Mercury Outboard - Four Stroke

[rail]

My 15hp, four stroke, outboard will not idle unless the choke is engaged. Any other four stroke outboard owners with the same problem? :(

[Shanevrr]

sounds like lack of fuel,  clogged filter,  carb gummed up from crappy fuel.  Can you take carb bowl off and spray carb cleaner through needle.  Remove float, just dont lose the little pin that holds float in place

[Sundog]

Vacuum leak?

[rbinhood]

Diaphragm in your fuel pump has a small hole in it.

[AllenF]

Have you been running pure gas or corn gas in it?

[rail]

Have you been running pure gas or corn gas in it?

The first two hours on the engine was with 10% corn gas! Just switched to pure gas and it idles a little better now.

Seems there has been issues with the new four stroke outboards and ethanol fuel! :-x

[AllenF]

I just put my small chain saw in the shop because of ethanol.    One day it would not hit but half a lick and when I let off the throttle, it died and would not fire again.   Don't let that stuff sit for more than a couple of months.   

[don2]

Any thing you have that don't get cranked up and run at least once a week, "DON'T" use corn sipping s in it. Been there, done that. don2

[Nimrod]

I have a new Merc 9.9 and I run reg. gas (not 10%) with Sea Foam added.  I have ran this mixture in all my other small engines and it has not failed.

[divemaster1963]

I'm a small engine mechanic.
 Gasohol draws moisture like a paper towel. never leave it in your engine more than a week without running it for at least 30 min. because it made from corn it also molds! It will turn the inside of the carburetor green and plug every hole in it. use green stabil with the gas. never buy more gasohol than you can use in a day. when you finish use your equipment run it dry and spray seafoam in the carb and cylinder.  do this and your equipment will last.


John

[AllenF]

Or make the drive over the state line to Alabama and buy pure gas.    :-D   I stocked up for spring on my last fishing trip.   

[RC]

Dumping groceries in your gas is never a good idea.

[bailey]

Just got my outboard out of the shop because of corn gas. 
Won't run it again!!!