't fix it" so if it was running well when you put it to sleep and you did that properly, I would suggest skiing to relieve your cabin fever.

Good luck.

[fitz73222]

There is no need for routine carb maintenance unless symptoms show up like low speed sneeze, leaking, flooding,etc. The best thing you can do is routine inspection and maintenance of filters and fuel line components at least once a year. If you are running E10 fuel do your inspections at least twice per year and keep the fuel stabilized with StarTron. I have some engines that I purchased new almost 20 years ago that have never had the carbs apart. To keep your engine alive for many years to come try to use non-ethanol fuel if you can find it.

[gwinnibarge]

Thanks for that information.  I guess I will leave well enough alone and not do anything with the carbs except perhaps to run some Seafoam or some other product through them next spring.  I always use stabilized E-10 fuel.  I don't know where to get not E-10 fuel, but I haven't asked either.  I do winterize, so the carbs are protected in that sense and I change out the filters accordingly.  There's nothing to do but wait...

Sigh...its going to be a long winter. 

[wingtime]

Routine maintenance? No not if you use good fuel and use a fuel stabilizer and don't let it sit... Better yet use non ethanol fuel.  In the case of unknown history or a motor that has been allowed to sit long enough for the gas to go bad? Hands down clean the carbs. A single plugged up carb due to varnish etc can cause a lean cylinder and a blown powerhead. If you start off with known clean carbs and run the motor regularly with good fuel you shouldn't have to mess with them.