Proper gasoline for 1988 268DA

If you trailer you can try both and see which one runs the best.

Most marinas (where I am at least) just have ethanol free 89 at the dock.
 
Thank you for confirming what I kind of thought.. Thanks for replying, have a great Christmas
 
NotHerDecision said:
The key is ethanol free.
Click to expand...

Could you please start shipping ethanol free to the NE. Ethanol free is only available in small can for small engines at ridiculous cost. My boat consumes 5-10% more fuel on ethanol fuel than ethanol free. We have it rammed down our throats under the guise that we pollute our air more than other areas of the country. Well the last I heard the weather and the air here in the NE travels from states to our West. The ethanol mandate is still in place because it's a windfall of subsidies for the Midwest farmers who have major influence in the Presidential primaries.
 
Id go with the proper octane or higher, before ethanol free. Pre-ignition can be hard to hear from a boat engine and can damage an engine a matter of trips. Ethanol can be dealt with and is a far less danger to the engine.
Now, if you can get ethanol free gas of the proper octane or higher, then thats a bonus.
 
If your going to burn up the fuel within a short period of time there's nothing wrong with running 10% ethanol. The problem with ethanol is storing it.
 
Even storing over a normal winter layup, ethanol is not an issue. On an 88 model boat, id be more concerned with its effects on the fuel components.
 
I use the standard 89 octane and add fuel stabilizer every time.
 
For the 4 years we owned our 260DA that lived on a trailer, I ran the cheapest gas I could find at a station t hat I could get in and out of. I did two things-1) Always used the correct amount of Startron, 2) Always filled up before winterizing and double dosed with Statron. For the 250 or so hours we put on the 350mag and the 500 or so hours we put on the generator, we never had even the slightest fuel system related issue.

Bennett
 
FYI, your engine is designed to run efficiently on 87 octane.

I'll ditto what Bennett said above. This includes not just my Sea Rays, but quite a few other boats, as well (some are not listed in my signature). This also includes the other boats throughout my family that I maintain. I have never purposefully sought out ethanol free fuel. It's not because I "want" to use fuel with ethanol in it - it's just that it's extremely hard for me to find ethanol-free. If it was easy to get, I would most likely use it - but that would be for the power/efficiency gain (more BTU's). As long as the cost vs efficiency gain was positive.

The comment above about rubber fuel lines and gaskets being susceptible to alcohol is valid, though. However, it was in the 80's when Merc started using components that were alcohol compatible. Most likely, by '88, everything should be good. If you wanted to double check, look for manufacturer ID and part numbers on the hose and call them. But even if they are compatible, they are still 30 years old. I would seriously consider replacing, at least, your fuel line.
 
On your 268, check to see if the fuel line running from the tank to the filter has been changed to the new ethanol compatible 3/8" hose.

When I bought my boat it still had the original fuel line and the ethanol started dissolving the hose from within. A couple small chunks got through the Mercury fuel/water separator (25 micron) and plugged up the idle jets in the carb. After giving the carb a hot bath/flow test/rebuild, changing the fuel hose and using a 10 micro Sierra fuel filter, my problems have been solved for several years.

About the only thing on those boats that can be effected by ethanol is that hose running from the tank to the fuel/water separator. The rest of the components that gas touches are metal and should not be an issue.

Also, make sure the fuel fill hose has a good downward angle from fuel inlet to the aluminum fuel tank. If there is a place for ethanol fuel to sit in that hose, it will start to degrade the rubber and you will start getting a fuel smell. My boat has never had the problem, but we found that issue on my buddies Grady.

PS, my boat seems to run the best on the 89 octane Valvetech marine fuel. I'll top her off with 87 octane pump gas quite often when on the trailer, but when I cruise by a marina with Valvetech fuel, I usually pull in for a fill up.
 
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