Storage; Fuel - Honda BF4A Owner's Manual

STORAGE

Fuel

Depending on the region where you
operate your outboard, fuel
formulations may deteriorate and
oxidize rapidly. Fuel deterioration
and oxidation can occur in as little as
15 days and may cause damage to the
carburetor and fuel system.
Please check with your servicing
dealer for local storage
recommendations.
Gasoline will oxidize and deteriorate
in storage. Deteriorated gasoline will
cause hard starting, and it leaves gum
deposits that clog the fuel system. If
the gasoline in your fuel tank and
carburetor deteriorates during
storage, you may need to have the
carburetor and other fuel system
components serviced or replaced.
82
The length of time that gasoline can
be left in your fuel tank and
carburetor without causing functional
problems will vary with such factors
as gasoline blend, your storage
temperatures, and whether the fuel
tank is partially or completely filled.
The air in a partially filled fuel tank
promotes fuel deterioration. Very
warm storage temperatures accelerate
fuel deterioration. Fuel deterioration
problems may occur in less than 15
days, if the gasoline was not fresh
when you f illed the fuel tank.
You can extend fuel storage life by
adding a gasoline stabilizer that is
formulated for that purpose, or you
can avoid fuel deterioration problems
by draining all the fuel from the fuel
tank and carburetor.
The Distributor's Limited Warranty
(p. 110) does not cover fuel system
damage or engine performance
problems resulting from neglected
storage preparation.
Adding a Fuel Stabilizer
When adding a fuel stabilizer, fill the
internal fuel tank with fresh gasoline.
If only partially filled, air in the
internal fuel tank will promote fuel
deterioration during storage. If you
keep an additional container of
gasoline for refueling, be sure that it
contains only fresh gasoline.
1. Add Honda Marine fuel stabilizer
or equivalent following the
instructions on the label.
2. After adding a fuel stabilizer, run
the engine in water for 10 minutes
to be sure that the treated gasoline
has replaced the untreated gasoline
in the carburetor.
3. Stop the engine (P 49).